Celebrate Pride Month from Home in Rhode Island

June in Providence for many is synonymous with Rhode Island PrideFest. Downtown explodes with color, food vendors, businesses, nonprofits, festival-goers, entertainment acts, and, of course, the Illuminated Night Parade. But, due to health and safety concerns, the Rhode Island Pride Board of Directors decided to postpone the event – but not their efforts. Between RI Pride and the many other LGBTQ+ associations around the city and state, Pride Month celebrations are anything but canceled.

1. Rhode Island Pride partners with Mayor Elorza for a live-streamed Pride flag raising, which includes a procession of flag photos submitted by community members. Stay tuned for streaming details on Facebook.

2. The City Council and City Archives have paired up to highlight the history of LGBTQIA+ rights in Providence and stories of today’s community and allies in an online exhibit, which will be updated with survey submissions throughout the month of June. 

3. The second installment of Pride ArtFest still supports and showcases LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives – just this time online, including a virtual gallery and auction. 

4. For young members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Youth Pride Inc. has leapt into action with online offerings, including the YPI Leadership Program via Zoom, peer-led “Gender Spectrum” support group, digital Dungeons & Dragons instructional and gameplay sessions with The Imagination Guild, and “The Way Out” discussion group on various topics. 

5. You might be missing Hosting Thursday nights at EGO Providence, but thanks to Twitch TV, you can still live-stream your favorite EGO girls Pulp, Kira, Annie, and Complete, plus special guests. Dates TBA.

6. Askew Providence has shuffled its variety shows to a virtual venue, so even if we can’t converge on quirky, community bistro for the Sweet Little Pride Show, we can hopefully still catch it online June 11.