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Your guide to celebrating Gay Pride

June is National Gay Pride Month, which makes it easily one of the most colorful months of the year. Major cities across the U.S. hold events to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ people and communities and the impact they have had on the world.

There are tons of ways you can celebrate Gay Pride this month—even with coronavirus concerns—including attending local and virtual events and even hosting your own Pride get-together.

Cause for celebration

While Pride parties are super fun, it's important not to lose sight of the meaning behind Gay Pride. Remember that it represents a positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBTQ+ communities. Gay Pride also serves to acknowledge all the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ communities as well as celebrate diversity and inclusivity. Since May 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, Pride has also come to symbolize intersectionality, bringing to the forefront black trans lives and other marginalized identities.

Set the stage for your own Pride celebration at home by using colorful decorations. Buy some paper lanterns in a rainbow of festive colors, and hang them around your space. Then place mini gay pride flags everywhere, including flower pots and on the walls. Don't be afraid to wear a colorful outfit and adorn yourself with glitter, too! Consider also donating to a charity that furthers the cause of equality and social justice.

Don't forget about colorful cocktails

No gathering would be complete without some tasty cocktails. Gay Pride Month is all about getting creative, so serve some cocktails that really stand out from the crowd. Here are a few fun ideas:

rainbow jello shots

1. Rainbow jello shots

These brightly colored jello shots are the perfect way to celebrate Gay Pride!

Ingredients:

  • 1 three-ounce package Jell-O cherry
  • 1 three-ounce package Jell-O orange
  • 1 three-ounce package Jell-O lemon
  • 1 three-ounce package Jell-O lime
  • 1 three-ounce package Jell-O berry blue
  • 4 cups plain vodka
  • Whipped cream
  • Rainbow sprinkles
  • Tall clear plastic shot glasses

Directions:

  • In five separate bowls, add 1cup boiling water to each packet of gelatin
  • Stir until gelatin dissolves, and then stir in 3/4 cup vodka into each color
  • Place shot glasses inside openings of a muffin pan and tilt on the edges
  • Fill the glasses one-fifth of the way with red gelatin
  • Place in refrigerator and allow to set for a half-hour
  • Repeat the above process with the next color in the rainbow, placing back in the refrigerator for another half hour
  • Repeat until you have used all five colors
  • Then refrigerate overnight
  • When you're ready to serve the shots, top with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles

Image Credit: Momdot.com

pride sangria

2. Fruity sangria

This colorful sangria recipe uses real fruit to form a rainbow.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups blackberries
  • 3 cups blueberries
  • 6 kiwis, peeled and sliced
  • 2 cups diced pineapple
  • 2 cups diced frozen mango
  • 8 mandarin oranges, peeled
  • 2 cups halved strawberries
  • 1 1/2 bottles white wine
  • 1/2 cup triple sec
  • Juice of 3 limes
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

  • In a large glass pitcher, layer blackberries, blueberries, kiwis, pineapple, mango, oranges, and strawberries
  • In another bowl, mix white wine, triple sec, lime juice, and sugar until combined
  • Pour liquid into pitcher and stir
  • Spoon into glasses
purple cocktail

3. Unicorn cocktail

This whimsical cocktail is purple in color with a shimmer.

Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces strawberry lemonade
  • 1-ounce blue raspberry vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Grenadine
  • 1/4 teaspoon lilac pearl dust
  • Edible glitter
  • Ice

Directions:

  • In a highball glass, add the lemonade
  • Then add some lilac pearl dust to the lemonade
  • Stir so that the drink shimmers
  • Add the blue raspberry vodka
  • Add in the Grenadine
  • Place some ice in the glass
  • Add some edible glitter as a garnish

Image Credit: Seductioninthekitchen.com

Not just about celebrating loud and proud

Gay Pride isn’t just about celebrating inclusivity loudly and proudly. It’s also about bringing to the forefront social justice issues, such as the hardships marginalized communities have faced. This is particularly true in the context of Black Lives Matter. Whether you host a Pride gathering at home or attend an event in your city, remember that you have the power to become an agent of social change.

References
  1. "10 Meaningful Ways You Can Celebrate LGBT Pride Month," Mashable, June 2, 2015.
  2. "3 Rainbow Cocktails so You Can Raise a Glass and Toast to Equity This Pride Month," Bustle, June 15, 2015.
  3. "How to Throw the Perfect Pride Party," Out Traveler, May 21, 2015.

cocktails | pride month | LGBTQ+