Gege ReedLouisville Courier Journal
Pride Month, which celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, is observed each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Celebrations around Louisville include pride parades, festivals, brunch, readings, and more. Here is how you can celebrate this year:
Pink Friday: SoIN Pride Pre-Party
WHAT:Kick-off Southern Indiana Pride festivities with a Pink Friday Pre-Party with music by DJ Syimone.
WHERE:The Depot at NoCo, 701 Michigan Ave., Jeffersonville, Indiana
WHEN:May 31, 7-10 p.m.
COST:Tickets start at $10, free with Pride Fest VIP pass
MORE INFORMATION:eventbrite.com.
Le Moo Drag Brunch
WHAT:The buffet-style brunch includes French toast casserole, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, salad, Swedish meatballs, salad, and more. Also, a drag performance. Performers: Madonna, Mariah & 90s Divas featuring Anya Androvna, Jayda Mack, Champagne, Umi Naughty, and Dusty Ray Bottoms (June 1); Ana Cruisis, Jayda Mack, Penny Tration, and Kora Sline (June 2); Ongina, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Jessica Marie Jones, Nala Jones, and Starlette (June 9).
WHERE:2300 Lexington Road
WHEN:June 1, 2, 9, 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
COST: $43 per person plus tax and gratuity.
MORE INFORMATION:Meet and greet with the queens after the show. 502-458-8888; lemoodragbrunch.com.
7th Annual Southern Indiana Pride Festival
WHAT:The festival features a vendor market, food trucks, drag performances, beer garden and more.
WHERE:Big Four Station Park, Downtown Jeffersonville
WHEN:June 1, 4-11 p.m.
COST:$69
MORE INFORMATION:The Southern Indiana Pride Festival is family-friendly until 9 p.m. After 9 p.m. for ages 18 and older. soinpridefest.org.
More:
'Defining Infinity'
WHAT: Looking for Lilith Theatre Company show explores the infinite spectrums of gender identity and sexual orientation as it follows a core group of close friends and uses natural realism, creative movement, and theatrical time travel to explore how gender and sexuality norms have been challenged throughout the lifetimes of the characters.
WHERE: Martin Experimental Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: June 6-8, 7:30; June 9, 2 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $21
MORE INFORMATION: Recommended for ages 13 and older. Mature language, discussion of sex and exploration of current injustices affecting the queer community. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
Drag Revival: Night of Drag Praise & Worship
WHAT:A night of spiritual and faith-based music, drag, and LGBTQ performers. Featuring headliner Flamy Grant; also, Alexis, Selene St. Claire, Nina Na'shae' Rose', May O'Nays, Pat Mathison, Derrick Palmer, Stephanie Collins, Troy Bell, Steven Michael Carr, and others.
WHERE:Highland Community Ministries,1228 E. Breckinridge St.
WHEN:June 6, 7-9 p.m.
COST: $10
MORE INFORMATION:Proceeds to benefit Louisville Youth Group, Sweet Evening Breeze, Kentuckiana Pride Foundation, Louisville Pride Foundation and Southern Indiana Pride. dragdaddyproductions.com.
More: Meet Louisville's drag queens: Gilda Wabbit, Uhstel H. Valentine, May O'Nays and Diana Rae
3rd Annual Dragtivity Pride Day
WHAT:Celebrate Pride with Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky and Carmichael's Bookstore. A day of performances, book readings, arts and crafts, and a book signing from the performers.
WHERE:Carmichael's Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Ave.
WHEN:June 8, noon to 5 p.m.
COST:Tickets start at $10
MORE INFORMATION:dqstky.org.
Pride Party Silent Discot at Mile Wide
WHAT:4th Annual Pride Party with Queer KY at Mile Wide. The silent disco runs from 9 to midnight and features DJ Slim Thicc, DJ Spring Break, and DJ Pickle Queen. The three DJs play a variety of music through headphones with a switcher that you control. If you're not feeling what's on one channel, you have two different ones to choose from. It's a choose-you-own-music adventure.
WHERE:Mile Wide, 636 Baxter Ave.
WHEN:June 8, 9 to midnight
COST:$10 in advance, $15 day of disco
MORE INFORMATION:For ages 18 and older. louisvillesilentdisco.com
3rd Annual Louisville Pride 5K Run/Walk
WHAT:The 5K is a family-friendly event for people of all ages, athletic abilities, and skill levels. The virtual 5K is available for those unable to attend the in-person 5K. Run, walk, or push your way through the closed course. Participants will receive a Pride 5K headband and a finisher’s medal.
