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20 Ways to Celebrate Pride in NYC This Month

AP Photo/Seth Wenig
AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Here's a roundup of some of our favorite events happening this June.

It's finally upon us: that one month of the year where we're just as giddy, drunk, and covered in glitter as ever, but corporations supply us with rainbow-colored products in an effort to say 'we're not problematic.'

Navigating what exactly to do during Pride besides continue going to the same gay bars we freuqent year-round can be more complicated than you'd think, however, which is why we've scoured the events boards to find 20 must-attend moments over the course of June in New York City.

We'll begin, of course, with details on the most obvious event of the season:

1.) Pride Island & The March (June 23 & 24)

We'd be remiss if we didn't include the actual official event of Pride itself: Sunday, June 24 marks the official 2018 Pride Parade, and that weekend will host the annual Pride Island music festival at Hudson River Park.

Saturday the 23rd will see Tove Lo, Lizzo, DJ Simon Dunmore, Big Freedia, Sasha Velour, and DJ Dawson performing from 2-10 PM, while Sunday will see Kylie Minogue headlining, as well as DJ Grind, DJ Ralphi Rosario, and DJ Corey Craig, with a giant fireworks display closing out the weekend's festivities.

Tickets available here. Up next...

2.) New York Live Arts: The House Party (June 24)

The New York Live Arts organization will celebrate Pride with a 6-hour dance party in Chelsea from 2-8PM at 219 W 19th St.

The event is a celebration of art collectives championing the LGBTQIA community, and will feature performances and sets from emerging art and nightlife groups Bubble_T, Bushwig, Casa Diva, Papi Juice, and Switch n' Play.

There will also be installation pieces, including a a largescale kaleidoscopic work by Nick Cave and Bob Faust. Pop-up shops will feature fashions for sale by local queer designers including Claire Fleury and Valentine Amartey.

In addition, surprise drag guests and performers are expected throughout the day. Don't miss it--tickets here.

3.) Rooftop Films' Summer Series

Each summer, Rooftop Films screens outdoor movies across New York City May through August. With over 45 screenings, as well as filmmaker panels and discussions, it's easy to find an event that fits your schedule and interests.

For Pride, there are several LGBTQ films worth hitting: among them, The Gospel of Eureka on June 22, a feature film about the small town of Eureka Springs and its legendary drag bar. The movie is narrated by Mx Justin Vivian Bond and the screening will be followed by a live gospel drag performance from the protagonists of the film. Tickets here.

Additionally, there will be a screening of The Miseducation of Cameron Post, the Sundance-winner about life in a gay conversion camp, in July (tickets here).

4.) Ladyfag's LadyLand Music Festival (June 22)

This year marks the first-ever queer music festival from nightlife legend Ladyfag, happening June 22 at Brooklyn Mirage.

Performers include Eve, SOPHIE, Tommy Genesis, Kim Petras, Ian Isiah, 070 Shake, Kembra Pfahler and the Girls of Karen Black, Ssion, DJs Mike Servito, Total Freedom, DJ Minx, Michael Magnan, JD Samson, and Oscar Nn, with more to be announced.

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The event runs from 5PM to 4AM and will feature performance artists, musical guests, and more. Tickets here.

5. Drag Yoga at Moxy Times Square (June 21)

Looking to do something a little healthier than black out on a dance floor this pride season? How about yoga with drag queens?

Moxy Times Square and bode nyc will come together to host a very special Pride edition of bode's signature Hot HIIT class on Thursday, June 21st at 7:30AM. Instructor Sam Given will be introducing his alter ego: dancing drag queen Millie Grams.

Given explains that Grams was birthed when: "A pair of heels arrived in the mail from my Mom. She thought I might have a knack for it. Millie Grams (as in "how many milligrams of Lexapro are you on?") was born five years ago."

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Photo courtesy of KHPR.

Oh, and it's free.

