West Virginia Black Pride Foundation seeks to create a safe space for Black LGBTQ+
“Welcome to the West Virginia Black Pride Foundation.. we’re going to love you." ~Kasha Snyder, Founder and President
West Virginia Black Pride Foundation seeks to create a safe space for the Black LGBTQ+ community
Historically, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans have been oppressed through harmful laws and prejudice in all spheres of public life. According to a report from the National Public Radio (NPR), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, more than half of LGBTQ+ Americans reported they personally experienced slurs or other offensive comments about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It only gets worse from there. Half of all the LGBTQ+ people surveyed said they, their friends or their family members “experienced violence, threats, and sexual harassment,” because of their identity. One in six LGBTQ+ people have delayed medical care due to discrimination.
Black LGBTQ+ individuals, in particular, face higher levels of discrimination than their white counterparts A 2020 survey conducted by the Center for American Progress found this discrimination spurs many Black LGBTQ+ people to alter their behavior to avoid dangerous situations. For instance, the survey found that 1 in 3 Black LGBTQ+ people avoid entering certain public spaces, like stores or restaurants..
The disparities between Black and white LGBTQ+ people can be seen in almost every area of life, including from police interactions, to mistreatment in the workplace and frequent discriminationfrom health care providers. The pervasive discrimination that Black LGBTQ+ people face has led to large-scale economic disparities and significant mental and physical health concerns.
In states like West Virginia, where both LGBTQ+ and Black individuals are a minority, Black LGBTQ+ folk, in particular, have struggled to feel seen and heard in our Appalachian community.
“Especially in West Virginia, we have so many LGBTQ+ people of color that are afraid to be themselves, that are afraid because of the stigmata that they would put on each other here,” said Kasha Snyder, founder and president of the West Virginia Black Pride Foundation.
The West Virginia Black Pride Foundation was founded in December 2021 in Charleston, WV, to illuminate the experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color in West Virginia and provide them with a safe space for fellowship.
“I started off in the LGBTQ community as a drag queen and entertainer, and I saw the need for representation of people of color in the LGBTQ+ community in West Virginia, not just in Charleston, but all around. But then I also saw the need for community and fellowship,” Snyder explained.
According to the WV Black Pride Foundation website, the organization is focused on making the maximum positive effort for all POC & Trans POC in the LGBTQ+ community. They seek to provide the momentum that aids in effecting change by offering solutions to make a long-lasting difference. The foundation aims to create visibility for Black people within LGBTQ+ spaces and seeks to create visibility for LGBTQ+ people in predominantly Black spaces. For Snyder, it is imperative that the Black community of West Virginia recognize and support the experiences of their LGBTQ+ members.
“The Black community is so divided because we choose to be. We choose to put this stereotype on ourselves that we have to be this certain way….You could be anything and be forgiven in the Black community. The one thing you can't be forgiven for is being gay, and definitely not for being transgender. So that's why we need this. We walk the streets every day, we do wonderful things for the community, we’re doctors, we’re lawyers, we’re activists, we’re running for mayor, we’re school teachers, we're all in the community, and we should not be looked at no different, and we should be celebrated and praised just like everybody else…So when it comes to trying to bring us together, it's something that is needed… Because if the LGBTQ community and the African American community was coming together, just think about how powerful we can be,” Snyder said.
The foundation is currently run by a small team of individuals, including Snyder, Vice President AJae Flemming, six volunteers, and six members. Even though they may be small in numbers, they are significantly impacting the Charleston community. From donating outerwear to local elementary schools to hosting a free Easter egg hunt and cookout for neighborhood kids, the WV Black Pride foundation has been working hard to establish itself as a resource for the community.
“We try to give back to the community as much as we possibly can. And our goal and our vision is to have a safe place, for LGBTQ+ black people to come together and fellowship, maybe work, maybe live if they don't have a place to live. Maybe we can house them and things like that. Maybe show them a transition, teach them financial literacy, also work with them on basic life skills and things of such nature. We have our work cut out for us, but they didn't think we was gonna get this far. And we're here now,” Snyder explained.
The foundation features a life liaison program where individuals can seek the support of a peer in times when they may feel vulnerable. If you need a gentle listener or a reliable companion, the life liaison program is designed to give Black LGTBQ+ West Virginians peace of mind in knowing that there is someone they can call when they need support.
“With this program, we want to make sure that if you call WV Black pride… let us know… I need somebody to talk to that is like me, that can understand me, you can reach out to us, and we will be there for you. We'll help,” Snyder said.
In addition to their other events and outreach programs, the WV Black Pride Foundation is looking to host the Black Pride Pageant. The pageant will crown a king, queen, and gender-inclusive titleholder. Initially scheduled for May 6, the pageant has since been postponed to a later date to garner more support and interest from the community. Details on the rescheduling of the pageant have not yet been made available.
