While June is national LGBTQ Pride Month, Bloomington celebrates it in August. Here are some events for LGBTQ community members and allies alike to celebrate Pride this Friday and Saturday.
Friday, Aug. 30
The event will feature poetry readings from members of the LGBTQ community that reflect their experiences. It is which is 6 to 8 p.m. at the Grunwald Gallery of Art located at 1201 E. Seventh St. Photographs from photographer Jess Dugan’s series “Every Breath We Drew” will be displayed. To participate, email info@bloomingtonpride.org.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Crushes, Feelings, Questions, and Cats: A Meeting for Tweens
This event is for tweens, 10 to 12 years old, to talk about gender and sexuality with reference books and cat coloring pages. This meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 1B of the Monroe County Public Library.
The Back Door nightclub at 207 S. College Ave. will host this party from 2 to 10 p.m., featuring DJs like DJ Maddog and DJ Pixie throughout the day starting at 4 p.m., free hot dogs –both vegetarian and meat — until 5 p.m. and games.
This annual pride festival, sponsored by Bloomington Pride, will take place from 2 to 11 p.m. on East Kirkwood Avenue, with a walking rally from Grant Street to Kirkwood Avenue beginning at 2 p.m. All ages are welcome at the festival. The event is free, but a $5 donation at the gates is suggested.
Live performances will take place all day, including three different drag shows with themes such as queer icons and comedy, then a finale number.
At 2:30 p.m. in the Pridefest Family Zone, drag queen Oriana Perón will host a story hour, intended for children to learn lessons about self-acceptance and diversity.
The event will also feature rappers KC Ortiz and Big Dipper, a Prince tribute band called Royalty, a gothic folk band called The Wanting and comedian Deanne Smith.
Vendors and groups such as BloomingVeg and Free Mom Hugs – Indiana will also be represented, as well as a beer garden sponsored by Upland Brewing Company.
Post-Pridefest Events
After Pridefest ends, The Back Door will host an after-party, featuring a DJ battle between DJ Maddog and DJ Pixie until 3 a.m.
There will be an event sponsored by Bloomington Pride and LowPone called Grand Dame: Femmes & Thems at 11 p.m. at The Blockhouse Bar, located at 205 S. College Ave.