6.) Fischerspooner & Juliana Huxtable Live at the Bandshell (June 23)

With their new album Sir, Fischerspooner have stormed back onto the gay scene with remarkably erotic force. In a rare (free) outdoor concert, sex god Casey Spooner will bring his band to Prospect Park's Bandshell to play alongside the legendary Juliana Huxtable.

The performance is part of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, now in it's 40th year, and will see Huxtable take the stage at 7:30 PM on June 23, opening for Fischerspooner.

7.) A Walking Tour From the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project (June 26)

Titled 'Shaping History: At Stonewall and Beyond,' the upcoming walking tour from the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project is sure to be an impactful way to celebrate the history of our community. It's the organization's first walking tour (so far, they've been committed to documenting different historic sites online).

Yes, the tour is completed by a complimentary drink at the legendary Julius' Bar. It's taking place on June 26 at 6 PM in the West Village. Get your tickets here.

8.) The VNYL's ABC Party (June 21)

Located in the East Village, the trendy lifestyle space The VNYL will be having an all-night ABC dance party on the 21st.

Not sure what they mean by 'ABC?' Let us help you out: it means 'Anything But Clothes'--you can't attend unless your outfit is comprised of non-clothing:

"You can wear a kitchen sink skirt. You can be bedsheets chic. Wear your favorite pleated pillow pants and curtain corsage. Just don't wear clothes...it's that simple," they explain.

Tickets here.

9.) The NYC Premiere of Queer Mormon Documentary Believer (June 18)

On June 18, HBO Films will have its New York City premiere of Believer, the documentary feature from Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds about life for queer youth growing up in the Mormon community of Nevada.

Related | Mormon Superstar Dan Reynolds' New Film Shows Why the Church Must Embrace Its LGBT Members

Reynolds spearheaded the production of the film, having grown up Mormon himself and creating the LoveLoud Music Festival benefitting the LGBTQ community in Utah.

Believer-4

The NYC premiere will see Reynolds in attendance, and takes place June 18 at the Metrograph Theater. More info here.

10.) The NYC Premiere of Emily Dickinson Romance Wild Nights With Emily (June 23)

Molly Shannon plays famed writer Emily Dickinson in this new film about the poet's lifelong affair with her childhood-friend-turned-sister-in-law Susan Gilbert (Susan Ziegler).

As BAM describes it: "Balancing irreverent humor with a tender love story, Wild Nights With Emily challenges the sexist historical record, brilliantly reclaiming the writer's reputation as a lesbian icon and a feminist trailblazer."

The premiere screening will take place the 23rd at BAM at 9:15PM.

11.) John Early: Now More Than Ever (June 22 & 23)

There's really no better way to spend Pride than seeing the Great Duchess of Comedy, the legendary Miss John Early performing live at the Bell House in Gowanus.

Related | Out Comedian John Early on Gay Sex Jokes & Conquering the Queer Audience

John EarlyIllustration by Hilton Dresden.

He'll be joined by other queer titans including Theda Hammel, Bowen Yang, Yazan and the Gates Family Band.

Tickets available here.

12.) Sex and the City 20th Anniversary Screening

It's been two whole decades since the first episode of Sex and the City first aired on HBO--now, in 2018, Nitehawk Cinemas is set to honor the legendary film adaptation with a screening at 7PM on the 6th, followed by a panel discussion with editors from Vulture, Bustle, and Refinery 29 in a post-movie discussion.

Tickets available here.

13.) The Leslie-Lohmann Museum Summer Block Party (June 9)

Head over to the Leslie-Lohmann Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art to support queer artists past and present at their annual summer block party, June 9 from 2:30-6PM.

The event is co-hosted by art and music collective PAPI JUICE and will feature a public opening reception of DAYBREAK: New Affirmations in Queer Photography and the unveiling of the QUEERPOWER: Facade Commission by artist collective, fierce pussy.

Come to the museum to participate in the creation and display of queer visual art!

More information here.

14.) Pride At The Met (June 23)

As part of their MetFridays event series, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host a variety of events on June 23 to celebrate Pride.

