This is part of Decential’s web3 and blockchain coverage celebrating Pride Month. Read it all here.

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Progress doesn’t happen in a linear fashion. It occurs at different paces, in different places, and at different times. Much like the inequities of the global financial system, LGBTQ+ people fight for access and acceptance.

Dozens of countries still criminalize homosexuality, with 11 imposing the death penalty for same-sex activity. Even in pockets of the United States, there’s a regression of rights – the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, teachers banned from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues and access to healthcare – are but a few examples. 

Technology has long been used by LGBTQ+ people – to congregate, find a community and to obtain information. Web3 celebrates privacy and decentralizes access and opportunity, all things the queer community have long required. Blockchain technology’s greatest impact to humanity might just be on those who have been the most historically underserved and underrepresented. 

This week, Decentraland held their Metaverse Pride event, where people from all over the world gathered to take in the three-day event that included panels, parties, and the parade which ran 24 hours. The vision was to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the metaverse at a time when the world is becoming increasingly polarized. 

The event – a Burning Man-inspired, desert scene with the color of Pride – included educational workshops, panel discussions, gender-defying wearables created by queer artists, quests and quizzes and the Ad Council’s Love Has No Labels campaign. 

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ song, Same Love, played from the booth, looping on the lyrics, “I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to, my love, my love, my love.” 

For organizers, teaching visitors about people who have been historically underrepresented, in a fun and interactive way, was key in this year’s Pride. 

“It was important to have educational content, not just the party and parade,” said Iara Dias, Partnerships Manager and Metaverse Pride Coordinator at the Decentraland Foundation. 

Part festival, part interactive museum, each flag had a description and historical reference. There was the main stage with a DJ, surrounded by break-out sections, booths, and the parade with floats created by the Decentraland Foundation community. 

Dias said Metaverse Pride isn’t meant to replace the IRL pride, for those who can safely attend. “We wanted people to use the Metaverse Pride as a warm-up to the parade and events in their city, and maybe with some outfit inspirations from the wearables,” Dias said. “It’s also important to have Pride within Decentraland because not every city has it.”  

It’s another place to show love and respect, which is what unites us as humans, she said. Decentraland Pride started as a self-organized community event, much like LGBTQ+ activations in real-life. “We just elevated what had organically formed and gave it more visibility. In 2022, we had so many community-led events, so we decided to put them into an agenda this year.” 

The 2023 Decentrland Metaverse Pride is the third installment of the annual event. For some attendees, this was a fun event to join on a weekday of Pride Month. For others, in countries unaccepting of the queer community, this event is a lifeline. A space designed by and for LGBTQ+ people, to safely celebrate all forms of love. Where the technology that underpins it perfectly mirrors the movement itself. 

Both are a cultural, societal revolution. Liberating individuals, regardless of location or love preferences.