12 Virtual Philly Pride Month Events to Add to Your Calendar Now

Though in-person large gatherings may be cancelled, you can still celebrate Pride month with these virtual Pride month events. Photograph by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA

Pride is a spectacular time for people to come together and celebrate the progress and storied history of the LGBTQ+ community. Though nearly all the usual Pride events that draw out the masses, like the Philly PrideDay Parade & Festival, have been canceled in the midst of the pandemic, Philadelphia can still celebrate online.

STORYTIME
Drag Queen Story Time with Icon Ebony Fierce
Many drag queens, including RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Nina West, have started livestreaming readings in response to the pandemic. Philly queen Icon Ebony Fierce is teaming up with Philadelphia Family Pride, a non-profit organization for LGBTQ+ families, to provide children with literary entertainment.
Accepting tips at Cashapp ($iconebonyfierce) or Venmo (@iconebonyfierce), on Facebook, Friday, June 12th at 11 a.m.

VIRTUAL PARTY
VIRTUAL Moment of Pride
Pride can be a formative moment for kids, and the library isn’t going to let them miss out this year. Ms. Naomi from the Free Library will lead a program of stories and songs to teach children about self-love, loving others, and support in a community.
Livestreamed here, Every Wednesday at 4 p.m.

EXERCISE
Philly Pride Virtual 5K
The Philly Pride Run usually occurs as two separate runs leading up to the kick off of the Philly Pride Day Parade. This year, since the parade was canceled, the fundraiser will now be a virtual run to celebrate in partnership with the William Way LGBT Community Center.
Registration is $20, and the virtual 5K must be run between June 14th at 10 a.m. and June 21st at 10 a.m. You can register and donate here.

LIVE SHOW
Black Girl Magic Philly: Revolutions
Drag queen VinChelle is hosting this live performance on Saturday, alongside 25 black entertainers from the region, with proceeds going to Black Lives Matter. The event will be livestreamed from VinChelle’s Facebook page here.
You can follow the event on Facebook here, and while there’s no cover, VinChelle will list all performers’ Venmo handles for tips during their numbers; Saturday, June 13th, 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

HAPPY HOUR
Virtual Happy Hour and LGBTQ+ History with Lili St. Queer
If you’re missing happy hour at Woody’s you’re not alone, but we have an alternative. Through the Free Library of Philadelphia, you can make a cocktail from the library’s Culinary Literacy Center and have a drink while Lili St. Queer retells an LGBTQ+ historical event.
Free registration here, every Thursday at 5th p.m.

LECTURE
In Bed With Ishmael by The Rosenbach
“Was Herman Melville in love with Nathaniel Hawthorne? Why did Queequeg and Ishmael spend so much time snuggling in Moby-Dick?” This program will introduce viewers to the Rosenbach’s collection of rare Herman Melville books, manuscripts, and artifacts to illustrate a queer and gendered approach to the understanding of Melville’s writing.
Livestreamed here, Thursday, June 18th at 7:30 p.m.

WORKSHOP
Yes Please! Healthy Sexuality Workshop
Von Eaton of the Mazzoni Center presents videos exploring topics like attraction, gender, and health in sexuality for teens. Viewers can then engage in Q&A discussions on Mondays to learn more.
Link here, Monday, June 22nd at 4 PM and Monday, June 29th at 5 p.m.

POETRY
Your Body Calls Me Home
In this livestream, playwright and University of the Arts graduate, Josh A. Campbell, reads an excerpt from his poetic take on the profound inner lives of queer black and brown millennial men. Stay tuned for the Q&A with Campbell about his work.
Free registration here, Tuesday, June 23rd at 6 p.m.

TRIVIA
Drag Queen Trivia with Brittany Lynn 
After fighting a bout of COVID-19, beloved Philly queen and Don of the city’s own Drag Mafia, Brittany Lynn is back to host more storytimes and trivia. The event is kid-friendly and better yet, free.
Free registration here, June 11th and June 18th at 11 a.m.

FILM
EduGAYtion! Film Screening
Philly’s 2019 Drag Queen of the Year has been hosting a weekly online version of her popular film viewing series since late May. Every week, you can watch a cult classic, queer documentary or fun campy movie with local queen, Drew Bev Gaver. Catch the last stream of the digital edition this week.
Livestreamed here, June 9th at 8 p.m.

FILM
qFLIX Film Festival
qFLIX’s annual film festival, like many festivals, was set to be canceled until made the shift to a digital platform. Now the region’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival will offer five weeks of queer documentaries, feature films, short films, and web series to experience from home. These films celebrate the unsung members of the community, including a film about a heartbroken Muslim gay man, a dramedy grappling with trust and jealousy, a thriller with a trans title character, and more.
$7-$10 per viewing, scheduled to be published, all throughout June

GROUP PAINT
Liberty Learning Live
In this event hosted by the National Liberty Museum, viewers can paint pride flags with museum educator Emily Mullin. Learn about the history of the flag, its importance, and the representation of each color as you add stripes using any art materials of your choosing.
Free registration here, Wednesday, June 24th at 10 a.m.