If you are looking for ways to celebrate pride, learning the movement’s history while supporting local LGBTQ+ businesses and charities, then you will want to know what parades and outdoor celebrations you should attend.
There are also other ways to celebrate pride, and this article outlines some of the best means of doing so.
1. Learn The History of Pride
While most people will know what pride is, not everyone will have awareness of its history.
Pride month first started as a means of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on their rights and remembering the trailblazers of the past.
These iconic historical figures paved the way for modern day LGBTQ+ rights during riots known as the Stonewall Riots that took place in New York in 1969.
Therefore, not only is pride historically significant, it also showcases a celebration of love and expression that would not be openly possible if it wasn’t for the sacrifices made by these rioters.
Pride also allows members of the community to celebrate each other through uplifting celebrations.
2. Decorate Your Home Using Pride Decor
Pride is the perfect time to decorate your home with celebratory rainbows! It is the occasion when LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies that truthfully celebrate their identity and showcase love.
If you feel the desire to express the spirit of pride within your household, then you should decorate your home using pride-themed ornaments and flags.
You can proudly display a rainbow flag in your yard, or design a customized sign to showcase your support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Personalizing your home using pride decor is a great way of showcasing your self-love, and it is also a great way for allies to show their solidarity.
This is because visual symbols of pride are important social signifiers that showcase the evolution of the community’s rights.
3. Attend A Parade
Pride parades are a tradition within cities across the United States, particularly in cities that contain a strengthened LGBTQ+ community and many advocates.
Cities across the globe also host pride parades, inviting celebrities, influencers, and artists to appear. While there are numerous ways that you can celebrate Pride Month, many will adore the variety of sounds and sights at these parades.
A parade also provides you with a wonderful sensory experience that showcases the essence of what pride is about.
It is also a brilliant opportunity to introduce children into the diverse spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, encouraging them to be embracing of all people.
Pride parades are a wholeheartedly wonderful learning experience, and they are also incredibly fun.
4. Watch LGBTQ+ Films & Television Shows. Read LGBTQ+ Literature
One of the best ways of doing this is to watch LGBTQ+ films and tv shows. You can also read LGBTQ+ literature, in order to obtain the knowledge required to immerse yourself in the culture of the community.
For a wonderful evening, we recommend getting some warm fleece blankets and snuggling up for a LGBTQ+ movie night! You can also host a queer book club for Pride, showcasing your favourite LGBTQ+ related books for your friends.
5. Donate To LGBTQ+ Companies And Organizations
As Pride is focused on celebrating the resiliency, beauty, and empowerment of the LGBTQ+ community, you should consider donating to causes that help to strengthen the community.
Donating to organizations is the most useful form of activism and this epitomizes walking to walk. This helps you to become involved in these organizations, and you can also make donations all year round if you wish to do so.
As well as financial contributions, you can also donate knowledge, and food.
Irrespective of whether you are volunteering or donating for a great cause, there are numerous ways that you can support those who are fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.
6. Showcase Your Pride Through Your Clothing
The best way to showcase your self-love during pride month is to wear LGBQT+ friendly clothing. You can also personalize your pride gear via websites like Shutterfly.
You can purchase a range of Pride-inspired clothing, ranging from cloth face masks and customized hoodies to socks! Any allies can also showcase their solidarity by wearing pride-related apparel.
Half of the fun of attending a pride event is showcasing your outfit, and finding apparel that harnesses self-love and empowerment is key.
7. Create Custom Pride Cards & Accessories
Sending a greeting card alongside some pride-related accessories is the best way to celebrate pride with your loved ones.
You can capture the community spirit of pride by connection with your LGBQT+ friends and allies through a customized greeting card.
Many card stores will feature collections of cards that celebrate Pride, and sending one of these is a great way to showcase your love and support for those within the community.
You can also customize a coming-out card for yourself to send to your family, or choose to send a congratulations card to a friend.
Celebrating one’s sexual orientation is so imperative and sending a card to someone who has recently come-out is a great way to showcase your support.
8. Host A Mini Parade Or Party
Sometimes, a smaller parade or house party is the best way to celebrate pride. Thus, you should consider hosting an event and inviting all of your closest friends and loved ones for a yard party.
There are numerous Pride-related themes that you can incorporate for your event. You can use rainbow-themed finger foods for an added treat, displaying rainbow coloured paper plates is also a great idea.
You can also hire an LGBQT+ DJ, or source a Spotify playlist that is specifically dedicated to LGBQT+ artists.
You can also encourage your friends and loved ones to open up and take the mic, discussing whatever Pride related topic that you want to speak on.
You can also host a story time hour during your party, where people can tell their own individual stories of strength and survival.
9. Share Your Favorite Memories Using Customized Photo Books
You can capture the essence of Pride Month by sharing photographs of your favorite moments from Pride. You can take any photos from past events, and place them into a personalized photo book for your friends and loved ones to enjoy.
Creating these customized books is also a great means of preserving the history of what Pride means for yourself. It is important to relate to the pride within you, and to appreciate the journey that you may have taken.
Irrespective of whether these are photos of an incredible dance party, a festival you were part of, or a delicious brunch, placing pictures into a phonebook is a great way of highlighting the journey that you and your loved ones have taken.
You could even transform these phonebooks into a gift for a member of the LGBTQ+ community if you consider yourself to be an ally.
10. Create Your Own Pride Art
A highly creative means of celebrating Pride Month, is to make your own artwork that showcases your support of the LGBTQ+ community. This artwork can also be sold in a digital format, through the form of an NFT.
However you choose to create your Pride artwork, you should showcase your pride in yourself through an assortment of colorful creations.
Making your own artwork is also a great way to get children involved in Pride, ensuring that they grow up to be as inclusive as possible.
If you are far away from your loved ones during pride, then scheduling an online DIY artwork session is a great way to connect with your friends within the LGBTQ+ community, and you can create a vast array of artwork that brings you closer together in strengthened solidarity.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are numerous ways to celebrate Pride and showcase self-love within the LGBTQ+ community. Above, I have outlined ten ways that you can celebrate pride this year, ensuring that you make the most out of this annual occasion.
In my opinion, it is crucial to understand the historical significance of Pride, and thus, I would advise that you celebrate it by watching LGBTQ+ related films and documentaries that outline the start of the movement and the progress that has been made.
There is still a long way to go in achieving true equality, and thus, awareness is key.
If you are a lover of parties, then attending a parade or hosting your own party is a great way to ensure that you are celebrating pride and showcasing your joy.
You can invite friends from within the LGBQT+ community, and allies. You can also customize your clothing to further showcase your pride, while adding Pride-related decor to your home is another way to demonstrate your resilience.
Placing a flag outside the front of your home is a great way to showcase your allyship or membership of the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you for reading.
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
I love sharing my travel stories with anyone who will listen, and now I want to share them with the world through my new website! Not only that, but I want to inspire others and teach you about LGBTQ+ travel, queer media, pride, and much more.
Enjoy my website and, more importantly, enjoy learning about important subjects that need more educational attention. Thanks for stopping by!