WHERE:Iroquois Park, 5216 New Cut Road
WHEN:June 9, 9 a.m.
COST:$30, registration increase to $35 after May 31
MORE INFORMATION:Packet pick-up June 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Louisville Pride Center, 1244 S. 3rd Street. If you are unable to pick up your packet, pick it up race morning beginning at 7:30 a.m. on site. runsignup.com/race/ky/louisville/louisvillepride5k.
Kentuckiana Pride Festival and Parade
WHAT:One of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Kentucky will celebrate the LGBTQ Community with a parade, vendor marketplace, food vendors, entertainment, kid and family activities and much more. The parade starts in the NuLu area at the intersection of E. Market and Campbell streets continue through the Nulu area and ends at the Big Four Lawn where the festival takes place until 10 p.m. Kids and family area with face painting, coloring sheets, corn hole, Plinko, prize wheel, and more (noon to 5 p.m.). Performers include Icona Pop, Chappell Roan, Robin S, +FloW, Friday Night Special, Bungalow Betty, Vibe Like Ty, Voices of Kentuckiana, DJ Dan Slater, DJ Griffin Green, DJ Dnasti and more.
WHERE:Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park, 1101 River Road
WHEN:June 15, noon to 10 p.m. Parade starts at noon
COST: Tickets start at $10, VIP is sold out, 5 and younger and $65 and older do not need a ticket
MORE INFORMATION:kypride.com.
More: It's back! Kentuckiana Pride Festival announces its 2024 lineup. Here's what to know
Splash to the Past Drag Brunch & Pool Party
WHAT: The Kentuckiana Pride Foundation and Myriad Hotel present a brunch and pool party that features a drag show, a two-course brunch, and music by VJ AJ McKay. Performers include Leah Halston, Kassandra Hylton, Cadillac Seville, The Diva Extreme Syimone, and Terri Vanessa Coleman.
WHERE: The Myriad Hotel, 900 Baxter Ave.
WHEN: June 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COST: $64.99
MORE INFORMATION: Brunch ticket holders for 10:30 a.m. will need to arrive at Paseo restaurant at 10:15 a.m. seating and brunch ticket holders for 12:30 a.m. will need to arrive by 12:15 p.m. For ages 21 and older. kypride.com/events.
LGBTQ+ Book Discussion
WHAT:Participants discuss books by LGBTQ+ authors or centered on LGBTQ+ characters and history. This month’s book is "Fun Home" by Allison Bechdel. Copies for checkout will be available at the branch.
WHERE:Louisville Free Public Library, Northeast Regional, 15 Bellevoir Circle
WHEN:June 18, 7 p.m.
COST:Free
MORE INFORMATION:lfpl.org
7th Annual Pride Crawl
WHAT:More than just a pub crawl, it's a celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion. Your ticket includes a drink and food specials, waived cover at participating venues, crawl map, after party and more.
WHERE:Baxter's 942 Bar & Grill, 942 Baxter Ave.; Big Bar, 1202 Bardstown Road; Chill Bar, 1117 Bardstown Road; Flanagan’s Ale House, 934 Baxter Ave.; Highlands Tap Room, 1056 Bardstown; Wicks Pizza Parlor & Pub,
WHEN:June 22, 4-midnight. Check-in 4-6 p.m. (Baxter’s 942); crawl, 4-10 p.m.; after-party, 10 p.m. to midnight
COST:Tickets start at $10, price will increase
MORE INFORMATION:eventbrite.com.
Drag Trivia Fundraiser: Broadway & Pop Culture
WHAT:Flex your Broadway muscles from all things leading ladies to raucous revivals. Gather up a team of up to eight and compete to win cash and prizes or come solo and join a team. Also raffles and performances from upcoming Drag Daddy Productions events. Hosted by Taylor Clemons and Skippy VanBibber.
WHERE:Saints Pizza Pub & Sky Bar, 131 Breckenridge Lane
WHEN:June 28, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $25 advance and $30 day of event
MORE INFORMATION:Prizes for trivia and raffle winners. Proceeds to benefit Drag Daddy Productions. dragdaddyproductions.com.
Pride Silent Disco at Hi-Wire Brewing
WHAT:Three DJs play a variety of music through headphones with a switcher that you control. If you're not feeling what's on one channel, you have two different ones to choose from. It's a choose-you-own-music adventure.
WHERE:Hi-Wire Brewing, 642 Baxter Ave.
WHEN:June 29, 7:30-11:30 p.m.
COST:$10 in advance, $15 day of disco
MORE INFORMATION:For ages 18 and older. eventbrite.com.
Did we miss an event? Send a note to Features News Clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
