Roland S. Martin

Pride, Protest, and the Fight Against Erasure #TheOtherSideOfChange

6.22.2026 #TheOtherSideOfChange: Pride, Protest, and the Fight Against Erasure S2 E11 In this week’s episode of The Other Side of Change, Jamira Burley and Brea Baker examine the history, purpose, and continuing relevance of Pride Month. They trace Pride back to its roots as a protest movement led by Black and Brown LGBTQ people who refused to accept discrimination, violence, and exclusion. From Bayard Rustin and Audre Lorde to Marsha P. Johnson and the HIV/AIDS crisis, they explore how Black LGBTQ people have shaped both the civil rights movement and the broader fight for liberation. The conversation also confronts the growing wave of legislation targeting LGBTQ communities, particularly transgender youth. As lawmakers push curriculum bans, healthcare restrictions, and efforts to erase LGBTQ history, Burley and Baker discuss why these attacks are part of a larger pattern of scapegoating marginalized communities and restricting democratic participation. Later, David Lindsey, CTO of The Antiracism Academy, joins the show to discuss the role of education, allyship, and community power in protecting LGBTQ people. He reflects on Pride’s origins as a movement of resistance, the importance of creating affirming spaces for young people, and why lasting change depends on building communities that value dignity, belonging, and collective action. Also, for the record, I should have caught that sooner. Once you told me the organization's actual name was The Antiracism Academy, I should have verified the guest name and affiliations against the transcript instead of introducing more confusion. Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.