Celebrate Pride in some of these cities across the country
On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City, was raided by police. The unjust invasions, coupled with frequent cases of harassment, led to six days of protests and clashes between LGBTQ people and police.
In 1970, activists marched to commemorate the monumental events that took place that night at Stonewall. Known then as Christopher Street Liberation Day, the gathering was the launching pad for what is now known as Pride, with events and celebrations occurring annually across the globe.
Pride events are more than just parades and parties. These events can provide education on rights, legal protection, and resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride events offer a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals.
As we celebrate June being International Pride Month, here are the top destinations to celebrate Pride nationwide in 2023.
New York
NYC is known for hosting the largest Pride events in the nation. In 2019, the city hosted WorldPride, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. The month’s events brought in an estimated five million people. This year’s theme is “Strength in Solidarity.”
One of the highlighted venues to visit during the month is the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, the only dedicated LGBTQIA+ art museum in the world with a mission to exhibit and preserve LGBTQIA+ art.
The annual Stonewall Day celebration will take place on Friday, June 23 with numerous events including a concert headlined by Christina Aguilera and hosted by actress and transgender rights activist, Angelica Ross. For those who can’t attend, the parade will be streamed on Pride Live’s YouTube channel.
Seattle
The Pride festivities begin in Capitol Hill, located east of downtown Seattle. The neighborhood is a staple in the nightlife scene with gay bars, nightclubs and rainbow-painted sidewalks creating a feeling of Pride all year. Seattle Pride in the Park provides family-friendly activities and Seattle Pride Parade on June 25 is considered the largest march in Washington.
Chicago
The “Windy City’‘ has a long history of supporting LBGTQ+ individuals. The city established the first gay rights organization in the U.S., The Society of Human Rights. The annual Pride parade sees more than one million spectators in attendance on average. The month is celebrated across the city with various outdoor events, parades and parties.
New Orleans
The “Crescent City” is a year-round LGBTQ+ friendly destination. The city’s art, culture, food, music and history perfectly collide, making it the perfect atmosphere for Pride events. New Orleans is home to Café Lafitte in Exile, one of the oldest gay bars in the U.S., and Fat Monday Luncheon, one of Louisiana’s longest-running organized LGBTQ events. The extravagant floats and parades are nothing new to the city, but are in full effect for Pride month.
Denver
Denver has a growing scene of gay-friendly bars, hotels and Pride events. According to US News, the annual Denver PrideFest weekend is the largest Pride event in the Rocky Mountain region, drawing more than 525,000 participants to its festivities. This year’s PrideFest will be the biggest one yet, featuring drag performances from Marcia Marcia Marcia and Salina EsTitties, both featured on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” in addition to New Orleans rapper Big Freedia.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.