This June, we are ready to celebrate Pride Month in the USA, with parades, LGBTQIA+ festivals, and inclusive experiences. There is something for all travellers under the bright umbrella of the United States of America. Here is our guide to inclusive travel, year-round in the destinations we represent.
Boston
Boston is known for its inclusivity. As the capital city of the first state in the USA to legalise same-sex marriage, Boston stands proud, accessible, and welcoming. The city boasts one of the largest LGBTQIA+ populations on the East Coast, with neighbourhoods such as the South End and Jamaica Plain offering a good variety of nightlife.
Boston’s LGBTQ Past Walking Tour traces the gay and lesbian culture that flourishes today. This tour is presented in partnership with The History Project, a nonprofit organisation that documents, preserves, and shares New England’s LGBTQIA+ history.
Boston Pride For The People will celebrate Pride Month on 6 June this year. Events include a parade and festival, which combine to create a collective city-wide celebration. A year-round highlight is the Drag Brunch at Summer Shack every Saturday, featuring stellar entertainment and themed drag acts including the Barbie Drag Brunch, Beyonce Renaissance Drag Brunch, and the Rihanna Drag Brunch.
New England: Ogunquit ME, Provincetown MA & Burlington VT
New England’s scenic landscapes, inclusive accommodations, and progressive attitudes make it a haven for all travellers seeking authenticity, acceptance, and memorable experiences. Massachusetts was the first state in the union to legalise and normalise same-sex marriage through the courts (2003), followed by Connecticut (2008). Vermont was the first to legalise it through the legislature (2009), followed the same year by neighbouring New Hampshire. Maine achieved legalisation through public referendum and Rhode Island’s governor approved the Gay Marriage Bill in 2013.
Ogunquit in Maine, is a small beach community with a reputation for being exceptionally friendly to all those who visit. Ogunquit Pride takes place from 1 – 7 June and is easily accessible and the area is home to many LGBTQIA+ friendly hotels and resorts. On 20 June, Portland’s communities unite to celebrate Pride with a festival.
For almost a century, gay and lesbian travellers have made their way to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Today, the tip of the Cape draws its energy and spirit from members of the LGBTQIA+ community who come here year after year, some for the first time, and many who stopped counting long ago.
New England also leads the country in welcoming and accommodating LGBTQIA+ partners and their families. Pride Vermont has various support groups in June.
New Orleans
Every June, events that unify and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community can be found throughout New Orleans. Parades, parties, fundraisers, and community events exemplify the welcoming culture for which the city is known. New Orleans has always championed arts and culture, fostering a lively gay social scene and drawing many LGBTQIA+ artists and performers to the French Quarter, home to Café Lafitte in Exile, one of America’s oldest gay bars. The longest running gay event, the Fat Monday Luncheon, kicked off in 1949, and the oldest gay social organization, the Steamboat Club, was launched in 1953.
New Orleans Pride Weekend this year is 12 – 14 June. One of the most exciting traditions is PrideFest, a block party hosted outside The Phoenix Bar on Elysian Fields. PrideFest and the parade are free to attend.
Southern Decadence occurs this year from 3 – 7 September and is the largest LGBTQIA+ event in New Orleans. The celebrations last through the day and night, with lively parties and parades. While the street parties are free, the weekend passes offered allow entry to exclusive events.
For more information: LGBTQ New Orleans
Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles & Shreveport-Bossier
One standout event in Louisiana is the Lake Charles SWLA Pride Con. Taking place on 13 June, this day is all about unity, creativity and celebration. With an exciting lineup of live performances and eye-catching exhibitions.
In Baton Rouge, Pride Fest returns on 27 June, offering a space for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to celebrate in style. This indoor, family-friendly event is free to attend and filled with opportunities to educate, uplift, and unite under the pride flag. Pride Fest creates a safe, joyful environment where everyone can shine, connect and celebrate.
In Lafayette, the Pride Acadiana Parade lights up downtown on 20 June with a display of colour, community and celebration. Taking over Jefferson Street, the event invites everyone to show up loud and proud in support of LGBTQIA+ visibility and joy.
Head to Shreveport-Bossier where local businesses and non-profits come together to celebrate Pride Month. The Q-Prom is a celebration of love, expression and promises great music and unforgettable memories. The Pink Party hosts live performances in a welcoming space and Pride in the Park is a family-friendly event which features live music, classic southern food and various activities for all ages.
San Antonio
San Antonio has a vibrant LGBTQIA+ culture that has blossomed in the city, an evolution that stretches back to the 1950s, when drag shows arrived.
San Antonio’s Pride celebrations are as colourful as they are inclusive. June is full of events honouring and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. The largest Pride celebration takes place on 27 June with the Pride Bigger than Texas Festival and Parade. The event highlights the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ community and raises money for local charities. For more information on LGBTQIA+ in San Antonio.
If travelling later in the year check out QFest Be sure to check out The San Antonio LGBT International Film Festival. This film festival celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in the film industry by showcasing films created for, by, and about the LGBTQ+ community and is typically held each year in October.
Nashville, Knoxville & Dollywood
The Annual Nashville Festival and Parade is the largest LGBTQIA+ event in Tennessee and kicks off on 27 June with the free Nashville Pride Parade. Additionally, the Knox Pride Festival from 27 June includes various events throughout the month.
Dolly Parton famously stated that Dollywood is a place for all families and for everyone. The Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration at the theme park, runs this year from 15 June to 2 August. The park is awash with colour, including flying kites and rainbow pool noodles suspended overhead and surrounded by technicolour trees.
See local information and events: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville
Jackson, Biloxi & Gulfport
Biloxi, Gulfport and Coastal Mississippi offer an inclusive environment in a beautiful setting. Visitors can head to LGBTQIA+ bars like Sipp’s in Gulfport, and Just Us Lounge, located within walking distance of Beau Rivage, which is a melting pot of the area’s diverse and welcoming LGBTQIA+ community. For more information for events on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, please see here.
In Jackson, the fifth annual 5K colour run is an inclusive, fun race that honours LGBTQ+ individuals and allies as it raises money for LGBTQIA+ causes. In June, MS Capital City Pride, an LGBTQIA+ Community Building and Advocacy Organisation serving the Jackson Metro Area, is hosting various activities to bring the pride community together.
Tucson
Tucson enjoys a vibrant and inclusive LGBTQIA+ community, with a wide range of bars and clubs, LGBTQIA+ owned businesses, and an active LGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce. The city is home to numerous social clubs, political organisations, youth support groups, and LGBTQIA+ places of worship. Tucson’s progressive culture and relaxed attitude have helped make it welcoming to visitors. Plan your visit to Tucson.
Raleigh
In Raleigh, North Carolina Pride month brings together a vibrant array of events which aim to highlight the LGBTQ+ community through education, awareness and entertainment. Working alongside the LGBTQ centre of Raleigh and a wide range of exciting sponsors, this year’s celebrations will feature events throughout June, from speed dating and drag performances to community gatherings and more, all taking place in and around the city.
Ends
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