This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Black and Latino gay pride parade. It’s a major milestone for grassroots organization In Our Own Voices, an advocacy group started in 1998 for LGBTQIA+ people of color.

“We provide an array of services. We have counseling services, emergency assistance services, advocacy training, domestic violence services,” said In Our Own Voices CEO Tandra LaGrone.

It’s now a mission of the heart for LaGrone, who started leading the organization as a staff of one in 2005. Now 57, the organization was instrumental in Tandra’s coming-out journey in her 30s.

“I didn’t want to be closeted as a person. That was very important to me, and it led me to IOOV,” LaGrone said.

Tandra says racism exists in the LGBTQIA+ community, just like it does everywhere else.

“I think people would be surprised at the level of resistance and opposition that LGBT people of color face,” she said.

Progress, though, is being made. In a landmark 2015 case, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Just this month, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation repealing the “walking while trans” law. But Tandra says there’s still work to be done.

“It’s still not safe for a lot of us,” LaGrone said. “I acknowledge that it’s not even safe for me. I had an incident in the last couple of weeks that put my safety at risk.”

In Our Own Voices’ latest initiative is a 50-and-older group that meets twice a month.

“In Our Own Voices allows us to gather and to say we are not invisible, we can contribute, and we're part of the community,” said group member and longtime Capital Region reporter Ken Screven.

Tandra knows the isolation during COVID-19 has taken an emotional toll on many in the community. If you’re in need of help, the staff at In Our Own Voices is available to talk. Call 518-432-4188 or go to www.inourownvoices.org.