Multiple Pittsburgh events & locations
June 11 – 14
Various times
Pride Weekend festivities across the state will be celebrated fresh on the heels of the one-year anniversary of marriage equality in Pennsylvania. From large festivals and after-hours dance parties, to community workshops and youth events, here are just a few highlights of the many ways to celebrate Pride Weekend around Pittsburgh:
June 11 – 14: Roots Pride Pittsburgh. Events spanning the weekend include: a Town Hall Meeting on June 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Blakey Building (1908 Wylie Ave.) in the Hill District; an intergenerational paint party on June 12 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Anderson Pavilion in Schenley Park; a Shut It Down Protest and Roots Pride Pgh Party on June 13 at The Renaissance Hotel; and a Healing Circle and Riverwalk on June 14 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. (participants will meet at the Point and walk to the David L Lawrence Convention Center). Learn more here. For reservations and tickets go here.
June 12: Pgh Bro Club presents Ready. Set. Riot! Sharon Needles’ Black Rainbow Queer Pride Party at Cruze Bar. Celebrating the riotous, punk beginnings of contemporary queer culture, Sharon Needles’ Black Rainbow bash boasts “deranged performances by a coterie of marvelous and bizarre guests,” notably the not-to-miss winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4, who will be joined by Mahogany La’Piranha and Kitty Klottsalot. Open to ages 21 & up. 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. $12 advance ($15 at the door).
June 12 – 14: Honchothon’s Pittsburgh Pride Weekend. Looking for more ways to spice up your Pride with an underground vibe? Honcho’s edgy three-day fest includes a headlining event featuring Detroit’s DJ Minx and Chicago’s Steve Mizek at Hot Mass. Sunday brings the return of the sure-to-sell-out Pittsburgh Pride Boat Party, with entertainment led by the Washington, D.C.-based queer artist and DJ collective NeedlExchange, as well as captains of disco Tommy Cornelis, Baronhawk and Bil Todd. The weekend wraps with a chill Sunday night movie and pizza party at Spirit in Lawrenceville. Saturday night’s event at Hot Mass is open to ages 21 & up, and $5 of every ticket will benefit Prevention Point Pittsburgh. $20 in advance.
June 12 – 14: Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh presents Pittsburgh Pride in the Street, March for Equality and PrideFest. Commemorating the history altering 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City and reflecting this year’s theme of “All You Need is Love,” the weekend’s Pride in the Street portion was originally to feature Grammy-nominated songwriter and rapper Iggy Azalea on June 13. The Delta Foundation’s choice to book Azalea sparked widespread debate and controversy locally, leading to the creation of a Facebook page with 980-plus supporters who are boycotting and criticizing the decision, and have planned alternate events. Many in the LGBTQ community believe that prior statements made by the rapper are racist and homophobic. Learn more about these protest activities, as well as newly added Pride Weekend events, here and on the Facebook pages and websites for the Garden of Peace Project, Roots Pride Pittsburgh and Dreams of Hope.
Update: On June 8, Azalea announced that she was cancelling her appearance at Pittsburgh’s Pride in the Street. On June 10, The Delta Foundation announced that singer, songwriter and actor Nick Jonas will be the new headliner for Pride in the Street, which takes place from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. downtown along Liberty Ave. A multi-platinum selling recording artist, Jonas released his second eponymous solo album in 2014. Additional performers for Pride in the Street include DJ Digital Dave, DJ Strobe, Thea Trix, Chance Encounters and Steel Pan Pittsburgh. Purchase tickets.
The festivities kick off with a Pub Crawl on June 12, and the culminate at the signature March for Equality and PrideFest on June 14. Sunday’s march starts at noon at the corner of Grant St. and Blvd. of the Allies. Free and family-friendly, Sunday’s daylong PrideFest, which takes place from 1 to 6:30 p.m. downtown along Liberty Ave., will feature 150-plus street performers, dance companies, drag queens and kings, musicians, food purveyors, games and additional attractions.
June 13: Dreams of Hope’s First Take: Mobile Media Classroom at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. Ever wonder how animations are made? Want to learn more about LGBTQA arts in Pittsburgh and get involved? Head to TRAF’s Giant Eagle Creativity Zone on June 13 to meet artists from Dreams of Hope—a grassroots arts organization that works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied youth in Pittsburgh—as you learn creative new skills, and help to make an original animation.
And mark your calendars now for the iLaugh Comedy Show: Pride in Pittsburgh production on June 26 at Cruze Bar, as well as Pittsburgh Black Pride events taking place July 20 – 31.
