Hello, glitterbombs! I just spent a weekend standing outside with my arms outstretched hoping for mardi gras beads and free candy, which means Pride hath officially arrived in my ‘hood. Luckily, the celebration is going on all month long around the world as Autostraddlers come together to meet, fall in love, play board games, and be total weirdos together as part of a month-long pridestravagaynza of meet-ups!
Last week, I put out a call using this really big, gay horn called Autostraddle for brave souls willing to host meet-ups around the world for the better half of LGBT pride month, so that the world’s best online destination for all things your exact life experience (this website) could become the world’s happiest community — in real life!
Now, I come bearing the ultimate gift: a selflessly and tirelessly compiled list of those future meet-ups care of Editorial Assistant Chelsey that has all the information you’ll need to hop on this crazy train of life and ride it right into Hangin’ Out With Cool Strangers Or Maybe Event Old Friends station. Simply find your city and be on your merry way!
If you don’t see your city — and want to — or would like to plan another meet-up for the month, there’s still time! You can email carmen [at] autostraddle dot com and chelsey [at] autostraddle dot com at any point to make updates to the list. But do it soon! There’s only so many eyeballs we can trick into clicking on these things, and the sooner you get your meet-up finished up, the more likely that someone else will ever know about it.
It’s time to get proud, motherfuckers. Why do it alone?
PS: While you’re galavanting around with your fellow Autostraddlers this month, remember to use the hashtag #AutostraddlePride on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share your photos, quotes, and amazing notes full of feelings. If you’d like to send us a ton of photos, you can email me at carmen [at] autostraddle [dot] com. We’d really love to publish these publicly, so please don’t take photos at these events of people who would really not like to be a part of that bullshit!
New York City / Brooklyn, New York
Pride Dates: 6/24-6/29 (Manhattan), 6/9-6/14 (Brookyln)
Parade Date: 6/29
Manhattan Website, Brooklyn Website
AS Meetups:
Drinks & Parade Watching
Host: Jana Fisher
Date: Saturday, June 14
Location: Bar Reis (375 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11215)
Time: 6pm – ?
Special Instructions: Meet up at the bar and we’ll watch the parade together! I’ll be wearing my light blue A-Camp 4.0 shirt with “You Do You” spray-painted on the back (of course).
RSVP: FB event page
All-Ages Picnic in Astoria Park
Host: Kaitlyn
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 1-4pm
Location: Astoria Park
Event Info: An all-ages picnic and afternoon of activities in Astoria Park! We’ll be in a (totally gorgeous) public park, so this will be a sober event, but everybody is encouraged to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages! Once I have a good idea how many people are coming, I will post a list of foods I’m providing and what y’all can bring. Expect snacks, outdoor games and general pride and mirth!
RSVP: FB event page
Marching in NYC’s Dyke March!
Host: Georgina Stuart Oram
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 4:30pm
Location: North West Corner of Bryant Park
Special Instructions: Be sure to rsvp to the fb event so you get any updates and we know to look out for you!
RSVP: FB event page
Boston, Massachusetts
Pride Dates: 6/6-6/15
Parade Date: 6/14
Website
AS Meetups:
Pre-Dyke March Meetup
Host: Cassandra
Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Diesel Café (Cambridge, MA at davis square. Red line station)
Special Instructions: Since its a cafe the activity will be just a meet up with drinks and there is food there as well. Plenty of space in the cafe and its a well known queer space.
RSVP: FB event page
San Francisco, California
Pride Dates: 6/28-6/29
Parade Date: 6/29
Website
AS Meetups:
DapperQ Pride Dapper Fashion Show
Date: Thursday, June 26
Location: California Academy of Sciences
Time: 6-10pm
Tickets: Can be purchased here
Bonfire / Picnic
Host: Rachel Becker
Date: Friday, June 27
Location: Ocean Beach
Time: 7pm
Special Instructions: Bring food and blankets, lots of blankets it will be cold.
RSVP: FB event page
The House of Babes Dyke March After Party
Date: Saturday, June 28
Location: Public Works (162 Erie St.)
