On the subject of celebrating gay pride, none of us is qualified to speak for the entire Black LBGT population. The fact that we are so diverse in our experiences and circumstances gives no one man or woman that privilege. What it means to celebrate gay pride for me may be drastically different and/or in direct conflict with why another member of the Black LBGT community celebrates it.

Some celebrate pride in honor and remembrance of those who took a stand at Stonewall ­ the "unofficial" kick-off of the gay liberation movement that was headed primarily by people of color within the LGBT community. Others do so because it's the one time of the year when we come together simply for the purpose of celebrating who we are, in the company of other people who are of similar sexual orientation. And still others celebrate pride because it is, for them, another reason to party.

I believe that all of these reasons are valid. I also believe that there is a single common thread which links the variety of reasons which individuals within the Black LGBT community celebrate gay pride. That common thread is the temporary sense of "freedom" that we are afforded through the experience of pride celebrations.

Celebrating gay pride gives us a seasonal pass to walk more firmly in our own truth. It allows us, for a brief period, to physically and mentally separate ourselves from the homophobia, sexism, classism and other negative influences that are often the social norm within our own communities ­ in our homes, our churches, and in our academic and professional institutions.

We soon found, however, that even this evolving safe space was not as safe as our pressing desire for freedom demanded that it be. The isms we faced from our own community were tragically juxtaposed with an equal, if not greater, demon in our newly found place of refuge ­ racism.

And so, in our quest for a more permanent and stable sense of true "freedom" and life inside our own truth, the institution of Black gay pride was conceived.

But can we truly freedom truly obtain freedom through separation? Or are we merely still spinning our wheels in the mud of a civil rights movement stagnated by legislative jargon which speaks of equality but does nothing for reality?

Charles E. Nelson is the president of Chicago's Black pride celebration, known throughout the country as Windy City Black Pride. CWCBP is the largest non-profit event in the Midwest for African American LGBT people.

"We have dedicated ourselves to celebrating and empowering our diverse community for a decade," says Nelson. "Pride is more than a series of parties; it is a vital part of the work to be seen and heard in our communities and to have our families recognized in the culture at large. And, we can have great fun doing it!"

"We will develop pride and unity in the diverse Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by recognizing and celebrating our rich culture, contributions and achievements. We will accomplish this not only during the Pride weekend, but with events throughout the year."