Culture & Community | LGBTQ | Presidential Election | Arts & Culture | New Haven Pride Center | Arts & Anti-racism
Xiomarie LaBeija. Laura Glesby for the New Haven Independent Photo.
In one room a group chanted, swinging their bodies back and forth as a form of emotional release. Feet hit the floor rhythmically, stomping to a beat. In the next, children and adults alike drew pictures in every shade of the rainbow, talking amongst themselves. In the back room, participants arranged themselves in an open circle and breathed out, eyes closed. A cascade of deep sighs filled the room.
Art acted as a form of resistance and relief last week, as dozens of community members gathered at the New Haven Pride Center for a night of post-election healing and artmaking. Often, they found themselves leaning on each other for support and encouragement, even as they searched for an answer to some of the grief and despair they were feeling.
The evening was co-hosted by the New Haven Arts Council of Greater New Haven. In the interest of full transparency, the Arts Paper lives within, but is editorially independent from, the Arts Council.
“I know that my community is strong,” said Pride Center Executive Director Juancarlos Soto, who also led a workshop on “artivism” before the end of the night. “I know my community loves each other.”
“Our liberation is connected to the liberation of each other,” said poet and facilitator Sun Queen, emphasizing the importance of a shared, common humanity among New Haveners “We don’t need legislation's permission to love.”
Grayce Howe Photo.
Throughout the evening, the gathering aimed to combat feelings of unease that followed the election of Donald Trump to the 47th presidency of the United States. When Trump ran in 2016, he was accused of making racist, sexist, and homophobic comments, including a plan to decimate immigrant communities in the U.S. and an Access Hollywood tape in which he suggested that it was ok to “Grab 'em [women] by the pussy.”
As president, he instituted legislative measures that included a ban on Muslim immigrants and refugees, multiple appointments to a now-conservative, anti-choice Supreme Court, significant environmental rollbacks, and direct calls meant to invigorate and activate millions of followers who were fueled by anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-woman ideals of a white nationalist America.
During his 2024 campaign, he expanded that rhetoric, from calling into question whether Vice President Kamala Harris was and is in fact Black (spoiler: she is and has been for her whole life) to pushing for harsher immigration policies to insulting Haitians, Puerto Ricans, and all childless women within weeks of the election. In New Haven—a sanctuary city that has for years championed LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights—Tuesday’s result came as a crushing blow to many.
Thursday, it seemed that only compassionate community filled the room. In addition to a workshop from Soto—who, in addition to leading the Center, is a visual artist and fierce activist—the night included offerings from movement facilitator Vee Warden, holistic healer Thema Graves, drag queen Xiomarie LaBeija and poet, organizer and spoken word artist Sun Queen.
Throughout the evening, comments also came from Soto, Mayor Justin Elicker, and ACGNH Program Director Rebekah Moore and Executive Director Hope Chávez. The evening also included catering from the Ninth Square business Blue Orchid.
“We don’t have control over the things that happen to us but we have control over how we respond to them,” said Elicker at one point, pointing to a vibe that was both comforting and empowering. “This is exactly the thing that should excite people… like what we’re seeing tonight.”
In the back room, Graves began a meditation, centering breath as attendees relaxed their bodies, some for the first time in two days, some for the first time in weeks. Setting the tone of the room, she asked participants to close their eyes. To any concerns for personal safety, she assured them that her eyes would remain open—the door was closed and everyone would remain safe.
“This is a space for us to go within,” Graves said. “A place to navigate the emotions going on inside and also experience our strength.”
The room became quiet as deep breaths in and out occurred continuously. Between affirmations, Graves instructed the group to tighten the muscles in their body one by one, and then release them on an exhale, releasing any unresolved tension with it. Throughout the session, the energy of the room grew softer and more comfortable, as did the participants.
By the end of the night, participants' moods were visibly lighter. Faces held smiles and laughed with new made friends, inspired and hopeful for the future while empowerment overtook the previously overruling stress. That continued this week, as staff at the Pride Center set up a new corner of their space dedicated entirely to self-care.
“Look at the faces of the people in New Haven that love you,” Soto told the crowd, “No matter what you look like, how you got here, or what you worship, your city loves you.”
Grayce Howe was the Arts Paper's 2024 New Haven Academy intern and is now in her senior year. The New Haven Academy internship is a program for NHA juniors that pairs them with a professional in a field that is interesting to them. Grayce plans to continue writing for the Arts Paper throughout her senior year, so keep an eye out for her byline in these pages!