Here are 6 northeastern Wisconsin Pride events to mark on your calendars in June
APPLETON – Northeastern Wisconsin's LGBTQ communities are gearing up for Pride Month in June with park festivals, educational events and drag shows.
This Junes marks the 53rd celebration of Pride Month, which pays homage to the Stonewall uprising that occurred in June 1969 and helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Today, the month is marked with celebrations of identity, reflections of those lost to violence in the community and mounting concerns over the onslaught of emerging anti-LGBTQ bills.
Here are six Pride events across northeastern Wisconsin to mark on your calendars:
More: A Neenah LGBTQ club is creating a growing love for drag shows in the Fox Cities
PRIDEducation by Rainbow Alliance Advocacy
To get in the spirit before Pride Month starts, Rainbow Alliance Advocacy is hosting an educational event aimed at providing inclusive training and resources for the LGBTQ community.
"We want our event to help teach the general public and loved ones of those who are LGBTQIA+ what (Pride) means and why it's important," said Mel Davis, the organization's director of community education and outreach.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Meridian in Appleton, the free event will have educational sessions on topics such as pronoun use, parenting LGBTQ youth, what transitioning looks like for most people and being an LGBTQ ally.
There also will be community resource booths, family-friendly games, musical performances, food and craft vendors.
The Gibson Social Club's Pride Party
The Gibson Social Club, 537 N. Main St., in downtown Oshkosh is opening its doors from 6 to 11 p.m. June 1 for a Pride party with proceeds going toward Diverse & Resilient in Appleton, an advocacy group that works with LGBTQ individuals and marginalized community members affected by violence.
XS Nightclub Pride Month Drag Show
No Pride Month is complete without a drag show.
Local drag queens Mercedes Benzova and Loretta Love Lee will serve a Femme Fatale drag show in honor of Pride Month starting at 10 p.m. June 17 at the Green Bay venue located at 1106 Main St.
Local drag queens Kelli Jo Klein, Ellah Maeaux and Shebly Cummins will join the show for a night of prideful dancing and lip-syncing.
In addition to XS Nightclub, LGBTQ clubs such Napalese Lounge in Green Bay and The ReMixx in Neenah will also be hosting drag shows each weekend during Pride Month.
Timber Rattlers Pride Night
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are having a Pride Night for the team's June 20 game. Those who purchase box seat tickets using the promo code "pride" during Pride Night will get rainbow Timber Rattlers socks.
Appleton Pride 2023
Appleton's third-annual Pride is back in Jones Park from 1 to 8 p.m. June 24, bringing drag queen story time, a talent show and a Pride-themed fashion show to downtown.
The family-friendly event will also feature performances from drag queens and LGBTQ musicians and will have food trucks and resource booths available throughout the day.
Oshkosh Pride 2023
Oshkosh's annual Pride is getting a bigger venue this year, taking place from 1 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the Leach Amphitheater.
The free, family-friendly event will feature drag shows, performance from the Dark Arts Circus, dance performance from Hmong dance team Khob Li Cua and live music. Oshkosh's Pride will also have community resources and food from Fatt Mama's Po Boys 55.
Sophia Voight can be reached for tips and feedback at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 6 Pride Month events to check out in northeastern Wisconsin
