Pride Month returns to Twin Cities with flying colors after pandemic restrictions
(KSTP)
After two years of modified events, Pride Month is back in full swing in the Twin Cities.
The 50th annual Twin Cities Pride festival will feature local BIPOC and LGBTQ+ vendors, according to its website.
The Loring Park festival will take place June 25-26.
OutFront Minnesota will sponsor a series of pop-up events throughout the month.
Highlights are a 21+ queer prom and an alcohol-free event.
Many other events seem just as unique as the members of the LGBTQ+ community.
For those who are LGBTQ+ and 50+, Rainbow Health is throwing an Elder Pride Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 25.
The elders event is free to attend, and East Side Neighborhood Services can provide assisted transportation to and from select neighborhoods.
For animal lovers, the Puppies & Pumps event in Stillwater will feature adoptable puppies from For Furever Rescue alongside a drag show.
The Celtic Junction Arts Center in St. Paul is bringing Latino drag performers for a party that begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 17.
Partying continues on June 25 for a 12-hour-long Crawl With US bar crawl beginning at noon. A portion of proceeds will go to the Trevor Project, which provides crisis services to LGBTQ+ youth.
Although Pride is widely held as a celebration, the month of June is also a time to learn about LGBTQ+ history and current issues.
While queer individuals have existed across civilizations and time, the most notable American Pride moment was the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which is a turning point beginning to be credited to Black transgender women like activist Marsha P. Johnson.
A timeline of LGBTQ+ history in America can be found here.
A recent flood of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, examples below, has put many community members and activists on edge.
Follow 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS throughout the month for coverage of Pride Month news.
Scroll to see Pride Month messages from around the Twin Cities.