Thousands came out for the Capital Pride Parade last weekend, kicking off a glorious month filled with rainbow eyeshadow and assless chaps. But, at its core, Pride is a political event protesting the unjust treatment and systems faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s what to know about Pride Month in D.C., and how to get involved beyond the Pride Parade.
Why We Celebrate In June
Pride as we know it started with the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, when police raided a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village and patrons fought back. The ensuing fights outside the bar continued for six days and fundamentally changed the discourse of LGBTQ+ activism. Historians note that Stonewall was primarily a shift in how white cisgender people viewed queer rights and that it was actually a culmination of years of activist efforts.
On the uprising’s first anniversary, Pride solidarity marches were held around the country. More and more cities joined until the federal government recognized the month in 1999.
D.C.’s Pride started as a block party in Dupont in 1975 with just 2,000 people. The first official pride parade was hosted six years later. The parade grew to become one of the largest pride celebrations in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people and becoming a necessary event for everyone from local politicians to defense contractors. Next year, D.C. will host World Pride.
Pride Today
Pride is celebrated globally with events from parades and protests to community forums and book clubs. But, as Pride has grown, it has also become more commercial. Many activists are concerned that pinkwashing and giant corporate sponsors have taken away from the original message of Pride at a time when there is still a lot of work to be done. To combat this, many local activists have established independent Pride events.
Go-go Museum Bus as Pride Parade, D.C. 2024. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Beyond Pride Parade: How to Celebrate in DC
June 5 - 23: Theater: “Rose: You Are Who You Eat”
This show at the Woolly Mammoth Theater is about vanishing twin syndrome and reckoning with identity and queerness. ($80+)
June 15: DC Quad Roll OUT Skate
This beginner-friendly group skate is like a rolling pride party. It ends at Botanical Bar in Dupont for pride. (Free)
June 22: Out & About Festival
Brittany Howard headlines this queer music festival at Wolf Trap that celebrates LQBTQ+ musicians and allies. ($50+)
June 23: Film: “We Have Always Been Here”
Catch these four films by award-winning LBGTQ+ artists including the D.C. premiere of the nonfiction horror ANHELL69 by Colombian director Theo Montoya. (Free)
June 29 - 30: Lavender Con
This book festival celebrates queer authors and stories. It is hosted by Little District Books, D.C.'s all-queer independent bookstore. ($35)
