Pride and Pandemia
Pride 2020 has been canceled?
Please, a little virus can’t keep the LGBTQ community down. I’m not making light of the current pandemic our world is experiencing — it’s terrible, and we all need to do our part to squash this bug.
However, it does mean that many Pride parades, festivals, and celebrations have been canceled, postponed, or modified.
Don’t panic, Fifi and company have got you covered. We’ve scoured the inter-webs and found stay-at-home approved alternatives that will keep you safe while showing your pride!
Virtual Pride
Many parades and festivals have opted to move online rather than host in-person events. Individual event organizers are working with their respective city officials to find alternatives to large gatherings. Here’s what we found.
Beyond the Shelter
4 June 2020 | 8:00 p.m. EDT | Info: NewAlternativesNYC
Being billed as an “interactive Pride kick off-off party,” with appearances by a diverse collection of performing artists. (Read: Broadway, TV, Film) All proceeds from the concert and party will benefit LGBTQ+ homeless youth. An excellent way to warm things up and a great cause too!
Pride 2020 Dragfest
19-21 June 2020 | 6:30-8:00 p.m. EDT | Info: NYCpride.org
An official event of NYC Pride, we are promised more than 100 ladies of drag bringing us gag-worthy performances. Events will be streamed live on NYC Pride and GLADD’s Facebook pages. It sounds like a lot of tucking fun to us.
Chicago Pride Fest
20-21 June 2020 | 7:00-9:00 p.m. CDT | Info: Chicago.GoPride.com
Chicago Pride Fest will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. They’ll just be doing it online rather than in person. The celebration will include “entertainment, activism, and special greetings.” Hey, it may not be a trip to Boystown, but you can still party like a gangster.
Seattle Pride, Seattle PrideFest, and Trans Pride
26-28 June 2020 | Info: PrideSeattle.org
In lieu of in-person affairs, the trio of events “have made the collective decision to shift our 2020 annual Pride celebrations to a series of virtual events.” Some events may be pushed to late summer, but no plans have been announced. It looks like they won’t be sleepless in Seattle this year.
Global Pride 2020
27 June 2020 | Info: GlobalPride2020.org
Global Pride 2020 encourages us to “exist, persist, and resist,” with the tagline for their virtual event. Promising 24 hours of musicians, artists, actives, and public figures. (No word on headliners yet.) Rather than staying up all night at that after-party, stay up all night with Global Pride.
San Francisco Pride 2020 Online Celebration
27-28 June 2020 | 1:00-9:00 p.m. & 2:00-7:00 p.m. PDT | Info: SFpride.org
San Francisco has been described as the epicenter of the LGBTQ community, and we’re sure they know how to celebrate Pride! This year the virtual events will include a mix of live and pre-recorded events like drag and dance performances, and sets from your favorite DJs. You may not be able to leave your heart there, but you can still give San Francisco some virtual love.
NYC Pride Special Broadcast Event
28 June 2020 | 12:00-2:00 p.m. EDT | Info: NYCpride.org
Last year NYC celebrated the 50th anniversary of Stonewall with millions of people crowding the streets. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first Pride March will be very different. Their virtual lineup included a special salute to font-line workers and performances by some big names. Give your regards to broadway, but tell the gang you won’t soon be there!
LA! Pride 50
TBD | Info: LApride.org
LA Pride is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, along with NYC. They, however, have adopted a different strategy, reimagining the way they celebrate. While they have nothing specific listed at this time, they have promised events stretching into 2021. Keep an eye on their website for announcements on “new and exciting initiatives that will be hosted on various digital platforms.” At least you won’t have to work on your fake tan to enjoy these LA stories.
We couldn’t cover every event, so be sure to look online for updates on how Pride will be celebrated in your neighborhood!
Other ways to celebrate
Join the TikTok craze. The hashtags #virtualpride and #virtualpride2020 are both trending right now. Turn it out in the living room, not the dance floor.
Virtual happy hour. Get those rainbow cupcakes and cocktails ready, and invite your friends to a Zoom call. Clothing, of course, is optional!
Dance like no one is watching. Be on the lookout next week for Fifi’s Pride 2020 playlist. We guarantee it will keep you dancing all month long — even if it’s indoors and six feet from the nearest hot body.
Let us know how you plan to celebrate Pride this year!
