News Summary
Birmingham has officially launched its Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with a series of events throughout June. From a morning Pride Ride to a vibrant awards reception at Al’s on 7th, the city is set to host a variety of activities, including fundraisers, parades, and community gatherings. Notable events also include Drag Bingo, a Pride Parade, and a Punk Pride Dance Party, all aimed at promoting equality and inclusivity. Despite some challenges in organizing, Birmingham Pride continues to reflect a commitment to diversity and community engagement.
Birmingham officially kicked off its Pride Month on June 1, showcasing a variety of events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. The festivities began with a morning Pride Ride at Three 15 Studio in Homewood and an evening awards reception at Al’s on 7th. The awards showcased influential figures in the community, including parade grand marshals and pageant titleholders, as well as recipients of annual honors.
Throughout June, Birmingham has a packed schedule of events promoting equality and inclusivity. Upcoming activities include:
- AIDS Outreach Pride Bingo on June 2 at 7 p.m. at BAO, a fundraiser for HIV services.
- Pride Skate Night from 7–10 p.m. at Skates 280, offering free entry and skate rental with donations.
- Pride Drag Assassins at 10 p.m. on June 2 at Al’s on 7th, featuring a $200 cash prize for participants.
- Barons Pride Night at 7 p.m. at Regions Field, combining the celebration of equality with baseball.
- Drag Bingo at 7:30 p.m. at Paper Doll, hosted by Fawn and Kharris.
- #NoFilter benefiting the Steel City Men’s Chorus at 7:30 p.m. at Saturn.
- Youth Pride Prom from 7–10 p.m. at The Magic City Acceptance Center, a free event requiring registration.
- Send Dudes: Drag Night at 8 p.m. at The Nick, only for ages 21 and up.
- Rocky Horror Hot Dogs Present midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sidewalk Cinema.
- Alabama Pride Hike from 9 a.m.–Noon at Oak Mountain State Park, featuring a scenic 3-mile trek.
- Funky Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Co., benefitting AIDS Alabama.
- Pride Community Picnic from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Covenant Community Church.
- Mayawell Pride Night from 6–9 p.m. at Mayawell, allocating 15% of sales to Central Alabama Pride.
- Queer Wedding Blitz from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. at Avenue D Events, offering free legal and spiritual weddings.
- Garden Party from 2-8 p.m. at Golden Age Wine Garden, featuring DJs and live entertainment.
- Pride Interfaith Service at 6 p.m. at Edgewood Presbyterian Church.
- Pride Idol singing competition at 8 p.m. at Saturn, where a $300 cash prize will be awarded.
- Pride Glow Bowling at 9:30 p.m. at Vestavia Bowl, with a fee of $20 for unlimited bowling.
- Milk & Honey Pride dance party at Saturn at 8 p.m.
- Pride Drag Brunch at 11 a.m. at Boutwell Auditorium, featuring Drag Race stars with a ticket required.
- Annual Pride in The Magic City Parade at 8 p.m. on June 13 along 7th Avenue South.
- Loud & Proud Parade Afterparty at 9 p.m. at Saturn, showcasing performances by Drag Race All-Stars.
- 47th Annual Pridefest from noon to 6 p.m. at Linn Park, offering drag performances, live music, and family activities.
- Official Pridefest Afterparty & Karaoke at 8 p.m. at Al’s on 7th.
The Birmingham Pride organization aims to reconnect with its community roots by introducing more localized events beginning in 2026. This move comes due to the unavailability of the Smithfield regeneration site, which is undergoing redevelopment. Organizers are currently facing difficulties in securing alternative sites that meet the requirements for scale and accessibility to host the events effectively.
Since its inception in 1997 as a free community event, Birmingham Pride has grown into one of the city’s largest festivals, incorporating a ticketed music program alongside a free parade. This year, political parties were banned from marching due to concerns regarding their stance on issues affecting the trans community; only the Labour party was permitted to participate.
In addition to the celebrations, Birmingham witnessed notable tensions as activist Peter Tatchell was forcibly removed from the parade while protesting past instances of police homophobia. Tatchell has since called for accountability and apologies from the West Midlands Police regarding these past issues.
Birmingham Pride Month reflects a vibrant celebration of diversity and resilience within the LGBTQ+ community, now more than ever embracing its history while paving avenues toward a more inclusive future.
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Additional Resources
- Birmingham Times: Upcoming Pride Month Activities
- Wikipedia: Pride Month
- BBC News: Pride Month News
- Google Search: Birmingham Pride events
- Pink News: Peter Tatchell at Birmingham Pride
- Google Scholar: LGBTQ community pride month Birmingham
- WVTM13: Pride Parade and Birmingham Pride Fest
- Encyclopedia Britannica: LGBT Rights
- Bham Now: Celebrate Pride Month in Birmingham
- Google News: Peter Tatchell Pride Birmingham
