about pride: event affiliations

THE COLOURS ORGANIZATION, INC.
http://www.coloursinc.org

The COLOURS Organization, Inc., began operation in 1991 as a volunteer organization dedicated to the production of COLOURS Magazine, a nationally respected publication for sexual minority people of color, and conducting informal, volunteer support groups for adults and youth in the African American MSM community. The overall mission is to garner the strengths and talents of sexual minority people of color -- male, female, transgender, African American, Latino, Asian -- to construct an affirming and caring community that protects us from the discrimination and ignorance of the larger society and advances a positive community environment which encourages self-caring, responsibility, and progress. COLOURS believes that it is essential to expand a specific culturally competent, and community-based HIV prevention effort among sexual minority youth of color, resolve barriers to the availability and accessibility of services, and commit resources specifically to helping this population avert the tragedy.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BLACK PRIDES (I.F.B.P.)
http://www.ifbprides.org

The IFBP is a coalition of Black Pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT/Same Gender Loving Pride and community-based organizations dedicated to building solidarity, promoting unity, and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, and individual and collective work. The IFBP was organized during DC Black Pride of May 1999 by a coalition of Black Pride organizers representing Chicago, North Carolina, New York, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis (Twin Cities), and Washington, DC. The organizers saw a need to organize the twenty plus Black Prides in the United States and abroad to network, develop sponsorship strategies, provide technical assistance, mentor and support one another. In November 2000, the original seven cities plus LA at the Beach and Jacksonville formalized the International Federation of Black Prides and has adopted bylaws, elected officers and have started the process of applying to the IRS non profit status.  In April 2001, the IFBP extended invitations to the other remaining Black Prides as the organization prepares for its first Annual Meeting under the new bylaws. IFBP has produced the first ever brochure listing all of the 2001 Black Prides in the United States. Since 2002, the IFBP expanded its membership to include Baltimore, Boston, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, MO, Philadelphia, South Africa, Nashville and Charlotte.  In 2003, the IFBP became incorporated in the District of Columbia.