Baltimore Pride 2017: Today We Celebrate By Thea Harvey-Brown
It’s pride month here in Baltimore, a time to celebrate the city’s thriving LGBTQI community and rally for the work that still needs to be done. This year, the parade and block party move up from Mount Vernon—the celebration’s long-time location—to Station North, Old Goucher, and Charles Village. The adjustment seems appropriate, as the queer community has shifted away from the Mt. Vernon “gayborhood” in favor of these northern enclaves.
The origins of Baltimore Pride date back to 1975. This year feels especially vital, with Drumpf as president and his side-piece Mike Pence spitting homophobic and transphobic rhetoric. But pride is a time to push aside the ugly stuff of our nation and take a moment to smile, party, and be proud. Optimism sees the spotlight as we raise the rainbow flag.
The day after the election, many people shared the quote, “Today we mourn. Tomorrow we organize.” Pride inverts the former: Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we organize.
We’ve rounded up a list of weekend events, from the Pride Block Party and parade, to poetry slams, performances, and parties.
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Robert O’Hara’s BootyCandy
Ongoing, June 9 – 19
Iron Crow Theatre | 45 W Preston St | Tickets
Robert O’Hara’s semi-biographical subversive comedy tells the story of Sutter, who is on an outrageous odyssey through his childhood home, his church, dive bars, motel rooms, and even nursing homes. O’Hara weaves together scenes, sermons, sketches, and daring meta-theatrics to create a kaleidoscope that interconnects to portray growing up gay and black.
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Queer, There, and Everywhere
Thursday, June 15: 7:30PM
Red Emma’s | 30 W North Ave | Info
World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—and you’ve never heard of many of them. Join us on June 15 to welcome Author Sarah Prager as she delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. By turns hilarious and inspiring, the beautifully illustrated Queer, There, and Everywhere is for anyone who wants the real story of the queer rights movement.
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Parkway Theatre Pride: All GLBTQ Films on All Screens All Week!
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway
5 W North Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
To celebrate Baltimore Pride 2017, the Parkway Theatre is going all-GLBTQ on all 3 screens all week!
Check out what we have to offer from Friday June 16 through Thursday June 22: documentaries and narratives, comedies and dramas, short films and features, new and old, all celebrating GLBTQ Pride! Showtimes and advance ticket sales coming soon. More info here.
2nd Annual Baltimore Pride Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Friday, June 16: 7 – 11 PM
Impact Hub Baltimore | 10 E North Ave | Tickets
The GLCCB’s Giovanni’s Room & The Black Rainbow’s OUTSpoken Open Mics are joining forces to kick off your Baltimore Pride weekend with a one-of-a-kind Open Mic & Poetry Slam! Come out to witness 8 of Baltimore’s fiercest LGBTQ poets share their phenomenal tales! Winners will receive cash prizes up to $300!!
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Block Party: The Dance Stage
Saturday, June 17: 4 PM – 10 PM
Y Not Lot | N Charles St & North Ave | Info
The Baltimore Music Collective & Symbiotic are teaming up to bring the dance to PRIDE once again!
Located in the Y Not Lot on the corner of North Ave & N Charles St, the Symbiotic booming sound system & these awesome DJs will have you dancing in the streets from the afternoon thru the night…
Featured DJs: Life on Planets (dj set) w/ Alex Egner; Carolyn Victorian & DJ Oji (live); DJ Pope; FAQ; Malphunktion; The OGs; Lemz
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Pride Festival: The Dance Stage
Sunday, June 18 11AM – 6 PM
Druid Hill Park | 900 Druid Park Lake Dr | Info
Located in the Chinese Pavillion at Druid Hill Park, the Symbiotic booming sound system & these awesome DJs will have you dancing all afternoon!
Featured DJs: Deep Sugar Residents – Ultra Nate, Lisa Moody, Wayne Davis & The Elders; Alex Funk; DJ Figment; DJ Powerline; Beast
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Big Freedia headlines the GLCCB block party
Saturday, June 17
Station North | N Charles St & North Ave
Big Freedia is New Orleans-Based rapper known as the Queen of Bounce. A vibrant twist on hip-hop, Bounce music is characterized by call-and-response lyrics over rapid-fire beats and booty-shaking.
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IDOLS VS ICONS Burl-eoke!
Saturday, June 17: 10:45 PM
The Crown | 1910 N Charles St
4 of your favorite Icons dance to whatever our singing Idols want to sang! YOU decide the winner!
Dr. Ginger Snapz as Mariah Carey
Amira Jade as Prince
Sally Stardust as Bowie
And Bunny Vishus as Grace Jones
Food and drink specials! $15! Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm.
A Portion of the ticket price goes to the GLCCB to ensure that Baltimore Pride celebrations get better every year!
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