Time: 7pm-3am
Tickets: Can be purchased here
Chicago, Illinois
Pride Dates: 6/21-6/22
Parade Date: 6/29
Website
AS Meetups:
Host for All Events: Kay Just Kay
Chicagostraddle Classy As Fuck Cocktail Party
Date: Friday, June 20
Time: 8:30pm – 2am
Location: 6834 N. Ashland #2 Chicago IL 60626
Special Instructions: Since Chicago has so many events and afterparties, we are doing ours on a Friday this year! Instead of our traditional No-Pants party we are switching things up, getting fancy and doing a cocktail party! Come dressed to the nines, (Or the sixes, or the threes, or whatever you feel best in! If you feel fancy in a dress, if you feel fancy in tailored slacks and a vest, if you feel fancy in overall jorts with one strap loose, YOU DO YOU, is basically what we are getting at here.) There will be a fun photobooth to commemorate your cocktail attire, and as usual it is BYOB. There will be people drinking fancy drinks if that is your bag, or cheap beer and three buck chuck, or tap water if that is how you get down! *allergy warning: Tiny Fluffy Dog
RSVP: FB event page
Speed Friending and Beach Day
Date: Sunday, June 22
Time: 12pm
Location: Montrose Beach, Chicago IL
Special Instructions: What better way is there to meet lovely new ladyqueer friends and catch up with old ones than a day of Speed Friending on the beach? It is just like speed dating, but without the expectation anxiety and palm sweat! Bring a blanket or towel, your beverages and snacks of choice, and we will spend two-minute rounds saying words at each other. After everyone has met, we will have a beach day with lounging, snacking, swimming and sports-ing!
RSVP: FB event page
There will also be Chicagostraddle meet ups at the following official Chicago events, and we hope to see you all there! We will be obnoxiously visible with an Autostraddle sign and will post all additional details in the Chicagostraddle Facebook group.
Meetup at Pridefest Chicago
Date: Saturday June 21
Location: Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison Avenues. Meet in front of Whole Foods/Center on Halsted.
RSVP: FB event page
Meetup at Chicago Dyke March
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Humboldt Park. Meet at the march starting area.
RSVP: FB event page
Official Event Link: FB event page
Meetup at Pride Parade
Date: Sunday, June 29
Time: 12pm.
Location: Meet in front of Whole Foods/Center on Halsted.
RSVP: FB event page
Indianapolis, Indiana
Pride Dates: 6/7-6/14
Parade Date: 6/14
Website
AS Meetups:
Coffee, Booze & Food at a Local Cafe
Host: Brandalynn White
Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Thirsty Scholar (111 E 16th St)
RSVP: FB event page
Cincinnati, Ohio
AS Meetups:
Bonfire Night with Chatting, S’Mores, Games, Smiles
Host: Claire Suer
Date: Friday, June 20
Time: 6pm
Location: Claire’s yard in Pleasant Ridge (see facebook event for address)
RSVP: FB event page
Cleveland, Ohio
Pride Date: 6/28
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
Seattle, Washington
Pride Dates: 6/1-6/29
Parade Date: 6/29
Website
Portland, Oregon
Pride Dates: 6/14-6/15
Parade Date: 6/15
Website
Baltimore, Maryland
Pride Dates: 6/13-6/14
Parade Date: 6/14
Website
Houston, Texas
Pride Dates: 6/20-6/29
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
New Orleans, Louisiana
Pride Dates: 6/20-6/22
Parade Date: 6/22
Website
Denver, Colorado
Pride Dates: 6/21-6/22
Parade Date: 6/22
Website
AS Meetups:
Host For All Events: Lily
RSVP for All Events: Join the Colorado Straddlers Facebook group to access the FB event page
“Lost Worlds” (Babes Around Denver) – Toga Party
Date: Friday, June 20
Time: 9pm
Location: Meet at Tracks (3500 Walnut St.)
Dyke March
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 2pm
Location: Meet at Blush and Blu (1526 E. Colfax Avenue)
PrideFest Parade
Date: Sunday, June 22
Time: 9:30am
Location: Cheesman Park -> Civic Center Park
Providence, Rhode Island
Pride Dates: 6/5-6/21
Parade Date: 6/21
Website
AS Meetups:
QUEER Beer, Bourbon & Burger Night
Host: Chrissie
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Time: 8pm
Location: Cook & Brown (959 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906)
Event Info: On Wednesday nights at Cook & Brown, you can enjoy a beer, bourbon, & burger for just $20. It’s amazing. Trust me. Come feast with us and meet up with other AS fans. Make some new friends before the Pride action really begins! Note: If you are vegetarian, vegan, or under 21, there’s plenty of other food/drink available other than the aforementioned beer, bourbon & burger option. So please come!
RI Pride “VIP” Kickoff Party
Host: Lindsey McColl
Date: Friday, June 20
Location: Deville’s (345 S Water St)
Special Instructions: Let’s join the RI Pride VIP Party at Deville’s! There is a cover unfortunately, but it includes a buffet and live music. (If people are opposed to the location/cover, we can come up with an alternative via the Facebook event page.)
RSVP: FB event page
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pride Dates: 6/1-6/30
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
Columbus, Ohio
Pride Dates: 6/1-6/22
Parade Date: 6/21
Website
Nashville, Tennessee
Website
Dallas, Texas
Pride Date: 9/21
Parade Date: 9/21
Website
AS Meetups:
Queerbomb Dallas
Host: Yvonne
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 8pm
Location: Deep Ellum
Special Instructions: Meet at Julius Schepps Park. I’ll be wearing an Autostraddle t-shirt and sitting pretty on a unicorn. Jk, I’ll probably be holding an Autostraddle sign of some sort.
