Every year, Austin Pride gathers in August to host a celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the diverse groups it encompasses. This year, the festival and parade were mired in controversy over the foundation’s leaked anti-Palestinian statements made in an internal meeting.
The foundation planned to host its annual festivities this past Saturday under the theme of “Queer Cabaret: Unleashed Glamour + Glitz” with a performance by Saucy Santana (known for the song “Material Girl”). Throughout the week, controversy arose after a presentation from Austin Pride was leaked on Instagram claiming the foundation planned to ban anti-Jewish hate speech which included “symbols, images or flags used by terrorist and hate groups.” Over the few days leading up to the festival, many on social media called out Austin Pride for its statements and expressed their frustration. After a meeting with leaders of both groups, Austin Pride reversed its course.
Muneeb “Meebs” Aslam, UT alumnus and a human rights commissioner for the city of Austin coordinated a meeting between the leaders of Austin Pride and pro-Palestinian groups like Jewish Voice for Peace, the Palestinian Solidarity Committee and the Austin for Palestine Coalition. Just before the festival was slated to begin, the foundation released a statement saying in part: “We deeply regret how we handled this situation and sincerely apologize for the harm caused.”
“The messages on the slides were extremely anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian with the conflation of Palestinian cultural symbols with anti-Jewish hatred,” Aslam said. “(Micah Andress), within 48 hours, met with leaders from the groups, … and they made it into this amazing educational and learning experience and posted a sincere apology in collaboration with these groups.”
After the foundation uploaded the statement to Instagram, Aslam said people largely reacted positively to the change in messaging from Austin Pride.
“This is something that increases inclusivity and understanding between different groups of people and leads to a healing moment rather than a moment for disruption,” Aslam said.
Additionally, according to their statement, Austin Pride made a commitment to supporting more diverse voices and excluding certain sponsors such as weapon manufacturers.
“Austin Pride has made a promise to evaluate next year’s sponsors with criteria, … and also to use BDS criteria which is (the) boycott, divestment and sanctions against companies that directly fund Israel’s illegal settlements in Gaza and the West Bank,” Aslam said. “We’re not free until everyone is free.”
Mariah Adeeko, a rhetoric and writing senior and the communications director for the queer student organization QTBIPOCA, said that organizations like Austin Pride help to destigmatize the queer community.
“We’re no longer just this buzzword minority,” Adeeko said. “We are people, and it’s hard to hate up close. I think Austin Pride does a great job in letting LGBTQ+ individuals gain exposure in mainstream media (and) discussion.”
