Prepping for Pride: The Many Ways to Celebrate this Month

For the first time in three years, all Denver Pride events will be live and in-person, June 25 and 26! No matter where you fall on the LGBTQ spectrum, there are many ways to celebrate.

History

If you’re not aware already, you might try to learn more about the reasons behind Pride, how it came to be, and why it matters so much—not only to the LGBTQ community, but to the world at large. Even if you’ve been celebrating Pride for years, there’s always something new to learn or understand better.

Read more about the history of the Pride movement or discover the joys (or sorrows) of LGBTQ non-fiction (think biographies), fiction (think Armistead Maupin, Edmund White, Larry Kramer, etc.), or movies (Boys in the Band, Paris is Burning, etc.). Consider hosting a Pride film night as great theme for a quiet stay-at-home party! You can decorate and create dishes to serve inspired by one or all of them.

Buy from the LGBTQ Community.

If you can’t make it to a Pride Month march or are unable to volunteer your time, buying from creators and artists in the LGBTQ community is a powerful way to show you care about the Pride movement.

Visit your local LGBTQ-friendly coffee shop or restaurant often and support artists in the community by buying their work and promoting it to your friends. Another way you can help is by sharing amazing artists and makers on your social media. Your friends and followers can discover someone new and perhaps make a purchase.

Volunteer or Donate to Causes.

Celebrating Pride isn’t just about showing up to an event, rally, or parade. You can also lend your support by volunteering your time or donating to causes that support the LGBTQ rights movement and queer community.

If you’re not sure where to start, you might try contacting the folks at The Center, a registered nonprofit organization that provides year-round programs and services for the Denver LGBTQ community. Denver Pride is produced by them every year. You might be able to volunteer your time or knowledge or give a monthly or one-off donation to a relevant charity in support of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect the community.

Plan a Party.

• Pride-themed dinner
  
  Pick up a selection of baking and cookbooks authored by LGBTQ creators and choose your favorite recipes to recreate. Make it a party by challenging your friends and family to do the same, then get together and decide whose dish is the best.
  
  Here’s a short-list:
  Bowl: Vegetarian Recipes for Ramen, Pho, Bibimbap, Dumplings, and Other One-Dish Meals by Lukas Volger
  Recipe to try: Spring Ramen with Snap Peas
  
  Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home Cooking Triumphs by Julia Turshen
  Recipe to try: Aunt Renee’s Chicken Soup & Sour Cream Pancakes with Roasted Blueberries
  
  Sweet & Southern: Classic Desserts with a Twist by Ben Mims
  Recipe to try: Chess Squares
  
  
• Prime-themed game night
  
  There’s nothing more fun than a few rounds of trivia, which makes for a fun and accessible way to celebrate Pride. Find or write your own trivia questions for your guests to test their understanding of key themes such as gender identity, LGBTQ civil rights, and more.
  
  For this sort of party, small plates and pitchers of cocktails will enhance the fun. Check out Tasty Pride by Jesse Szewczyk and Tasty and Queer Cocktails by Lewis Laney
  
  
• Rainbows everywhere
  
  If you’re looking for a classic theme for your Pride party, it doesn’t get better than the rainbow. Set up a rainbow balloon arch, pick up rainbow-themed table supplies, and decorate your party venue with everything bright and colorful.
  
  Also great are the many rainbow-themed culinary items you can purchase for the occasion. Two favorites to top off a rainbow party—the Rainbow Cake by The Goddess and Grocer (sold by Goldbelly) or the Pride Rainbow Cake Pops (sold by Harry and David).

Celebrate with Your Local Drag Queens and Kings.

Denver has a thriving drag queen scene and nothing gets a party started quicker than celebrating beauty, fashion and fun when spending time at brunch, dinner or after-hours with our local drag queens and kings. Hamburger Mary’s, Triangle, X Bar, and Denver Milk Market host some of the liveliest.

New on the scene is a fun brunch experience hosted at a pop-up event space in the Denver area called the INTUEAT Kitchen. It’s a drag brunch unlike any other in Denver! Chef Shaun Longley presents a different monthly delicious multi-course brunch (think prix fixe) while being entertained by the vivacious Lulu Alnite (and rotating co-hostess). Seating is limited and because it is, guests are treated to one of the most intimate drag shows you’ll ever experience.

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There are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride this month, and hopefully this handy list can act as jumping-off point for an eventful month ahead.

Happy Pride!