Pride weekend in Buffalo

On Saturday, June 1, about 200 women and gender-oppressed people marched up one of Buffalo’s busiest streets for the 19th annual Dyke March. Led by Black and Brown women, the march had chants, banners and signs condemning the war on the LGBTQ+ community, the war on women, the war on people of color and on all oppressed people. The strongest message was for the need to unite the struggles of all the oppressed and to be in the streets demanding change.

On Sunday, June 2, the many thousands-larger, bank-sponsored Pride Parade took place. Workers World Party Buffalo marched in this year’s parade, supporting an Anti-Capitalist Leftist Solidarity Bloc and acting in unity to bring radical politics and the LGBTQ+ liberation struggle back to Buffalo’s Pride events for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion.

The Solidarity Bloc declared its intent to “Make Buffalo Pride for the People, not profit,” proclaiming:

• Pride for the People is accessible and inclusive.
• Pride for the People brings community together to celebrate milestones and organize for our futures.
• Pride for the People is united against a corporatized, white-washed, profit-driven Pride.
• Pride for the People remembers the radical origins that gave us the right to march.

The Solidarity Bloc encouraged participants to wear black, in direct contrast to the overpriced rainbow merchandise that surrounds the parade.