Pride Is Joy

The Black LGBTQ+ community will always be celebrated at Black Ballad – this space is for us all, whether you ascribe to labels or not. But for Pride Month, let’s turn up the volume and be unapologetically vocal and clear about carving out room for Black queer people to express love, share experiences and, most importantly, feel joy.

We have, and will continue to, explore queer representation, history, safe spaces, arts & culture, identity, activism and more.

So, this Pride Month and beyond, celebrate Black queerness in all its forms with Black Ballad across our website and socials.

"I’ve come to learn the truly transformative power of black queer love."

- How My Girlfriend Impacted My Perception Of Love

"They don’t take into consideration the nuance that comes with being queer and black. It’s not a one-size-fits-all liberating moment that many white people in the LGBTQ+ community think it is."

- The Pressure Of Being Black, Queer And Partially Out

"Coming out to my family has never been an option, so by moving back home, I would have to give up the freedoms I felt I had in the UK."

- Moving To Zimbabwe As A Queer Child Of The Diaspora

"The main issue lies in who has the decision-making power and the funds to document stories. That power by and large does not sit in Black LGBTQ+ hands and, as a result, our stories often go untold and overlooked."

- Filmmaker Cherish Oteka On ‘The Black Cop’, Buried Black British LGBTQ+ History & Why We Need Complicated Stories

"There is a liberation that comes with being ‘allowed’ to express your identity while having a fantastic time and knowing you’re not sticking out like a sore thumb."

- Leave Pxssy Palace Alone: Queer POC Spaces Are Essential For Our Community & Wellbeing