June has been designated as Pride Month for years in honor of the historic Stonewall Riots/Stonewall Rebellion that took place in June of the summer of ’69, and to this day, elaborate rallies, marches, parades and celebrations take place across the nation. Most major cities in the U.S. put on a killer Pride, and I can tell you it’s worth getting out of your own city and celebrating in another location once or twice just to get a feel of what the community is like in other places. This year’s Pride parades and festivals are expected to be especially worthwhile, as most are honoring the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, the events of which kicked off the modern day LGBTQIA+ equality movement.
Even if parades aren’t your thing, most are hosted along with a whole slew of fun Pride Festival events, like dances, block parties, performances, and more. And in case you’re wondering, you can attend Pride if you’re straight – but there are a few things you definitely need to keep in mind.
See which city’s celebration calls to you the most, and get ready to have a good time!
New York City, New York
This year, New York City is hosting WorldPride for the month of June. This month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ history, activism, arts, and culture culminates with the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30. Parade marshalls include Gay Liberation Front (the first LGBTQ activist organization formed after Stonewall), three of the starring cast members of the show Pose, and more. The location of the famous Stonewall Inn, New York City is also placing an emphasis on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion at this year’s events, which you can learn about here.
Boston, Massachusetts
This year’s theme at Boston Pride is “Looking Back, Loving Forward,” and is intended to honor the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, both reflecting on the hardships faced and victories won by the LGBTQIA+ community in the past and the present. The parade takes place on June 8 this year. See the full itinerary and the parade route here.
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital kicks off their pride parade this year on Saturday, June 8. This year’s theme is “shhhOUT! Past, Present & Proud,” and to celebrate, D.C. pride features a parade, block party, dance party, concert, and tons of other events that are even more fun than getting free admission at one of the area’s museums (althought it’s good to know that free air conditioning and bathrooms are just one Smithsonian away). See all of the events going down here.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly’s Pride Parade and Festival takes place on June 9th this year. The theme is “Stonewall 50.” Excitingly, the parade will be filmed this year and broadcast locally on 6ABC on June 30 for the first time. The parade is celebrating its 30th year, but the origins of pride in Philly go way back – its first gay pride parade took place in 1972. Learn more about this year’s Philly Pride Parade and Festival here.
San Francisco, California
More than 100,000 people come out each year to view the San Francisco pride parade, which is now in its 49th year. This year’s parade is on June 30. The day before the larger, more general Pride parade is the Dyke March on June 29, which includes a rally at Dolores Park that ends up being a full-day hangout for everyone before heading out dancing for the night. Then gear up for the general parade on June 30th, followed by celebrations at the festival. Get all the details here.
Los Angeles, California
LA’s iconic pride parade (it’s been around for more than 40 years) marches through the famous gay neighborhood of West Hollywood, this year on June 9. This year, the parade will even be broadcast on ABC7 in Southern California for the first time ever, so even if you can’t make it into the city, you can watch the parade on tv.
The city celebrates Trans Pride L.A. the following weekend, a series of festivities organized by the LA LGBT Center. You can learn more about this year’s events here.
Portland, Oregon
This year, the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade takes place on the weekend of June 15 and 16. The Trans Pride March takes place on Saturday afternoon with a rally preceding, the Portland Dyke March is on Saturday evening, and the general parade takes place on the morning of Sunday, June 16. Learn about all of the fun events at this year’s celebration here.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Pride is celebrating its 44th year with a parade on Saturday, June 15. Even more exciting? A Pet Parade for the LGBTQIA+ community’s cute and furry companions. Learn more about these events, and other fun activities like the High Heel Race, here.
Chicago, Illinois
Stonewall 50: “Millions of Moments of Pride” is the theme of Chicago’s Pride events this year. The parade sets off on Sunday, June 30, but the city offers more than just the parade. Take a look at the month-long calendar of events and get ready to fill your calendar with things like neighborhood-specific pride festivals, cultural performances, a pride festival for seniors, and the Dyke March.
Houston, Texas
Houston’s Pride parade (June 22) differs from those in a lot of other cities in that the parade takes place at night! Considering the heat it makes sense, but it’s also a great opportunity for glow-in-the-dark glitter and body paint – just saying! This year’s theme is the Summer of ’69, in honor of the year of the Stonewall Riots. Read about all the different events taking place at Houston Pride here.
Denver, Colorado
The largest Pride celebration in the Rockies, the Denver Pride parade takes place on June 16 this year. Art installations, live performances, a Pride 5k, and family-friendly activities are just some of the events that make this Pride festival worth a visit.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is always a good time, but other than Mardis Gras nothing beats the fun of New Orleans Pride. The Pride parade (the largest one on the Gulf coast) is on Saturday, June 9, and it’s surrounded on all sides by balls, dances, block parties, and other events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more here.
Seattle, Washington
The Pacific Northwest is a great place to celebrate pride, especially if you’re prone to sunburns. You can catch the parade on June 30, and see the other Pride Festival events here.
Providence, Rhode Island
Celebrate Pride in Providence with Rhode Island PrideFest on June 15, this year with the theme “Live Your Truth.” Providence’s parade is the only illuminated nighttime Pride parade in the Northeast, and it’s definitely worth attending at least once. See the details here.
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