From 5-8:30PM, visit The Met for everything from dance parties to panel discussions. 5-7:30 is the Silent Dance Party, located in Gallery 131 on Floor 1.

"A tribute to the late, great American DJ David Mancuso by the legendary DJ, producer, and poet Rich Medina; a musical homage to renowned producer DJ Frankie Knuckles by The Twilite Tone; and a soulful house set with DJ Spinna," they explain on their site. The Met is thrilled to present the silent dance party hosted by Trinity Place Shelter, helping LGBTQ youth safely transition out of the shelter system and grow into independent, positive, and productive adults."

There's also a variety of talks and panel discussions, including one with Kurt Behrendt, Assistant Curator, Department of Asian Art, who discusses gender variance in Southeast Asian sculptures at 6 and 7PM.

There will also be a panel discussion with Saeed Jones, Reina Gossett, Koa Beck, and Kimberly Drew at 6:30; a selfie station; drop-in drawing sessions, and, of course, fully active bars.

15.) Dance at MoMa PS1 (June 30)

Let yourself dance and be free along the East River at MoMa PS1, which will have a major DJ event on the 30th with disc jockeys from all over the world, including Cashmere Cat, Venus X & Asmara, Valee, NIDIA, Fuck U Pay Us, and Meriem Bennani, hailing from as near as Brooklyn and Los Angeles and as far as Oslo, Norway.

More artists are still set to be announced. Get tickets here.

16.) Untitled Queen's 'The Brooklyn Ball' (June 9)

Untitled Queen's annual fundraiser for the Callen Lorde Health Center is this Saturday, June 9, at Littlefield in Gowanus. The theme this year is To Wong Foo and will see some of the city's best POC performers working it out in strawberry-inspired looks.

The official afterparty will be Horrorchata's Be Cute! Tickets here.

17.) Lucy Balls' 'It's My Party'

Each month, Lucy Balls throws herself a birthday party at The Rosemont in Bushwick.

There will be drag shows at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30, with performers TBA. More info here.

18.) Jake Resnicow's Pride Weekend: M.E.A.T., The Luvboat, & More (June 22-24)

Nightlife figure Jake Resnicow's Pride weekend looks to be what those seeking the sweatier, dirtier side of celebration should attend. Several events will take place over the weekend, including a special Pride edition of his M.E.A.T. dance party in the Highland Ballroom, described as a place to "unleash your deepest, darkest, dirtiest desires."

There's also a VIP Yacht Cruise, a matinee dance party, and an afterhours event on Sunday morning.

Weekend pass and ticket information available here.

19.) Heaven on Earth (June 23)

Head over to China Chalet in the unusual location of a restaurant in the financial district for one of the most fun, queerest parties in all of New York.

Each edition of Heaven on Earth is DJed by Ty Sunderland, who picks one or two artists to spotlight each night: past events have been everything from a celebration of Britney Spears' blackout, to Gaga vs. Beyonce, to Rihanna, Robyn, and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Keep up with Ty on Instagram for all the details and who will be slated to perform at the Pride edition on the 23rd.

20.) Susanne Bartsch's Kunst at Elsewhere (June 24)

Nightlife matriarch Susanne Bartsch will give a very special pride party at Elsewhere Bar in Brooklyn. Https_2f2fcdn

From 3PM to 4AM, some of the best in queer nightlife will be performing: Sateen, Rify Royalty, and West Dakota are just some of the incredible acts taking one of several stages in this amazing bar space, which also has a rooftop.

Tickets and more info here.

21.) Paint your PRIDE with Anthony Goicolea (June 16)

AirBnB have partnered with the artist Anthony Goicolea for a program to paint a thought-provoking mural kicking off Pride season in Brooklyn.

Goicolea explains on the event page: "Using a work I created specifically for this event as a guide, you'll paint alongside me as we bring to life a shared vision of acceptance and a community where anyone can belong. Come learn about the creative process, painting, and my work's focus on LGBTQ topics."

The event is June 16 from 12-2 and tickets are $30 a person.

Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

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