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6 ways to celebrate Pride as a couple this June (beyond the floats)
Beyond “pinkwashing” and advertising on the floats, Pride is a golden opportunity to connect with your partner and the community. Celebrating Pride does not have to mean mixing with a crowd of one hundred thousand people under a blazing sun—unless you love the bustle, of course. There are much more intimate, genuine and meaningful ways to experience the event. If this year you are looking for something that truly fulfils you, here are six proposals for celebrating Pride month together. From a grand trip to small intimate gestures, the important thing is to do something that
1. The trip of your lives: returning to the roots in New York
If you fancy going all out and experiencing the mother of all celebrations, the destination is clear: New York. Walking along Christopher Street or having a drink at the Stonewall Inn means stepping on history. But be aware that crowds in Manhattan during Pride can be chaotic if you are not prepared. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of Fifth Avenue trying to find a restaurant and realise that public Wi-Fi does not work and your operator does not offer free roaming in the US.
The most practical thing is to buy a SIM card for travelling to the United States before leaving home. Put it into your mobile as soon as you land and you will have internet to get around New York without fearing the bill. With that worry crossed off the list, you can enjoy the energy of the city where it all began.
2. Conscious consumption: local business
It is very easy to buy a rainbow T-shirt in a department store, but that money does not usually stay in the community. This June, seek out those venues run by LGBTQ+ people in your neighbourhood or city, go for dinner at that queer restaurant, buy your next book in a specialist bookshop. In short, back brands created by trans or drag creators who put everything into their work. Actively supporting the community is one of the most generous ways to celebrate Pride.
3. Cinema and debate under a blanket
Sometimes the best celebration happens on the sofa at home. There is no need to make life complicated. In June, the main streaming platforms fill up with queer cinema. But the interesting thing is to look for independent festivals or documentaries that tell stories that do not reach the general public.
Look for titles that make you reflect on the challenges still ahead. Talk about how represented you feel on screen. It is a beautiful way to validate your own experiences and learn about those of others who did not have it so easy. After all, Pride is also memory.
4. The power of giving something back to the community: volunteering
If you want a Pride that truly leaves a mark, spend a morning or an afternoon lending a hand. There are shelters for LGBTQ+ young people who have been thrown out of their homes or care homes where people feel alone and would appreciate some conversation.
Volunteering as a couple will make you see reality from another perspective, and that is something that brings people together enormously.
5. A “rural-queer” getaway
Rural tourism for the community is gaining ground. There are country houses and charming hotels where the rainbow flag is not merely an ornament, but a guarantee of safety and absolute respect.
It is the perfect plan to switch off: walk in the hills, eat well and enjoy the tranquillity nature offers with your partner. Seeking out these oases of peace is an act of self-care that provides another, different but equally lovely way to celebrate this June.
6. Create your own tradition
In the end, Pride as a couple is yours. There are no written rules. Perhaps your way of celebrating is to bring together your closest friends to explain why it is still necessary to take to the streets. Or simply write a letter to your past self thanking them for the courage they had at the time.
Whatever it is, the important thing is not to let the month pass without doing something that makes you feel proud and special. Celebrate that you have each other, that you can love one another freely and that you are part of a global family that never stops fighting.