Readers of The College Fix certainly are familiar with “intersectionality” — the term, allegedly coined by UCLA Critical Race Theorist Kimberlé Crenshaw, which “describe[s] overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination.”
As recent LGBTQ “Pride” marches and celebrations have taken place over the weekend, one in Pittsburgh was not without controversy due to the concept.
The article in The Pitt News doesn’t actually use the term, but that is precisely the issue. You see, Pittsburgh Pride had its first title sponsor for this year’s festival, the EQT Foundation.
The problem lies in what EQT does: It’s “a philanthropic organization within the EQT Corporation […] a petroleum and natural gas company based in Downtown Pittsburgh.”
Uh oh.
“EQT’s practices — especially its fracking in the region — have been criticized as favoring profit over environmental protection by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,” The News reports. As a result, many LGBTQ organizations bowed out of the Pittsburgh Pride March.
Kate Shindle, a rising [University of Pittsburgh] senior majoring in biology, president of Rainbow Alliance — Pitt’s gender and sexuality organization — said this is the second year that Rainbow Alliance will not be marching.
“We were especially troubled with [LGBTQ non-profit foundation] Delta giving up the naming rights for the parade to EQT, a fracking company,” Shindle said. “We do not support this, and therefore will not be at Pride this year as an official organization.” …
Charlotte Lyn Goldbach, a rising senior majoring in communications and political science, is the president of Pitt College Democrats and said that the organization encourages everyone’s self-expression, no matter where or how.
“We hope that everyone is able to celebrate safely and comfortably among other people, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally,” Goldbach said. “Though the idea of corporate sponsorship … takes away from some people’s pride, Pitt Dems members look forward to celebrating and furthering pride and inclusion at both events.” …
Ciora Thomas, founder of SisTers PGH — a grassroots organization focused on improving the lives of transgender and nonbinary people of color — actively denounced the partnership between Delta and EQT. According to her, in order for Pride to be truly inclusive, its participants need to stand up to corporations like EQT and others that could have an influence on the impact of Pride.
Thomas said Delta and its practices at Pride celebrations are exclusionary — especially in regards to groups of color. In 2015 Delta announced that Iggy Azalea would be headlining Pride after widespread criticism that some of Azalea’s tweets were homophobic and racist. Local organizations Dreams of Hope and the Three Rivers Community Foundation rebuked Delta’s announcement and Azalea ultimately cancelled her Pride appearance. Delta did not respond to questions about Thomas’ concerns of exclusivity.
“[People need to] stop ignoring marginalized groups for money. [Pride] started with black and brown trans people — we don’t exist to Delta,” Thomas said.
Thomas notes that her group organized the first “People’s Pride March” in response to the EQT flap, the goal of which “is to usher in an inclusive environment in Pittsburgh led by trans people of color.”
Pitt student Shindle adds that the Pride March “at its best centers the most marginalized of us — LGBTQIA+ people of color, disabled LGBTQIA+ people.”
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