RSVP: FB event page
Austin, Texas
Pride Date: 9/20
Parade Date: 9/20
Website
AS Meetups:
Swimming at Barton Springs
Host: Joelle
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Time: 5pm
Location: Barton Springs
Event Info: Swim for dear life in a pool of magic water! And look very sexy while doing so. Way better than watching MTV’s “Faking It.”
Special Instructions: We will literally have an enormous rainbow flag, possibly on a flagpole. Bring $3 cash to get into the pool.
RSVP: FB event page
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Pride Dates: 7/18-7/20
Parade Date: 7/19
Website
Albany, New York
Pride Dates: 6/10-6/27
Parade Date: 6/14
Website
AS Meetups:
QueerBomb Hollywood
Host: Em
Date: Sunday, June 15
Location: Cafe Hollywood
Time: 3pm
Special Instructions: Head to the back patio
RSVP: FB event page
Madison, Wisconsin
AS Meetups:
Picnic in the Park
Hosts: Dana & Hannah
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 12pm
Activity: Picnic in the park
Location: Tenney Park (more detailed whereabouts to be provided in the facebook event)
Time: 12 pm
Special Instructions: Bring a dish to share! (Or don’t! You do you.)
RSVP: FB event page
Louisville, Kentucky
AS Meetups:
Kentuckiana Pride Festival
Host: Kaylah Wilson
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 12pm
Location: the Belvedere
Special Instructions: 18+ for festival / 21+ for after party
RSVP: FB event page
St. Pete, Florida
Pride Dates: 6/27-6/29
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
Rochester, New York
Pride Dates: 7/18-7/20
Parade Date: 7/19
Website
CANADA
Toronto
Pride Dates: 6/20-6/29
Parade Date: 6/29
Website
AS Meetups:
Picnic Potluck
Host: Camilla
Date: Sunday, June 22
Time: 4pm
Location: Christie Pits Park (Bloor and Christie, exact location within park TBC)
Special Instructions: Bring a dish/frisbee/puppy. Please, someone bring a puppy.
RSVP: FB event page
Victoria, BC
Pride Dates: 6/29 – 7/6
Parade Date: 7/6
Website
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Pride Dates: 7/17-7/27
Parade Date: 7/27
Website
AS Meetups:
OUTeast Whip It Screening + Roller Skating Party
Host: Monika
Date: Thursday, June 12
Time: 8pm
Location: The Emera Oval
RSVP: FB event page
EUROPE
London, England
Pride Dates: 6/15-7/14
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
AS Meetups:
Post-Parade Picnic/Pie + Party
Host: Fikri
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 4:30pm (picnic/pie) / 7pm (party)
Location: Victoria Park (meet at Mile End station) OR Black Cat Cafe (76 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB) + Hackney Picturehouse
Special Instructions: E-mail me at fikri[at]autostraddle[dot]com if you’re not on FB. Bring mats/food/guitars! Plans might change according to the weather, in which case I’ll update the event page and keep you in the loop if you tell me how to contact you in advance.
RSVP: FB event page or email Fikri at fikri [at] autostraddle [dot] com!
Paris, France
Pride Date: 6/28
Parade Date: 6/28
Website
AS Meetups:
Brunch
Host: Paris Straddlers
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 12pm
Location: Parc Montsouris
Event Info: brunch (and potentially tshirt making)
RSVP: FB event page
Hamburg, Germany
Pride Dates: 7/25-8/3
Parade Date: 8/2
Website
AS Meetups:
Talking and Things
Host: Rose
Date: Saturday, 5 July
Time: 8pm
Location: “Frau Müller” on Lange Reihe
RSVP: FB event page
AUSTRALIA
Sydney
Pride Dates: 6/13-6/30
Parade Date: 6/22
Website
AS Meetups:
Teddy Bear Picnick Brunch
Host: Max Whitby
Date: Saturday, June 28
Time: 10:30am
Location: Prince Alfred park (near central) Sydney
RSVP: FB event page
CHINA
Beijing
AS Meetups:
Rooftop Drinks / Hanging Out
Hosts: Willa, Karina, and Jess
Date: Thursday, July 3
Time: 9pm – late
Location: Funky (朝阳区工体西路8号 六楼的 / Sixth floor, 8 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing)
Special Instructions: Funky is a little tricky to find, so if you see Bellagio and Coco, you’re close. More information on the venue can be found here.
RSVP: Event page
JAPAN
Tokyo
AS Meetups:
Summer Meetup at Gold Finger
Host: Savannah
Date: Saturday, July 5
Time: 9:30pm
Location: Gold Finger
RSVP: FB event page
