Lady Phyll is the dynamic Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust International and Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride. Let’s take a look at the organizations.
Kaleidoscope Trust International
Who we are
In 67 countries around the world, LGBT+ people are criminalised and persecuted because of who they are and who they love. In 32 of those countries, homophobic laws and attitudes imported and implemented during Great Britain’s colonial regime have yet to be repealed and ruled unconstitutional. This means the prejudices of the past have very real consequences in our present.
Established in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based charity focused on fighting for the human rights of LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) people across the Commonwealth. We fund, fight for, and empower those upholding the human rights of LGBTI+ people by working with governments, change-makers, and civil society organisations to effect meaningful and lasting change in the lives of LGBTI+ people everywhere.
Mission
Our mission is to help create a world where LGBTI+ people are free, safe, and equal everywhere, and we carry out our work in three distinct ways:
- We make sure that activists, change-makers, and community organisations around the world have the funding, resources, and training they need to get their work done;
- We move through the corridors of power here in the UK to ensure global LGBTI+ issues are a priority for funding, legislative, and foreign policy decisions; and
- We connect grassroots organisations with governments and key policy and decision-makers so they can advocate for themselves and their communities.
Vision
Our vision is a world where LGBTI+ people everywhere are free to be themselves and one in which no LGBTI+ person is left behind in the fight for freedom, safety, and equality.
For more information
Read their news, learn about their outreach, reports & resources, and get support.
Want to Make an Impact? Join their team!
UK Black Pride
The world’s largest celebration for African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean-heritage LGBTQI+ people.
Want to participate?
In addition to their ongoing community campaigns, UK Black Pride returns to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for this year’s annual event.
After a record-breaking event in 2022, that saw over 25,000 people party and protest in Stratford, UK Black Pride returns to celebrate its 18th year of bringing the community together. Once again taking place in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the annual event will take place on 20th August 2023.
The world’s largest pride celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern descent has continued to grow year-on-year. From a bus-load of attendees travelling to Southend-on-Sea to 10,000 people in Haggerston Park, UK Black Pride is proud to return to Newham, the largest space the organisation has occupied since its inception.
UK Black Pride co-founder and Executive Director Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah says, “when myself and a group of Black lesbians set out to create our own Pride event, as the others felt exclusive and unwelcoming, we were told we’d never get anyway. That no one would support us and that any community built around a ‘Black pride’ would fade away. Here we are, 18 years later. Bigger, bolder, braver and brighter than ever. It’s been a journey, and we have to thank everyone from the community that has been with us at every and any stage. 2023 marks a historic year for us, and to be able to return to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where we saw 25,000 people share their joy and queerness with us, is incredible. We cannot wait to welcome our family back and continue to leave a legacy for the next generation of Black and POC queer love and progress”.
After last year’s success, UK Black Pride needed a sizable space and after many months of negotiations between UK Black Pride, Newham Council, and the team at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it became clear that remaining at Olympic Park was the best way forward. The application for performers, community stall-holders, food and drink vendors, and workshop hosts will be open soon.
A separate announcement will be made with the theme of this year’s event.
Essential information
UK Black Pride 2023 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Sunday, 20 August, 2023
12 noon – 8pm
All media requests: andre@ukblackpride.org.uk
@ukblackpride
