By: Lauren Wallace, SFU Student 

From Stonewall to stoned tights, Pride means a lot of things to a whole variety of folks, and if you’re new to the scene, it can feel overwhelming to find an event that fits you. Here’s a handy starter guide to navigate YVR’s LGBTQ+ summer fun! Find this piece online for links to all of the events.

Start up the Party: Can’t wait until August to flaunt your rainbow threads? Kick off Pride with a jam-packed night at Celebrities on July 31. Sign up for their guest list to avoid the lines and get right to the fun. Modern club nights not really your thing? Enjoy a more subdued but equally fun launch to August’s festivities at Jazz Up Pride over at XY to get in the mood for one hell of a gay summer.

Life’s a Drag, Be a Queen! : Vancouver is a Canadian jewel in the legendary West Coast drag scene. If death drops, lip-syncs, tea, and shade are your style, be sure to check out Fierce Queen August 4 at the Rickshaw. Local talent, gorgeous Queens, and the RuPaul icon herself, Aja, are more than enough reason to drink, dance, and listen to some quali-tea reads.

Loud and Out! :Follow up your night at Fierce Queen with the 40th Annual Vancouver Pride Society Parade. Be loud, be proud, march, party, cheer, and generally embrace how colourful our community can be! The parade starts at 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 5.

Beach Bums: Long walks not your style? Hit up the Sunset Beach Festival on August 6 (as of 11:00 AM), and dance your way through the day! There are so many parade after-parties it’s hard to keep track, so find one that fits your own rainbow preferences and have a blast! There’s also a Family Fun Zone, to make sure there’s a little something for everybody who’s proud.

Showtime: Theatre Under the Stars is running the musical 42nd Street. On July 30, adult tickets will all be $10 off, and according to their site: “All seat cushion and programme profits will be matched by TUTS and donated to VPS for the Community Partnerships Program. Use the promo code: “VANPRIDE” [when buying your tickets online, in advance].” Other movies are projected throughout Pride including Moulin Rouge and Mamma Mia (the latter being a sing-along). If queer movies are your thing, check out the Vancouver Queer Film Festival from August 9 to 19.

Looking for more? The Vancouver Pride Society’s full calendar is available online, with more events that are more specific to various communities or interests — like the Shabbat Dinner with Pride Colours.

Prideful, But Mindful  

In recent years, many members of the community have begun to speak out against how Pride is celebrated in communities around the world. Here in Vancouver, there is a growing movement against mixing Pride with corporations, government, and most especially law enforcement. As Black Lives Matter and other marginalized groups speak out against VPD involvement in the festivities, many members of the community are left wondering exactly what events they feel comfortable or responsible attending. Here’s a selection of events for folks who don’t wish to participate in official Vancouver Pride activities.

Let’s have a KiKi! : Want to have a little taste of everything? Ready to party the house down boots? Want to support charity and independent programming? Vancouver Art and Leisure is holding their 3rd Annual Alternative Pride Festival, sprawled over five days, 20 events and 10 locations, you are in for a wild (and not-government sponsored) ride! Check out their website to make sure you don’t miss a single second!

Voice Proud, Voice Loud: Want to express your opinion about pride? Support alternative methods and lend your strength and time to the hardworking folks who are protesting? Keep Pride rooted in its Stonewall origins? March on Pride, organized by Black Lives Matter, is being held on July 21, before the rest of Pride gets underway.

Missing the “Kiss-Ins”: Vancouver has a really vibrant LGBTQ2IA+ scene, as evidenced by all the fantastic events we’re highlighting here. But we weren’t always embraced so tenderly by our community. If you would like to spend your Pride days remembering that history and learning about how the sexual revolution overturned oppression here in our own YVR, take a spin on The Really Gay History Tour, which during Pride (July 22–August 4) takes place every day at 2 p.m. Won’t be around in August? Don’t worry, it runs every Sunday until October.

Lesbehonest : For women loving women and allies of women loving women, The Vancouver Dyke March will be taking place on August 4, starting in McSpadden Park, followed by a festival full of artists and vendors, with activities for all ages. The Vancouver Dyke March and Festival Society, a small grassroots non-profit organization, is hosting the event.  

Full Stomach, Full Heart: Let’s be real: you’re here, you’re queer, but you also want food. You want a fun, indie event that’s full of all the gay that you and your friends are. Late Night Snack Pride (August 3) has you covered. Eat, drink, watch some amazing drag performances by local queens, and take a load off your feet because henny, you deserve it.

Before you Go

So, you’ve picked your events, your schedule is booked beyond belief, and you’ve gathered your friends. Now what? How do you get started? What do you wear?

Our best advice is to be yourself, ask for help if you get lost confused, and by the ghost of Harvey Milk, please wear sunscreen if you’re going to any long marches or party-hardy festivals. Make sure to check each of our events posted for accessibility info, age limitations, ticket prices and dress codes.

Are you an old hat at these shindigs? Great! Consider spending your Pride with someone who is brand new. Pride is all about learning, sharing experiences, and being unapologetically yourself in every colourful facet of being that you are, so the more you can lend to someone who is new to the fold, the better.

Whatever kind of Pride you wish to celebrate, share yours with the world, because your voice and your love deserves the spotlight.