5 Best Things To Do at NYC Pride 2022

Pride Month is in full swing! There are incredible offerings in almost every major city in the country for great ways to celebrate Pride, but one city in particular consistently offers one of the densest and Queerest roster of events from which to choose: the city that started it all, New York City. NYC has consistently defined, re-defined, and then re-defined again the cultural standards by which society addresses its Queerness. The Stonewall Inn Riots famously launched the modern-day Gay Rights movement in 1969, and the (predominantly Black, Latinx, and Trans) Queer community of the Ball culture have arguably done more to shape Queer vernacular, fashion, and dance than any other subculture in the world. So what does NYC have in store for us this Pride Month? Here is a look at some of the best things to do if you're near the NYC area this month.

LadyLand

This weekend, June 17th, the incredible LadyLand festival returns to Avant Gardner in Brooklyn and it is decidedly an event you don't want to miss. Presented by LadyFag, LadyLand consistently features some of the best DJs and singers you can hope to dance to, and this year is no different. This year's LadyLand Festival features Honey Dijon and singer Tinashe, as well as Sevdaliza, Shygirl, TR/ST, and others, but if you know the NYC dance scene at all, you'll know that list is already enough to get your ass to Brooklyn this weekend. LadyLand starts at 8pm and tickets can be bought here.

Pride Night at the Mets

Now, maybe you're not looking to hit up the bar scene on Saturday, June 17th. Maybe you want to relax under the open night sky at 8pm and watch a bunch of gorgeous jocks in tight pants and bulging cups run around and chase balls. If that's your idea of a great night, then Pride Night at Citi Field could be the best way to spend the evening! We have to accept that with progress comes the mainstream, so The Mets' Pride Night at CitiField is Sponsored by Amtrak and Cool Cat Wine Spritzer. That entire statement is real and legit cracks me up every time I see it. But to the closeted kid just starting to figure shit out, I know that visibility does matter and does have an impact. If you're a Queer Mets fan, go get your tickets to Pride Night here.

Queer Liberation March

Am I ultimately happy that Amtrak and Cool Cat Wine Spritzer are sponsoring the Mets' Pride Night at CitiField? Of course. Like I said, I know the visibility matters. But do I also think it's incredibly important for us to remember that corporations have avoided embracing our community in any way, shape, or form for the last century or so? Absofuckinglutely. Pride as we know it exists because a bunch of faggots chose to stand up, and (led by the Black, Brown, and Trans members of our community) fought back against the NYC Police Dept. in what would become known as the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Pride Parades are great, but a march reminding us that Queer Liberation doesn't exist until everyone is liberated is even better in my book. The Queer Liberation March is being organized with zero corporate sponsorship, and the police are not being involved. Details:

Pride Island

One of the classic ways to celebrate Pride Month is with a big-ass dance party filled with as many gays as you can shake a dick at. And possibly the biggest of the big-ass dance parties in NYC is Pride Island. Pride Island is back this year, and in its huge new location, Governor's Island. Headlining the first night of the two-day event is Brooklyn native and icon Lil Kim, along with Queer badass RAYE, quirk-pop queen Netta, and Queer art collective Papi Juice. Headlining the second night of Pride Island is Gay fave Kim Petras, who never fails to deliver an incredible concert. Pride Island will be on Saturday, June 25th and Sunday, June 26th, and tickets can be bought here.

Free Vogue Workshop

Do you love FX's POSE? Are you obsessed with the legends of HBO Max's Legendary? Do you find yourself wishing you could slay the entire room and vogue with the best of them before you drop into a dip and get 10s across the board? Then I've got the perfect event for you: Vogue Fundamentals with Cesar Valentino. This FREE event is on Saturday, June 25th in New York's historic Harlem neighborhood, birthplace of some of the most badass Queers the world has known. Valentino is a ball room icon who has been voguing for almost 40 years. The workshop will give students a better understanding of vogue fundamentals, as well as teach them to pop, dip, and spin with grace and precision. Students are encouraged to bring heels, although they're definitely not required. If you're in the NYC area and looking to vivify your vogue skills, then get your tickets here.

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