Since its inception in 2005, UK Black Pride has been the ultimate gathering for LGBTQIA+ individuals hailing from African and Caribbean backgrounds, focused on celebrating, fostering and representing Black LGBTQIA+ and QTIPOC culture.

As UK Black Pride returns to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday, 19 August this year celebrating 18 years of progress and change, at TikTok we're marking the occasion by bringing our incredible community content that brings to life this year's theme of 'LEGACY', which pays homage to those who paved the way for the community.

@ukblackpride Our queerness is Black. The importance of QTBIPOC spaces with @Ri [They/Them]. #UKBlackPride #UKBPLegacy ♬ original sound - UK Black Pride

Ahead of the big day, we'll be hosting an community event powered by our TikTok Creator Council for our Black LGBTQIA+ community with UK Black Pride's Co-Founder, Lady Phyll, who will delve deep into the essence of 'LEGACY', LGBTQIA+ culture, community, and creativity.

Lady Phyll, UK Black Pride Co-founder, said: "This year marks 18 years of UK Black Pride. That’s 18 years of Black and brown love, community, politics, rage and spirit. When we started, many said no one would show up. Here we are, 18 years later with an event that’s home to 25,000 people. This year, we’re celebrating our LEGACY. UK Black Pride has set the foundations for the next generation to build on and I am so proud of what we have achieved and how far we have come. Now, we look to the future and continue to fight for our UK Black Pride family."

Janay Marie, Community, Programmes & Events Manager at TikTok UKI & Nordics at TikTok said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Black Pride this year. This is a unique moment for us to recognise and celebrate the inspiring LGBTQIA+ Black community who share their voice and their creativity on TikTok every single day. This partnership has also been powered by our Creator Council, a group of TikTok creators who we closely alongside to ensure we are always supporting the moments that matter most to our community."

Here's how you can celebrate, share, learn and be inspired by UK Black Pride on TikTok...

We embrace the role that our platform can play in amplifying the voices and visibility of our LGBTQIA+ users, so let's meet some of the incredible voices from the LGBTQIA+ Black and QTIPOC community who are paving the way for better conversations, representation and awareness on TikTok and beyond:

Alizé TraplineBlings (He/Him)

Alizé is a dancer and performer, dedicated to spreading the message of self expression and self acceptance. He uses TikTok for cathartic release, where he can let loose and interact with his chosen community. From voguing clips to dance challenges, Alizé posts content to inspire young black people within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Benjy Kusi (He/Him)

Benjy Kusi uses his expertise in diversity and inclusion to create educational content on a spectrum of issues including discrimination in the workplace and the importance of safe spaces. His aim is to provide helpful tips that help people make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others. For his amazing work, Benji was named as one of the TikTok 'Voices for Change' in 2021.

DJ Krystal Lake (She/Her)

DJ Krystal Lake is a multitalented DJ, filmmaker and radio host who has taken off on TikTok with her videos on POC, LGBTQ+ experiences, feminism and mental health issues. Billed as "stuff schools don't teach", her content ranges from education around Windrush Day to how people can get involved in Ballroom.

Lost Girl (She/Her)

Lost Girl is a singer-songwriter, producer and engineer, that is helping to move UK RnB forward into new territories. Alongside her earworm previews, Lost Girl regularly posts videos embracing the pride of being in a same-sex relationship, as well as comedic takes on common interactions.

Rachel Chinouriri (She/Her)

Rachel Chinouriri is a singer-songwriter that brings her talents to the world of alternative-pop and has toured with huge acts such as Lewis Capaldi and Louis Tomlinson. Her TikTok page brings us behind the scenes as she grows in the industry, from milestone moments to everyday life as an artist.

Scary Sappho -(They/Them)

Onyinye, also known as Scary Sappho, is a storyteller and artist that has gained a loyal following for their introspective videos, such as why UK Black Pride means so much to them as a queer African.

Senor Fenty (He/Him)

Damilola Pattrik Ade, also known as Senor Fenty, has amassed a huge following with his incredible beauty content. Alongside his glamorous makeup tutorials, Damilola has also spoken about embracing his identity living as a gay black man in the UK.

Tanya Compas (She/They)

Tanya Compas is an LGBTQIA+ youth worker and rights activist, working especially with young black people in London. You can find them on TikTok sharing their favourite fits and travel journeys.

They Them Ri (They/Them)

They Them Ri is a non binary creative and workshop facilitator that uses their platform to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues such as banning conversion therapy and encountering homophobia.

Hipster Sunshine (They/Them)

Charis, also known as Hipster Sunshine, has gained a loyal following for their videos exploring life as a deaf and autistic person. These amazing videos range from raising awareness about the discrimination of deaf people and challenging misconceptions about autism, to sharing sign language clips for their favourite bops.

New to TikTok and want to learn more about the #UKBlackPride? Getting involved couldn't be easier, simply download the app for free via the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon.