Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ Belonging: Honoring Freedom, Reclaiming Identity

✊ Juneteenth: Honoring Freedom, Reclaiming Belonging

Today, we honor Juneteenth—a celebration of liberation that marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, freedom finally reached enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. That day became a symbol of delayed justice, enduring strength, and collective hope.

For Black LGBTQ+ people, Juneteenth is not just about freedom from physical bondage—it’s about freedom to live fully and visibly, at the intersection of race, faith, gender, and identity.

The Ongoing Work of Liberation

Affirmation stands in solidarity with the Black community—especially Black LGBTQ+ Mormons, whose experiences are often overlooked. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process of healing generational wounds, confronting exclusion, and reclaiming spiritual belonging.

True liberation means:

• Being seen in the fullness of your story

• Being safe in your skin and spirit

• Being affirmed in your truth—even when it defies the expectations of others

Faith, History, and Intersectionality

Affirmation exists to hold space for everyone navigating the intersections of queerness, Mormonism, and lived experience. We recognize that Black members of our community often carry the weight of racism—both inside and outside religious spaces.

This Juneteenth, we recommit to:

• Amplifying Black voices

• Uplifting trans and nonbinary people of color

• Creating spaces where Black joy, grief, faith, and truth are honored

A New Emblem for a Broader Vision

To mark this moment, we also introduce a new limited-use Affirmation Pride Emblem—featuring the full colors of the Progress Pride Flag, including black and brown stripes that honor BIPOC LGBTQ+ people and those lost to injustice.

The circle around our “A” symbolizes sacred safety, legacy, and inclusion. It reminds us that everyone belongs in this movement—not in spite of their story, but because of it.

️ “The circle surrounding our ‘A’ is more than a shape—it’s a symbol of safety, sacredness, and wholeness. It reminds us that Affirmation is a place where all parts of you belong, without condition or exclusion.”

Join Us in This Commitment

Whether you’re Black, queer, Mormon, questioning, or all of the above—we see you.
Today we honor your journey, your strength, and your joy.

Happy Juneteenth.
May we remember that the work of justice begins with listening, and continues with love.

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