More Ways to Celebrate Pride Month 2021

Pride Month is here and it’s time to celebrate! There are a number of events and special programs happening to commemorate Pride and the queer community around Lincoln Square and the city this June. We’ve listed a few ideas below!

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is celebrating Pride Month with a slate of online programming, research resources, and reading recommendations that amplify LGBTQ+ voices, history, and experiences. Click here to view the programming—the first event on Thursday, June 10 at 7:00pm will feature Photojournalist and former New York Times multimedia journalist Jamal Jordan sharing his photographic celebration of the love and relationships of queer people of color. Click here for more information. Click here to check out all of the NYPL’s events, resources, and reading recommendations for Pride.

Senior Planet is hosting some free, virtual events for Pride Month 2021, including a discussion on the “dos and don’ts” of online dating for LGBTQ+ older adults on Friday, June 11 at 2:00pm and an LGBTQ+ mixer for older adults on Wednesday, June 30 at 4:30pm. Click here to view the events.

Lincoln Center Restart Stages is partnering with the National Queer Theater for Pride programming and special performances. The first performance, <<when we write with ashes>>, will premiere on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00pm and details a story of love complicated by fascism, eroticism and—ultimately—death. The second work titled This is Not a Memorized Script, This is a Well-Rehearsed Story  will premiere on Friday, June 25 at 7:00pm and tells the lived experience and evolution of a creative queer scholar and a lover. Both events are free through the TodayTix lottery and will take place at The Isabel and Peter Malkin Stage at Hearst Plaza. Other events happening to honor pride include, Treya Lam’s headlining debut of politically charged songwriting and fluent instrumental prowess, an outrageous and gender-busting solo musical theater performance called LatinXoxo, and more. Click here to browse upcoming Restart Stages performances. A rainbow light installation is also set up at Lincoln Center’s iconic fountain again (pictured).

Join the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and the Neighborhood Stories Project at DORIS (NYC Department of Records and Information Services) in celebrating the lived experiences of members of the City’s LGBTQ+ communty through art, music, and storytelling. Tune into Neighborhood Stories: Voices of Pride, a free online variety show hosted by Andres Chulisi Rodriguez on June 25th at 7:00pm. Click here to RSVP and view the programming and special guests.  

Now on view at the Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle), Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe: Tabernacles for Trying Times connects the couple’s dynamic explorations of abstraction and craft to their radical activism in lesbian and queer politics—a theme especially relevant for Pride Month. Click here for tickets to the exhibit, on display through February 2022. Then, enjoy an online conversation on Monday, June 28 at 7:00pm on art and queer activism featuring chief curator Elissa Auther, curatorial assistant Alida Jekabson, and artists Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe. Hear about their long-standing artistic and political commitments, including Moyer's history of graphic design work with her project Dyke Action Machine! and Pepe's experiences working across the craft and art worlds, each addressing issues vital to lesbian survival and visibility. Ask all your questions in the interactive Q&A. Click here to RSVP to the event—tickets are $10 and free for members.

Raise your pinkies to Drag Brunch at Bluebird London (10 Columbus Circle) every Sunday in June and July from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Tickets include a Bottle of Bubbles and a Royal Tea Tower for Two, plus limited VIP tickets are available to enjoy the performances with Premier Seating and a complimentary Specialty Cocktail. There are new performances scheduled every week. Click here for ticket packages and more information. 

Other ways to celebrate pride:

For Pride Month, Kiehl’s Since 1851 (154 Columbus Ave at 67th Street) is supporting the Trevor Project by donating proceeds from the Kiehl’s Limited Edition PRIDE Ultra Facial Cream to the organization’s life-saving programming. Click here to learn more.

CorePower Yoga (2030 Broadway at 70th Street) is also supporting the Trevor Project on Thursday, June 17 with all-day programming of free live classes online. Each class will put up a donation link and all donations will benefit The Trevor Project. Stay tuned after class for a link to donate! Save your spot for classes here. You can also show your pride both on and off the mat with CorePower Yoga’s rainbow-themed tees, tanks and yoga gear here.

Celebrate Pride Month by sharing the stories of women who fought for LGBTQ+ rights! Help WomensActivisim.NYC build NYC's first permanent digital archive honoring the contributions of women from around the world. Click here to learn more and share a story.

You can also grab a ticket to Film at Lincoln Center’s (70 Lincoln Center Plaza) in-person screening of Summer of ’85, a queer coming of age story about a young teen boy and his bittersweet summer romance, which premiered virtually through the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2021 festival. The film opens Friday, June 18 and you can find tickets closer to the opening date here.

For those of us with a sweet tooth, Magnolia Bakery (200 Columbus Ave at 69th Street & 1794 Broadway at 58th Street) is celebrating Pride Month this June with Pride-themed rainbow confetti cake, cupcakes, banana pudding, and more. Head to a store or browse what’s available online here.

WABC-TV Channel 7 will be covering the Pride Parade this year, learn more about it here. And check out NYC & Co.'s official Pride Month guide here. 

Happy Pride Month!

Photo credit: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts