Celebrate Pride 2021 in Boston

Pride Month honors the Stonewall rebellion, a series of demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in June of 1969, which were the response to incidents of police brutality against queer and trans individuals at New York City’s Stonewall Inn. Pride celebrates queer identities of all kinds and recognizes the significant impacts that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals have had locally and nationally. LGBTQ+ Pride is also inextricably linked with the Black Lives Matter movement and the movement for Black Trans Lives, so this month, we encourage you to seek out events, celebrations, and opportunities for community activities that focus on creating a happier, healthier, and safer environment for QTPOC Bostonians. 

For more events, check out what’s new on the ArtsBoston Calendar.

Porch Pride 2021

Saturday, June 5: From the team behind the podcast Lez Hang Out, Porch Pride is a socially distant and safe way to celebrate Pride outside with other members of the LGBTQ community. Starting at 11 AM, head out to your porch, sidewalk, or outdoor space with your Pride gear for a collective moment of celebration! After blasting the music with your neighbors, tune into virtual programming including opening remarks from Representative Ayanna Pressley,  a panel on LGBTQ+ representation in comics, trivia, live music, and an evening afterparty for the adults in the family covering topics on lesbian experiences, representation, culture, life, and love.

2021 Quincy Pride Festival

Sunday, June 6: Be a part of the first annual Quincy Pride Day! All are welcome to come out to Pageant Field from 12 PM – 4 PM ET and celebrate families and community with guest speakers, drag performances, puppetry, and even a Pride dog pageant!

Alice in Rainbowland

June 10 – 30: Queer Bodies in Motion is a dance project aiming to build awareness of LGBTQ discrimination and celebrate queer identity. Its debut artistic endeavor, Alice in Rainbowland, is a re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland told through dance, music, and LGBTQ Pride. This collaborative show is devised by and highlights queer artists and allies—including dancers, musicians, and the creative community from Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

Pride 2021 with Boston Gay Men’s Chorus

Saturday, June 12 & Sunday, June 13: Celebrate Pride 2021 with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. The music will stir, inspire and bring joy as we celebrate LGBTQ+ dignity and diversity. Mayor Kim Janey and Gov. Charlie Baker join our 2021 virtual Pride concert. The show includes BGMC favorites and the premiere of our latest Virtual Video: “This Is Me.”

Cambridge LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration

Saturday, June 12: The Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission presents two one-hour Pride https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/lgbtqpluscommissionevents at Starlight Square: one for family audiences featuring interactive art and entertainment from local artist Bren Bataclan,  and a second geared towards a general audience. The second performance features musicians Taína Asili, a New York-based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker, and activist, and Evan Greer, a radical queer riot-folk musician.

Trans Resistance March

June 12: Trans Resistance MA hosts an outdoor march and gathering at Franklin Park with speeches and performances by trans artists and community members. Follow Trans Resistance MA on Instagram to find out how you can show up, show your support, volunteer, and donate funds, PPE, and water for organizers and safety on the day of.

The Boston Project Podcast: The Usual Unusual

Ongoing: From SpeakEasy Stage Company and directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, The Usual Unusual by MJ Halberstadt is an audio play that tells the story of a scrappy and quaint bookstore where Boston’s LGBTQ+ community has gathered to shop, organize, and flirt since the 70’s. With their founder retiring, staff members must figure out how to pass the leadership and legacy of the beloved shop, instead of closing the store, and coordinate events that unite the community, and also stoke generational debates about identity, trauma, and community, leading to heartfelt discussions and hilarious moments.

Have an event you want us to know about? Upload your event to the ArtsBoston Calendar here, or contact us for more information.

Header photo: Lilly Rose Valore as “Alice” in Alice in Rainbowland | Image by Carven Boursiquot of Carven Creative Media.

Elena Morris (she/her/hers) is ArtsBoston’s Community Outreach and Marketing Manager. She is a dramaturg and arts administrator passionate about forward-thinking in the arts. Elena holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University, focusing her studies on dramatic literature and movement.
 @elena_pearl  @elena_pearl