25 Ways to Celebrate Pride in Philadelphia

It’s Pride week, Philadelphia! There are so many ways to celebrate this week outside the annual parade and festival at Penn’s Landing. We’ve rounded up as many as we could find happening between now and Sunday—from block parties and art exhibits to dyke marches and, yes, the festival at Penn’s Landing. Happy Pride, y’all!

Tuesday, June 9th

• Philly Dyke March Craft and Community Night: The ladies of Philly Dyke March and their tried-and-true supporters are gathering at William Way to make signs for Saturday’s Philly Dyke March. 6 pm, William Way Community Center.

Wednesday, June 10th

Photo from Philly DykeMarch Facebook page.

• HOME, Occasionette and P’unk Burger are joining forces for this month’s QOTA. The team is hosting an evening of food, drinks and fun to enjoy inside and out. 6pm, P’unk Burger.

• Hollingsworth Versus Perry: A Revolutionary Decision: Join renowned legal scholar Kenji Yoshino this Tuesday at the National Constitution Center as he presents a lecture and discussion on Hollingsworth versus Perry, the trial that Yoshino believes will be the definitive case for marriage equality. While you’re there, stop in to visit the Constitution Center’s new LGBT exhibit, “Speaking Out for Equality.” 6:30pm, $10, National Constitution Center. —Bryan Buttler

• Brittany Lynn’s Swinging 70s Laugh-a-Go-Go: After that join Philly’s hardest working and most ambitious-minded drag queen Brittany Lynn upstairs. She has culled a host of local talents—from burlesquers and comedians and go-go boys and drag queens for an evening of variety show-style LOLs in the space formerly known as Sisters. 9 pm, $10, Franky Bradley’s. 

Thursday, June 11th

• TEDx Philadelphia: The theme for this week’s TEDx Philly event is “Justice for All,” and the lineup includes David Norse (pictured), the local award-winning storyteller and first openly gay Presbyterian minister to be ordained in Philadelphia. His talk will center on the reconciling of the LGBTQ and Christian identity. 9 am, $75-$500, Temple Performing Arts Center. 
• Dyke March Happy Hour Kickoff: Sing your heart out at Franky Bradley’s. Cheap drinks and karaoke will get ladies pumped to take over the streets for Saturday’s March. 5:30 pm, $5-10 sliding scale cover Franky Bradley’s.

Friday, June 12th

• Pride Kickoff Street Party: Start off your weekend right with a Gayborhood-wide block party that’ll pump you up for the weekend celebrations. Guests can dance and mingle in the streets while enjoying drink specials and music at all the bars. 6 p.m., $10, 12th and Locust streets. 
• Local LGBT Jewish consortium J. PROUD will give a warm Shabbat Shalom at NMAJH. The event will host speakers from the Israeli Consulate, as well as Brian Sims, and gourmet meals by Miss Rachel’s Pantry.  6pm, $20, National Museum of American Jewish History. 
• “Legendary: Inside the House Ballroom Scene”: The latest special exhibit at the African American Museum in Philadelphia spotlights the work of photographer Gerard Gaskin, who worked to capture the essence of the house balls that have been so crucial to the African American, Latino gay, transgender and queer communities. The Museum is hosting an opening reception on Friday, and the exhibit will be on display through August 16th. 6:30 pm, African American Museum in Philadelphia. 

Saturday, June 13th

Pavel L Photo and Video / Shutterstock.com

• Woody’s Annual Pride Block Party: hosts a block party that will come alive with the help of eccentric queens, dunk tanks, and live music. Noon-6pm, Woody’s. 
• Join a bevy of women in an uncharted march through Philly streets. This year the Philly Dyke March hosts electrifying speakers and entertainers to dazzle the crowd during the historic rally in Kahn Park. Rally begins at 3 pm,  March sets off at 4 pm, Kahn Park.  
• See who will be announced king and queen at the William Way Homecoming. An open bar, catered food and live entertainment will win over your hearts before the crowning of the Homecoming court. 6pm, $50, William Way LGBT Community Center.
• Pole-dancing party at Tabu on Saturday: Philly boys will prove they can be as unforgettable as “California Gurls.” Gingerbread Men and Cupcakes Beach Babes are summoned to join an evening of music, burlesque, and pole performances all under one Candy-themed roof. 7 pm, $8 Tabu Lounge and Spirits Bar.
• Bare: A Pop Opera: Truth Be Told Production offers the LGBT version of Spring Awakening. Bare is a coming-of-age musical about five high school seniors who discover their sexuality at Catholic boarding school. 8 pm, $25, Luna Theater Company.
• Crankshaft: The Bike Stop is throwing this strictly dress-code-enforced party that asks attendees to wear gear of all persuasions—rubber, leather, uniforms, you name it. Is your closet short on that kind of stuff? The bare minimum is jeans and a bare chest. We all have those. 9 pm, The Bike Shop.
• Philly’s hottest queens will perform acts fabulous enough to knock those fake eyelashes off.  9 pm, free, The Victoria Freehouse
• John Waters dance party at Venture Inn: The Venture Inn is stirring up something nasty. Join the filthiest people in Philadelphia at a dance party lead by “DJ Scopitine” 10 pm, free, Venture Inn.
• Stimulus Pride Party: The Official Dyke March After-Party: The March ends on the streets, but the party continues at Voyeur. Get your feet in the door for the last chance to party with Stimulus until September. 10 pm, $10, Voyer Nightclub.
• GLO: Dance Party at Franky Bradley’s the night before Pride: The sun goes down and the glow sticks come out. DJ Chris Urban will be spinning the beats you’ll be dancing to all night. 10 pm, $5, Franky Bradley’s.

Sunday, June 14th

It doesn’t get more fabulous than the Philly Pride Parade. | Shutterstock.com

• Flash your banners and wave your flags at the biggest pride parade in the region. LGBT community members and allies traipse in and out of Philly streets along a rainbow seas. Parade begins 11:30 am at 13th and Locust streets.
  
• Party at Penn’s Landing: The parade terminates at Penn’s Landing, where the LGBT Pride Festival will then kick off. Treat yourself to food, drinks, vendors, games and live performance by allies like festival headliner Fran Drescher. Festival gates open at noon at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.  
• IBA Sail with Pride Cruise: The Freedom Elite Yacht will be waving ROYGBV. After the festival, go cruising down the Delaware for a 2-hour scenic adventure. 2:30 pm, $85, 401 South Columbus Boulevard. 
• Pride Brunch with a side of Ham: Sip on bottomless mimosas at a brunch extravaganza in which ham and drag queens are the main attraction. 3 pm, free, The Victoria Freehouse.
• The Church of God In Christ in Mt. Airy will hold a gospel concert to honor AIDS Education Month. The concert will feature JJ Hariston & Youthful Praise. 5 pm, free, Mt. Airy Church Of God In Christ.
• Pride party hosted by local church: For a day of leisure, prayer and brunch, join the Broad Street Ministry’s LGBTQ fellowship. The group will host events all day long to celebrate Pride 2015. 11:20 am, Independence National Historic Park