When discussing the purpose and significance of the Black Pride Pageant, Flemming said, “To show that there's different people with different colors and you know, our allies as well, just come together and have a good night, and just to show that we're out here, and you don't have to be afraid to run for a pageant.”
When it comes to the organization's future, Snyder and Flemming have high hopes that the WV Black Pride Foundation will continue to make a positive impact in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities of Charleston for many years to come. According to Snyder, the goal is to one day open a community center for LGBTQ+ people of color.
“We're looking for sponsors and donations so we can get our dream off the ground… We want to have a place and establishment to help people, a community center for the LGBTQ+ people of color; we can do this. And we know that our community will help if we just get our people together,” Snyder remarked.
For Flemming, the main goal is to make their presence known in the community and be a safe space for Black LGBTQ+ folk.
“We want to stand out. We want to be a company, like I said, for the people of color to just be an outreach, you know, that is known in West Virginia. For us to unite, not only just our people but with the white LBGTQ+ within West Virginia,” Fleming explained.
The WV Black Pride Foundation encourages anyone interested to join their efforts in increasing the visibility of Black LGBTQ+ individuals in West Virginia. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, Snyder and Fleming urge you to get involved.
“Welcome to the West Virginia Black Pride Foundation because we’re going to love you. We’re going to be a family. You’re going to be our sis. You’re going to be our bub. You’re going to be our niece, our nephew. Whatever you want to be, but, first and foremost, you're going to be welcome,” Snyder exclaimed.
For more information on the West Virginia Black Pride Foundation, send an email to WVBPfoundation@outlook.com or Kasha@wvbpfoundation.com. Also, make sure to visit their Facebook page @WVBPFOUNDATION and Instagram @wvbp304.
Sign up for our newsletter
Get the latest headlines from Black by God right in your inbox weekly.
More in Community from Black by God
Second Look Sentencing
House Bill 2962 could help release many incarcerated West Virginians
West Virginia Native and Professional Ballerina, Graces the Cover of People Magazine's Health Issue"
Alicia Mae Holloway 🩰
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
The Community Coalition for Social Justice Event Focuses on “Telling West Virginia’s Stories and Dreams”
OPINION: Bring Renewable Energy Jobs to West Virginia
Get involved in your communities and begin putting pressure on local and state politicians to take action
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra Hosts First-ever Concerto Written For Beatbox And Orchestra
A Concerto for Beatbox and Rhyme
2023 West Virginia Citizens Guide To Online Advocacy
#folkreporters
Snippets of My Life
Growing Up in Black “By God” West Virginia
Insider: Excerpt From Love and Loss
Take a look inside at skilled nursing care in the United States by a Bluefield, WV native.
The Winter Fashion Buzz 🐝
Keep It Very Berry
The African American Press in West Virginia
By Stewart Plein, Curator, Rare Books & Printed Resources West Virginia University Library
Rockin The House: Sons Gone too Soon
Rocking the House, an event hosted by Delegate Daniel Walker for her son, the late Demetry Mack Walker, to endow a scholarship in his name for healthcare professionals.
Black Census 2022
HBCU Campus Ambassadors join the Black Census Project to get 250,000 Black people counted
WE BALL
Father Reflects on What a Black-Tie Gala Means To Community
Black Women, Ginseng, and Ecologies of Care In West Virginia
Meet Ruby Daniels
The First Black Newspaper In West Virginia
William Calvin Chase of the Washington Bee praises Publisher George Washington Welcome of West Virginia (September 1883)
The significant insignificance of Black maternal health in West Virginia
What do you know about Black maternal health in WV? Where's the data and why isn't it public?
Earn To Code
NewForce launches fully-remote, tuition free coding school for West Virginia residents.
Open Letter to JD Vance
By Torli Bush
A Taste Of Our Own The Legacy of Lincoln School
The cookbook contains recipes for everything from southern smoked baked chicken to peach cobbler and even a recipe for a happy marriage.
Black Is Beautiful Redefining The Concept Of Beauty In West Virginia
Meet The First African-American Miss West Virginia in 2017
The Southern Kitchen WV Grand Opening Set For Nov. 5
Soul Food In Randolph County
Giving our community a new, invaluable voice
Writing for Black by God is a powerful feeling
The State of the Black Child in West Virginia
A monthly column exploring education in the Mountain State
The Double OG’s Podcast Provides A New Voice For The People
From abortion to prison reform pod cast is building conversation from West Virginia to North Carolina!
Fashion Buzz for Fall 2022!
Back to school trends with Jayli Phillips.
Frederick Hightower has spent a lifetime sculpting his passions into works of art
“You don't have to be a millionaire or somebody rich to support (enjoy) the arts”
Study Shows Suicide Rates For Black Girls Doubled During Pandemic
West Virginia Black Counselors Speak Out
Listening For Racial Understanding
Morgantown Hosts Public Art Exhibit
What's the plan for the overdose capital?
