Celebrating gay pride is one of the most amazing and fabulous times you’ll ever experience. I mean, who doesn’t love celebrating who they are and supporting a community full of love? There are plenty of different ways to show your support, and with Pride Month in June right around the corner, here are the absolute best ways to celebrate your gay pride this year.
LGBT+ people are often misrepresented in the mainstream media, so celebrate gay pride by supporting actual LGBT+ filmmakers and actors. What person in their right mind wouldn’t want to watch a LGBT+ romance movie with a happy ending? Also, some of the most important LGBT+ events were documented through film, so how about organising a movie marathon with your friends? Here are some suggestions to get you started; Paris is Burning, Love Simon and When We Rise.
Buy a rainbow t-shirt. Attach a LGBT+ pin to your outfit. Hit up your local LGBT+ clothing retailer. Support local LGBT+ clothing designers and business owners. Nothing shows your celebration of gay pride like literally wearing it on your sleeve. The best part about this is that you can show your support any day of the year! Small brands like Between The Lines and Look Human sell pride and LGBT+ clothing, even Target sells pride clothing and accessories. What have you got to lose?
Read historical articles. Watch documentaries. Visit museums. There are now more resources than ever to learn about the history of the gay pride movement. There’s a reason why Pride Month is in June – The Stonewall Riots is often considered the beginning of the modern LGBT+ rights movement, which occurred on the 28thof June, 1969. Celebrating gay pride is an acknowledgment of the sacrifices those before us had to make for us to feel free in today’s world. Educate yourself on where we’ve been, and where we need to go in the future.
With Rupaul’s Drag Race’s popularity in mainstream pop culture, you now have no excuse to not attend a drag show! What’s better than watching a drag queen lipsync to the most iconic gay pride anthems? Apart from having an amazing night, you’ll also be supporting local LGBT+ artists, which sounds pretty good to me. Or if you’re really feeling confident, apply some makeup, put on a wig and some heels and give it a go yourself!
I know this is obvious, but put all your local pride events onto your calendar! Pride parades, Mardi Gras, queer film festivals… there’s more events than you think! Immerse yourself in your local LGBT+ culture, meet up with others celebrating gay pride and have fun! If you want to take it a step further, why not be a part of the event? March in parades or volunteer to feel extra special.
There are now so many organisations and charities that work on behalf of the LGBT+ community. These organisations help LGBT+ individuals in need, so what’s a better celebration of gay pride than helping those in your community? Volunteer at your local LGBT+ centre or donate some extra cash to a local charity. It’s great to spend time at pride parades and festivals, but spending time or money for LGBT+ organisations will be where your support will have the biggest impact.
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