Dallas Southern Pride Juneteenth Unity Festival and Pool Party Photos

Southern Pride Juneteenth Pool Party Festival

Source: Online Editor-Reagan Elam

Dallas Southern Pride Weekend celebration brought the hottest stars in entertainment to Trippled D to celebrate Pride Month 2022, and the first year celebrating Juneteenth as a federally recognized holiday! Female rap duo, City Girls and Saucy Santana took the stage and did it for the material gurols with live performances at the 2022 Juneteenth Unity Festival and Pool Party. Dallas Southern Pride’s Juneteenth Unity Weekend is a four-day celebration of curated experiences that build awareness concerning the most often ignored social justice and political issues affecting Black communities. The weekend also serves as an inclusive networking exchange for professionals from a myriad of disciplines to exhibit community, and demonstrate promising outcomes in the eradication of health disparities and social justice anomalies while celebrating our liberation through art, music, and cultural festivals. This impactful event advances the entire Black family, social justice movements, and celebrates unity and peace.

The unforgettable experience was crafted for Black Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ+) people to come together and celebrate their contributions to both American and Black culture, the celebration included a myriad of events, including health and wellness screenings, COVID-19 vaccinations, and concerts. More than 20,000 people from across the United States and internationally attend to celebrate the brilliance and culture of Black people; an idea birthed by community leader, businessperson, and activist, Kirk Myers-Hill. “Juneteenth Unity Weekend is a celebration and representation of the many intersections and beautiful mosaics within the Black community,” said Kirk Myers-Hill, president of Dallas Southern Pride. “The Black community is only as strong as its Black Gay brothers and sisters. Juneteenth is an opportunity to showcase the unity and display the belief that we are all stronger together.”Juneteenth became a federally recognized national holiday in 2021. However, long before the nation started celebrating this holiday, Black people in Texas were celebrating this day, as it originated in Texas. The Emancipation Proclamation, which granted freedom to slaves, was signed in 1863. However, it wasn’t until two years later on June 19, 1865, that slaves in Texas first learned of their freedom. Union troops entered Galveston, TX, announcing that all slaves were free. This marked the beginning of Juneteenth as it is known and recognized today. Since 2017, the Governor of Texas has submitted a proclamation recognizing the Juneteenth Unity Weekend. Juneteenth Unity Weekend has been a staple event in the city of Dallas during Pride month for many years. Since its inception in 2008, the Juneteenth Unity Weekend continues to make a positive impact in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex by unifying the community, celebrating freedom, providing a safe space for community gathering, and infusing millions of dollars into the local economy. Check out the photos and videos below!