Pride is back in 2021! Here’s how to celebrate with parades, in-person and online events – USA TODAY
June 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month, usually celebrated with street festivals, events and parties. The first Pride was a protest outside the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969, led by Black transgender women.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted celebrations to a virtual platform. However as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and more Americans become vaccinated, most 2021 celebrations will host a blend of virtual and in-person events.
USA TODAY has gathered some of the biggest events and celebrations in major cities scheduled this month for Pride.
Atlanta
Atlanta Pride Run is set to be in person on June 20. The race has historically been held to generate awareness for the LGBTQ community and to fundraise for much-needed community partners. This year’s beneficiary of the race is Joining Hearts Atlanta, an organization focused on prevention, care, and housing assistance to those impacted by HIV/AIDS in Atlanta.
Pride month will also be celebrated at the Georgia Aquarium on June 25. The event is exclusive for those 21 and older and will include cocktails and music from DJ Seth Breezy and DJ Ree De La Vega.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, events including the Atlanta Pride Parade, Trans March and Bi and Pan March have been placed on hold pending approval from CDC and local government guidelines.
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Boston
Pride festivals and parades will be replaced with online events this year. Those interested can attend Pride Night at Fenway Park where there will be a special first pitch and a performance by Aaron Patterson on June 10.
A virtual park lighting ceremony will take place on June 8 to commemorate the lives lost in the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Boston Pride will also host a Pride flag-raising ceremony, a mayoral candidate forum and an Express Your Pride campaign.
Chicago
Pride in the Park Chicago will be enjoyed in person this year. The two-day festival will feature dozens of artists, food and entertainment. Those interested can now purchase their tickets online.
Pride Fest will be Oct 1-2 and Parade Oct 3
The annual Pride Fest is set to be held in person on Oct. 1-2, followed by a parade on Oct. 3. The festival is usually held during the last weekend of June but has been postponed until later this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In celebration of Chicago’s drag community, Chicago is a Drag Fest will host various performers and speakers on June 28.
Los Angeles
With the theme Thrive with Pride, LA Pride will remain fully virtual this year. The celebrations will start on June 10 with a free Charli XCX concert, live-streamed exclusively on TikTok.
On June 12, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles will air a one-hour primetime special, Thrive with Pride Celebration. The special will highlight LGBTQ community leaders in Los Angeles.
For the entire month, Christopher Street West Association Inc, the 501(c)3 nonprofit that produces LA Pride, will host events focused on volunteering and community service. The profit earned from the community events will benefit the LGBTQ+ community and Los Angeles nonprofits.
Miami
Miami Pride Beach, the free annual beach festival, will return for 9 days, Sept. 10 and 19. Although historically held in April, the event organizers moved the date to have a safe, COVID-19 complaint gathering. The festival will include performances, pool parties, a Pride lights show, drag queen competition and more.
New York City
In-person events
On June 27, New York City is welcoming back its PrideFest in person with a virtual option. With COVID-19 precautions and protocol in place, people can enjoy food, entertainment, and exhibitions from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Registration for PrideFest is now open.
NYC’s Pride March will conclude with March Pop Ups. Instead of the typical March Float experience, NYC Pride will use the outdoor seating areas of locally owned businesses in Manhattan.
“These unique Pop Ups will help boost visibility for local business owners, provide a canvas for out-of-work designers and artists, and bring an added vibrancy back to the streets in June,” according to NYC’s Pride website.
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Online options
For those not ready to join in person, they can still enjoy and learn more about popular LGBTQ local vendors through MarketFest. It is NYC Pride’s free virtual vendor directory where viewers can contact and connect with their favorite vendors. The virtual event is focused on supporting small LGBTQowned businesses. Registration for MarketFest is not yet available.
The NYC Pride March broadcast special will return with both virtual and in-person activities. The broadcast will air on ABC-7 from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 27 and include live performances, interviews and street-side marching events. After the broadcast, a virtual experience of the march will start, featuring the organizations that would typically march on the streets. The show will stream on NYC Pride’s Facebook and Youtube on Sunday, June 27, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
Portland
Portland Pride 2021 will host a mix of socially distanced and virtual events. On June 11, 12 and 27, those interested can attend the Diva Drag Brunch which will feature drag, burlesque and acrobatic live performances.
For a movie night, Portland Pride will host a viewing of the film Breaking the Silence: Stories of Oregon’s LGBTQ Veterans, followed by a Q & A with:
- LGBT Veteran Care Coordinators from the VA Portland Health Care System
- County Veteran Service Officers answer your VA claims questions
- Project Visibility: LGBTQ+ Friendly Aging Service and Care
The viewing will be on Saturday, June 12, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. PT via Zoom.
The annual Portland Pride parade will remain virtual; the event can be viewed via Zoom or on the Pride Northwest YouTube channel.
San Francisco
Those looking to celebrate Pride month in San Francisco can enjoy a movie night under the stars at Oracle Park. The two-night event (June 11-12) will play the films In The Heights and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
On Juneteenth, SF Pride will partner with the African American Art & Culture Complex to host an event commemorating June 18. The event will highlight how Juneteenth demonstrates “the connection between the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and the struggle for racial justice,” according to the website. More information on the event is coming soon.
Seattle
Seattle’s LGBTQ Pride celebration will kick off virtually on June 26 and 27 under the theme of resilience. The two-day event will feature performances from artists, poets and community leaders. Although the event itself is free, those interested can make a donation to cover the ticket price and artist’s compensation. Registration through the website is now available.
Seattle Pride will also offer virtual forums tackling relationships, family building, STI and HIV testing and more.
Washington, D.C.
D.C. will host a Colorful PrideMobile Parade on June 12. The caravan will include the official Pridemobile trolly among a colorful array of cars decorated by registered organizations and businesses. The Pridemobile Parade route will travel through the city’s most popular areas such as Dupont and Logan circles, and iconic landmarks such as the Capitol Building.
For the first time, the Capitol Pride Alliance is inviting residents to participate in Paint the Town Colorful. The event encourages people to decorate their favorite public spaces, such as patios, yards and building fronts, to show their Pride. All decorations must be done by June 12. The areas with the most decorations will be visited during the PrideMobile Parade.
Pride month in D.C. can also be celebrated in various brunches, lounges and virtual events listed here.
