Virtual Pride Events to Attend This Weekend
© Ruben Natal-San Miguel,''Love is Love ‘’ ( Apollo ) 2020 Harlem, NYC
By Vanessa Ray
With COVID-19 still a serious global health threat, this year’s Pride, an event typically centered around marches, concerts, drag shows and in-person camaraderie, will be getting its own makeover. In this new world, where masks and social distancing are the norm, virtual events have become the go-to. While the community aspect of attending an in-person event may not translate, there are still many positives that come with streaming Pride. In addition to broadening the potential reach of the programming, moving pride celebrations to a virtual platform allows some members of the queer community, who otherwise may never attend a pride event, to participate for the first time. In an interview with the NYTimes, Cathy Renna, the interim communications director for the LGBTQ task force, shared the importance of virtual Pride. “You can be an isolated kid in the small rural town in Mississippi or you could be in Eastern Europe or you can be in a country where it’s illegal to be L.G.B.T.Q.,” she said. “All you need is an internet connection.”
(All events are Eastern Standard Time)
Global Pride 2020
Saturday, June 27, beginning at 1:30 a.m.
Hosted by YouTube star, Broadway actor and singer Todrick Hall, this 24-hour livestream is the very first worldwide Pride event, with this year’s central message being Black Lives Matter. Those slated to make appearances are former Vice President Joseph Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, actor and trans activist Laverne Cox, drag queens Courtney Act and Pabllo Vittar, singers Kesha and Rita Ora, as well as many others.
Where to watch:
Cincy Black Pride 2020
Thursday to Sunday, June 25-28
In coordination with Cincinnati Pride’s decision to cancel festivities amid the ongoing impact of COVID-19, Cincy Black Pride also cancelled their planned events in favor of live streaming. According to their website, they “would like to be among a few pioneering and Afrofuturistic black prides building virtual programming and events.” Included in the festivities are a black film festival, virtual dance parties and a Black Lives Matter town hall.
Watch on Cincy Black Pride 2020 website
San Francisco Pride
Saturday, June 27, 1-9 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 5 p.m.
Celebrating 50 years of Pride in the city known for having the largest gathering of LGBTIA+ people and allies in the nation. Like Global Pride, San Franciso Pride plans to put the focus on Black Lives Matter. Saturday’s livestream includes a headlining act by Big Freedia
Watch via the San Franciso Pride homepage.
Sunday’s event will also be broadcast locally in San Franciso via CBS.
NYC Pride
Sunday, June 28, 12 – 2 p.m.
With this year marking the 50thanniversary of the first NYC Pride march, there are some in the city who are disappointed. “It’s sad, but also Pride is still there even if there isn’t a parade,” said Inwood resident Craig Clark. “I still get to celebrate with my true friends and I’m excited about that.” Organizers of this year’s virtual event are optimistic. According to the NYC Pride page, “though (this year’s Pride) will be a very different type of celebration, the tradition of commemorating the LGBTQIA+ movement will continue.” Grand Marshall’s for this year’s event includes Dan Levy, The Ali Forney Center, Yanzi Peng, and Victoria Cruz. Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Luísa Sonza, Rufus Wainwright, Monet X Change and many others will perform.
Watch on NYC Pride
Race Chaser presents SPELLING IS F-U-N-D-AMENTAL
Monday, June 29, 9 p.m. EST
A drag queen spelling bee hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race legends Alaska and Willam. According to their website, this livestream event will include “special guests, gags and surprises, and plenty of shouting and screaming!”
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Gays and Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society (GLITS). The mission of GLITS is to provide temporary housing to black trans people recently released from Rikers Island in New York City.
