Phoenix is a thriving desert metropolis, with world-class attractions and an innovative Southwest food scene. It also has a lively gay community and is one of the most popular gay holiday destinations in the Southwest. While the city is spread out and exploring it requires a car or ride-share, the gay scene is concentrated in the Melrose District of central Phoenix. This is the closest thing to a gayborhood, with a variety of clubs, bars and restaurants. Whether you’re looking to let your rainbow shine or enjoy a butch lesbian cowboy stomp, the area has something for every kind of queer.
The 40th edition of Phoenix Pride will be held Nov. 6-7 at Steel Indian School Park. The festival is open to anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community or supports it, and organizers encourage everyone to participate. The event’s lineup includes Mya and Neon Trees, and the associated Phoenix Pride Parade will feature floats and more than 300 entries. The parade will run up Third Street from Thomas to the park at Indian School Road. The parade is free, but tickets for the festival are $30 per day or $50 for two days.
Organizers say that this year’s Pride is particularly meaningful given the current political climate and the upcoming election. Jeanne Woodbury, policy director of Equality Arizona, says it’s important to come out and show support for the community. She adds that the timing of this year’s Guide to gay pride Phoenix festival is especially poignant, because it comes before the November 8 election, which features a slate of anti-LGBTQ Republicans.
The city’s annual Pride celebration is held to promote unity, visibility and self-esteem for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The weekend festivities include a march and rally, the Pride Parade and the Phoenix Pride Festival.
Aside from enjoying a weekend of live music and dancing, the festival features a health and wellness marketplace with vendors selling everything from beauty products to pet care supplies. The event also offers a number of educational workshops and community services.
One of the biggest events is the Pride Parade, which features a wide variety of floats and other vehicles and draws more than 2,000 participants. The festival will also offer a variety of entertainment, including Erotic World, the arts and kids zones, and the Phoenix Pride Drag Show.
There are also a number of ways to get involved with the festival, from volunteering to registering to vote. Several LGBTQ politicians will be present at the festival, and there is even a Pride run, the Pride Run Phoenix, which offers a half marathon, 10K, or 5K timed course on flat routes around midtown. Proceeds from the run benefit ONE Community, which advocates for inclusive communities. The group has launched a campaign called UNITY Pledge, which is a concerted effort by businesses and organizations to advance workplace equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
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