Capital Pride dedicated the entire month of February to hosting events under the theme of “Queer, Trans, Black and Proud” to celebrate and honour Black, queer and trans communities.
The programming included a mix of virtual and in-person events, such as panel discussions, youth art workshops, music and drag performances.
All events were planned as a part of Winter Pride, an initiative started by Capital Pride in 2019. Winter Pride was held for the first time in February of 2019. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was held online in 2020 and 2021.
A highlight of this programming took place on Feb. 18 when Capital Pride hosted the event entitled the “Queer Black Excellence Showcase.”
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The free event, offered virtually on Zoom or in-person at the Horticulture Building in Lansdowne Park, featured performances by Canada’s Drag Race finalist Kendall Gender, Dominican drag queen Aimee Yonce Shennel and musician Kimberly Sunstrum’s latest project, OK Naledi.
Toby Whitfield, executive director of Capital Pride, said he was glad to safely offer some events in-person again.
“We know folks have spent a lot of time staring at their screens over the last two years,” Whitfield said. “I think it’s really nice to be able to provide those live, in-person experiences again.”
Drag queen Shennel said she was excited to perform in-person again in one of her first performances since December.
“When the pandemic started, I was [performing] online, but I don’t really like it because I need the [crowd’s] energy,” Shennel said.
Shennel said the showcase meant a lot to her as a person of colour and drag queen.
“I don’t know about other cities, but here in Ottawa, it’s not easy for a person of colour to get an opportunity like this,” she said.
Shennel said there are very few Black, Indigenous or people of colour drag queens in Ottawa and she often gets overlooked by event organizers in favour of white drag queens.
Shennel has been performing drag for five years and said she’s worked hard to earn her reputation within the community. She said she’s happy Capital Pride is giving queer and BlPOC individuals opportunities to celebrate who they are.
Afro-house artist Sunstrum, a Botswana-Canadian, has begun incorporating sounds into her music that honour her Black heritage.
Sunstrum has performed at multiple Capital Pride events and said it’s always a joy to perform for her “queer allies.”
“There’s a lot of negativity in this world,” Sunstrum said. “It’s nice to be able to put something positive into the world in terms of a performance.”
Sunstrum said there are very few female Afro-house artists in the music world and even fewer queer Afro-Canadian artists.
“I’m so elated that the first OK Naledi performance is gonna be at a gay event. That’s beautiful,” Sunstrum said. “It’s not just a gay event, it’s a gay event that celebrates [and] elevates Black people and trans folks.”
More information about Capital Pride’s Queer, Trans, Black and Proud programming can be found on their website. The showcase is available for viewing online until March 18.
“Being able to actually have a physical space for folks to gather in again [was] the highlight,” Whitfield said. “The performers were excellent and we look forward to inviting them back again in the future.”
Featured image by Spencer Colby.
