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April 5, 2024In Our Own Voices Hosts 18th Annual BIPOC Pride Festival in Albany
In Our Own Voices, Inc. (“IOOV”), the only center within the Capital Region serving the LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community, will host their 18th annual BIPOC Pride festival, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The family-friendly event celebrates and recognizes the contributions, resilience, and struggles of LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals and families in the Capital Region. The free event will occur from noon to 5 p.m. in Albany’s Washington Park.
BIPOC Pride attendees can enjoy live entertainment from a lineup of talented performers and a children’s activity corner. IOOV’s primary objective is to provide attendees with an enjoyable and safe space while linking the community to inclusive, sensitive, and affirming resources through their Health and Wellness Expo.
“As we celebrate our identities and experiences, the BIPOC Pride festival stands as a beacon of resilience and unity, providing a safe and inclusive environment for people to celebrate their authentic and true selves,” said Tandra LaGrone, CEO of In Our Own Voices, Inc. “This event is about connecting our BIPOC LBGTQ+ community to free resources, and a supportive network of people that will uplift them.”
This year, IOOV’s Health and Wellness Expo will be partnering with A Big Gay Market, an organization dedicated to providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ makers and consumers. There will be a variety of small businesses tabling at the event, as well as food and beverages for purchase.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with In Our Own Voices during their Say It Out Loud! BIPOC Pride this year,” said Cyren Romeo, founder of A Big Gay Market. “Our mission is to bring together queer and gender-expansive makers in a space that affirms and celebrates them. We cannot imagine a better space like IOOV’s BIPOC Pride to partner with!”
Throughout June, IOOV will host additional opportunities to celebrate Pride Month, such as the Pride Month Kick-Off barbecue, their annual House Ball, a dry gathering to support the sober/recovery and more.
IOOV has provided comprehensive, critical, affirming, and lifesaving support to LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities who face additional social and health disparities than non-LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities for over 25 years. In that time, IOOV has served over 600,000 individuals locally and nationally. Their regular services extend to seven different Capital Region counties. IOOV is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ organizations serving the nation’s BIPOC community.
IOOV advocates locally and nationally, ensuring voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ BIPOC are at the table and amplified. The organization states its purpose is to develop leadership and strengthen the voices of LGBT POC to effectively communicate perspectives within larger communities and increase capacity for combating oppression and marginalization.
For more information on In Our Own Voices and/or the BIPOC Pride festival, visit IOOV.org. or IOOVBIPOCPride.com.
