LGBTQIA+Living the Fuck Out Loud

Elevate Your Pride: The Top Queer Celebrations You Won’t Want To Miss

June 3, 2022

Since 1969, the LGBTQ+ communities in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco took to the streets to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – one of the historical turning points credited for giving way to the Gay Rights movement. The Pride Parades that have followed – growing in numbers across the globe every year since – are credited with helping to further the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Pride is a time to both celebrate the strides made and remind the world that so many queer people around the globe still face discrimination, in some places “legally.” With so many cities around the world celebrating Pride in June (not everybody does), who says you have to stay home to partake? Here are destinations to consider as you plan your activities for the rest of the month:

NYC Pride

Commemorating the Stonewall Riots, which took place in Greenwich Village, has always held special significance for New Yorkers. But after being one of the cities hardest hit by COVID-19, and two years of virtual celebrations to keep everyone safe, NYC Pride is back with the theme “Unapologetically Us,” so you already know the vibes. Eleven days of activities kick off on June 15 and wrap up with Pride Fest on June 26. The events are organized by Heritage of Pride, which according to their website, “works toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law.” Visit www.nycpride.org for details.

Pride BCN

This year, Pride Barcelona is dedicated to visibility for and empowerment of lesbians: “diverse, powerful, free and fearless,” the organization’s website says. “Historically, lesbian women have suffered double institutional and social discrimination: for being women and for being homosexual,” the theme announcement reads, adding that the goal is to use visibility to help continue to fight to normalize queer women. Of course, like New York, this will also be Barcelona’s first live Pride post-covid. And Barcelona is an amazing summer destination in general; ask the French and British. Visit pridebarcelona.org for more.

Lisbon Gay Pride

As you’ve probably noticed on your timeline, Lisbon is the new “it” destination. Depending on how your vacation days and airline miles are set up, you could actually have a whole Iberian Pride Experience. Lisbon Gay Pride happens in two parts. First is the parade on June 18,which is five days after Barcelona’s pride festivities kick-off. On June 25, the Lisbon Gay Pride Village aka Arraial Pride kicks off at noon and wraps around 3 a.m., with plenty of performances, parties, and other shenanigans.

Virtual Pride

If you need more time to plan you are not quite sure about venturing into the remaining covid-ness of it all – or you need a little more time to plan for an Out-of-Town Pride – plenty of cities like Brooklyn, Denver, and Toronto are keeping Pride virtual this year. And several organizations have planned online screenings, discussions, and gatherings. You can even do Pride BCN online and get your mind right to bailar las calles next year.

Plus, honey: Pride happens year-round, if we’re honest. Visit iglta.org for a list of Pride celebrations around the globe and throughout the year.

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