Ignoring it isn’t working
THE CHANGE AGENT
Huntington’s First Black Police Chief vs. The Overdose Capital
A Wild Woman Love Story
Based on a true story
The Healing House Takes Holistic Approach To Trauma Recovery
Meet The Founders Nakia and Michael
White People Don’t Always Know I’m Black
That’s when their racism is revealed.
The Gospel of Rest
For us Black folk, this idea of rest and making space for rest, is personal and political.
“Cap” Ferguson: A Black Trailblazer
Meet the iconic Army Officer, Educator and Charleston, WV entrepreneur and civic leader
Removing Stigmas And Helping People Succeed
Formerly Incarcerated Women Speaks To WV Legislature
Instagram Account ‘The Feels’ Centers the Joys of Black Womanhood in West Virginia
Meet Creative Director Keiya Smith
WEST BBG’S VIRGINIA’S FIRST LADY OF THE BLUES CROSSES THE RIVER INTO OHIO
Inviting the Ohio River Valley to celebrate Juneteenth in Athens, Ohio.
Beckley to Host 21st Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 18th, 2022 at New River Park
West Virginia NAACP Chapters
From the mistreatment of students of color to violent hate crimes, the WV NAACP has be a champion for the Black community of West Virginia by illuminating our shared injustices and taking action against inequality.
Local Podcasters Are Paving the Way
From Hip Hop to News Meet BIPOC Media Makers in West Virginia
Black West Virginians Are At A Unique Disadvantage When It Comes To Mental Health
Barriers that impact mental health for Black West Virginians include a scarcity of Black mental health professionals and mental health resources, stigma, lack of proper mental health education, and more. Black therapists discuss how we can change the culture surrounding mental health.
Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs For Womens History Month
BOOK REVIEW: FEARLESS FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS
Bet On Black Women
The question remains, when will we accept that Black women know the truth and the way?
Carnegie Hall hosts exhibits that feature the work of Black West Virginian artists
“What I can’t put into words, I put it on canvas.” ~ Doris Fields
Did you know one of the country’s rare Black farmers lives right here in West Virginia?
Jason Tartt one of America's rare Black farmers lives right here in West Virginia, and he’s incorporating a myriad of crops, including hemp, on his farm to help heal the community.
Historical Black Policy Day Of Action At West Virginia State Capitol
“Tell your stories because your story is your glory, in it is your truth.” ~ Delegate Walker
History & Hope
Read BBGs Special Black History & Legislative Edition
Lady D Is West Virginia Thriving
“The whole country thinks West Virginia is those people they see on the news. And I just want there to be an acknowledgment of Black people, who we are, who we were, what we did, especially in the context of music.”
SHELEM RAPPER OF THE MONTH
Beckley, WV native Shelem is a 25-year-old hip-hop artist known for his hands-on approach to engaging his audience.
Kevin & Kayln
BBG Love Stories
‘Almost Heaven ’Til We Get There’
Black Miners and Blair Mountain
Mountain Mama Hoodoo Medicine
Lessons from when John the Conqueror visited the salt plantation in West Virginia reminding - “mama medicine”
Mentored By The Ancestors
Black Birth Workers In West Virginia
BBG Founder/Publisher Crystal Good on the BBG delivery route
5,000 copies have been distributed across West Virginia!
Blaquity
Thar Is Black People Gold In Them Thar Hills!
A Proper West Virginia Education
Perspective by John Doyle
Black Farmers Struggle For Finance And Support In West Virginia
"We are used and then left out"
Phat Daddy's On Da Tracks- Opening Following Thanksgiving Weekend 🦃
A new employee-owned take-out restaurant, Phat Daddy’s On Da Tracks-- located at 480 Railroad Avenue, West Side, Charleston, West Virginia-- is set to officially open its doors following Thanksgiving weekend.
The House of Campbell- Rebuilding My Family's History and the Significance of Black Death, Wealth, and Discovery
A Family’s History and the Significance of Black Death, Wealth, and Discovery In West Virginia
Community Events week of Nov. 2, 2021
Community Events week of Nov. 2, 2021
Welcome to BBG’s New Website
Black By God The West Virginian's New Website - November 2021
After Julian: Who Will Revere Empathetic Black Boys
Survivor’s Guilt by Julia Mallory is a monumental meditation on grief and the aftermath of loss.
Join Our Folk Reporters Program
BBG’s Folk Reporters Program is seeking citizens and civic actors, creators, and collaborators representing a broad base of intergenerational, diverse communities to explore the 2021 West Virginia Legislative agenda that impacts Black citizens.
Blair Mountain On The One
From Black Appalachian music to protests on Capitol Hill, the voices of resistance are ever-intensifying.
100 Years of Black West Virginia Youth Writing
From the Peters Sisters to Aiden Satterfield
CONGRATULATIONS SISTER ROMELIA PARKS
WEST VIRGINIAN OF THE YEAR from the Charleston Gazette