In this political moment, the political dimension of a gay pride parade swings into view. It’s a protest march—albeit a joyous march festooned with rainbows.
“I don’t want to say ‘joy’ as [a form of] resistance, but celebration is fundamental to the practice of queer community, right? I mean, dancing through the tragedies is our history.”
Those words are from “Coach” Bailie—former chairperson of Napa Pride (who is serving as an executive advisor this year). “Coach” has earned her moniker, serving as the rainbow connection between a suite of LGBTQ organizations, government and business partners—most visibly as the founding director of Napa Queer Leaders Coalition.
Pride Month events encompass visibility and coming out celebrations, safe space, community organizing, and unapologetically joyous parties in honor of unbounded love. Their organization requires the identification and the cultivation of local queer leaders.
Napa Queer Leaders Coalition supports Napa Pride and attempts to sustain Pride Month’s cultural impact year round. (For example, this year they are using Pride to distribute a digital pamphlet educating businesses on how to move beyond “rainbow washing” and become true allies and safe spaces.)
Cincinnatus Hibbard: Coach Bailie, my understanding is that you formed Napa Queer Leaders Coalition in part to succeed the ‘unity’ as principal organizer of Napa Pride as it wound down. What was the emphasis of your approach?
Coach Bailie: Speaking back to my work at LGBTQ Connection and On the Move—LGBTQ Connection was part of a grant that elevated the use of community-defined evidence practices. It’s a way; it’s a modality of understanding communities and their needs and finding solutions by this very revolutionary thing that you do.
Now your mind’s going to be blown to tell you this—what you do is you go to the community; you ask the community what they need, and then you help the community build it. Crazy, I know. (laughs)
I can only imagine that approach helps give Napa Pride its distinct character as a Napa event. Can you give an example?
The Pride pet parade—we’re going into its third year. Like, when we had our organizing meetings, we asked what are the kinds of events that we want to see at Pride. People were like, we want to do something cool and celebrate with our pets. And so we’re like, OK; let’s just do this pet parade thing. This year, it’s going to be bigger than ever. It starts at Deuces Market, and then we have a little route that zigzags downtown. It ends back at Deuces Market with a Castro-style block party.
With pets. I also want to shout out DJ Rotten Robbie’s decorated car parade—a pandemic tradition that has carried on. Full schedule at napapride.com. What’s the theme of this year’s Napa Pride?
Love Out Loud.
That’s a potent theme and message… Coach, what happens when queer leaders come together?
We get s*** done. (laughs)
Coach, a leader has many dimensions; one is an example and role model to the youth.
In 2022, 47% of LGBTQ youth polled in Napa County had seriously considered suicide. What we are doing is essentially suicide prevention. Queer joy saves lives. We are showing kids that they have a space—the month of June—where they can be who they want to be and that there are people around them that want to celebrate them. I didn’t have a person like me growing up, and my life would have been significantly different if I had a Coach Bailie to look up to.
Get involved: napaqueerleaders.wixsite.com/queerleaders.
