By Kerri Regan
Hey, do you have any plans for Saturday, June 21? Why not join our global blind LGBTQ community for a celebration a quarter-century in the making? It’s Pride Month! It’s Summer! And it’s our 25th Birthday!!! LET’s PARTY!!!
Blind LGBT Pride international is turning 25—and we’re inviting YOU to join us for a day of pride, connection, reflection, and joy.
This full day of programming honors all things queer and bold at the intersection of blindness, low vision, and LGBTQIA+ identity. We are proud to be the only organization in the world dedicated solely to this vibrant, powerful community. Come celebrate our unique voices, our shared stories, and the trail we’ve blazed together over the past two-and-a-half decades.
Visit bpi.gay to learn more, become a member, support our mission, and grab your fabulous queer gear just in time for the celebration—plus enjoy a Silver Anniversary Discount next weekend!
Here is the rundown of our Virtual Celebration Day. All events will be accessible via Zoom, though you’ll have to be a BPI member if you want the links. If you just want to hear what we’re all about, check out 2020 The Beacon who’ve graciously agreed to livestream our party to the world. Visit 2020 The Becon’s website to find out how to listen.
11:00 AM – 12:45 PM ET: BPI Silver Anniversary Virtual Brunch
Hosted by President Leah Gardner and Immediate Past President Gabriel Lopez Kafati.
Join us around the virtual BPI family table as we raise a toast to 25 years of connection, advocacy, and chosen family—and to the 25 more to come. Bring your stories, share your memories, and tell us what BPI means to you. We’ll make space for all who wish to speak.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET: BPI Book and Media Share
Hosted by Jessica Tomlinson and Shannon Dyer.
This open discussion invites you to explore queer representation in media. Bring your favorite titles, characters, and examples as we reflect on how far we’ve come in representation and how we can encourage inclusive and authentic storytelling going forward.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET: Blind LGBT Pride – Who Are We and What Do We Represent?
Hosted by Brynn Lowden and Marco Ramos.
We’ll explore BPI’s mission, our community’s unique role, the social and advocacy opportunities we offer, and the broader impact we aim to make.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET: Queer Gear
Featuring Tricia Waechter of Blind Girl Designs
We will explore the three fabulous collections celebrating Blind Pride International and our 25 years as well as our Ally Love collection. Live descriptions and information on our silver anniversary discount and how you can order via the web or by phone.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET: Ally Love – Celebrating Our Allies
Hosted by Michael Byington, Penny Reader, and Bill and Susie Rivera.
Join us in recognizing the allies who uplift and support Blind Pride and the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Allies are invited to share, and members are encouraged to celebrate the allies in their lives. We’ll also reflect on discussions inspired by the book “Savvy Ally.”
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET: BPI Leadership Office Hours
Board members and committee chairs will take time to listen and connect with you. Share your hopes for BPI over the next year, five years, or twenty-five. Ask questions, offer suggestions, and learn how to get involved in committees and programs like Pride Connection and Never Alone. Zoom participation only.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET: Never Alone Rollout
Hosted by Program Chair Tai Tomasi and Vice Chair Anthony Corona.
Learn more about the next steps in the Never Alone program and how you can take part in this vital member support initiative.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET: Coming Out Stories
Hosted by Kerri Regan and Shannon Dyer
This program creates a safe and welcoming space to share our coming out stories—funny, heartfelt, challenging, or life-changing. Bring a friend or family member you came out to and tell your story together or reflect on the experience from your perspective. We welcome the hard stories and the joyful ones—always with respect and support.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET: Advocacy Committee Open Conversation
Hosted by Co-Chairs Tristan Snyder and Tai Tomasi.
This Zoom-only session will hold space for advocacy-related concerns, discussions, and ideas. Participation is encouraged as we look to strengthen our collective voice and strategy.
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM ET: BPI Karaoke and Open Mic
Hosted by Tristan Snyder and Anthony Corona.
Bring your creativity! Sing a song, share a spoken word piece, or debut something original. All performances must be under six minutes. More details and instructions on how to submit your performance will be shared closer to the event.
10:00 PM ET: BPI Virtual Dare to Share
Hosted by Anthony Corona.
This beloved BPI tradition returns. We’ll keep the virtual candles glowing as we dive into intimate, sensual, and even sexual stories and fantasies. All content is welcome, as long as it’s respectful and in the spirit of fun. It’s been too long since we last dared to share together. This space will be open only to BPI members, with no recording allowed to protect privacy.
For 25 years, Blind LGBT Pride International has created safe spaces, connected chosen family, and advocated fiercely for a more inclusive world. Now it’s time to toast the road we’ve traveled—and raise our voices for 25 more. We’re still here. Still proud. Still building.
To request participation information for any of these discussions or programs, please email membership@blindlgbtpride.org We strive to be a fully accessible community, so please let us know if you require any reasonable accommodations to fully enjoy any of Saturday’s events. You can also find BPI on social media, including our Clubhouse room which will be open throughout Silver Saturday, by visiting our LinkTree.
You still want more? Check our audio promo below by Tristan Snyder.