On June 28, 1969 in New York City there was a police raid at Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. At a time where homosexuality and “sodomy” were illegal, the raid was meant to inspect the bar for not having a liquor license, which was a convenient excuse to harass and arrest bar goers for being queer and/or transgender.

But the patrons were not having the abuse of power and brutality from the police. What followed was a six day uprising that is now known as the historical “Stonewall Riots,” a marker which paved the way for LGBTQ liberation in America.

Much of this liberation was led by transgender women of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who, after recognizing the excessive raiding of Stonewall, chose to resist and fight, not just on that first night, but throughout their lifetimes.

A year after the Stonewall Riots, the first Pride march was observed in New York City.

Now almost 50 years later, there has been progression in the United States, but the celebration of queerness is still incredibly important in fighting for the rights of marginalized groups. Pride is for affirming the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrating queer art and creation, and honoring the long tradition of resistance in order to heighten the visibility of this community.

In a small conservative county, the city of Denton is doing Pride in several beautiful and substantial ways. Listed below are some of the Pride events happening in town along with some regular queer events that happen year round. If you are looking for a space to embrace your queerness, know Denton has several options for you.

Pride Community Art Exhibition - ALL MONTH

On June 1, SCRAP had the community participate in putting together three installations dedicated to Pride. You can stop by all the month of June to check out what the community has put together!

Location: SCRAP Denton - 420 S Bell Ave.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/198701940941275/

SinSational Sundays - every Sunday at 10 p.m.

A weekly drag show hosted by local drag queen Kylee Fatale! The show is 18 and up and consists of a main cast and weekly guest each Sunday. 

Location: Crossroads Bar - 1125 E University Drive

Glitterbomb Denton - at Andy’s every Thursday at 8 p.m.

Denton’s weekly queer variety show houses everything from burlesque, queerlesque and drag. Join this amazingly talented group every Thursday during Pride and during the year and be inaugurated into the Glitterbomb family which is truly something special.

Location: Andy’s Bar - 122 N Locust Street

Pride Month Proclamation - June 4 at 6:30 p.m.

At this week’s city council meeting, council will read a proclamation declaring June to be Pride Month in Denton for the first time. The Stonewall Democrats of Denton County will speak on this year’s Denton Pride message of intersectionality. Join the city and Denton queer collectives such as Glitterbomb and OUTreach Denton in celebrating this moment.

Location: City Hall - 215 E Mckinney St.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/175565886479723/

Denton Drag Queen Bingo Show  $25 - June 10 from 2-6 p.m.

Hosted by North Texas Drag Bingo is this regular event which takes place in Denton every other month along with in surrounding DFW areas. There will drag queens on site and cash and prizes. With this month's show obviously having a focus in Pride, buy yourself a ticket and enjoy this event now and every other month!

Location: Crossroads Bar - 1125 E University Drive

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/406052196474054/

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/denton-drag-queen-bingo-show-tickets-44958539201?aff=efbevent

Denton Queer Craft Club - June 17 at 4 p.m.

Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at Aura you can socialize with LGBTQ folx and get your craft on! Bring some supplies and create some great art next Sunday and all the Sundays this event is happening!

Location: Aura Coffee - 1306 W Hickory Street

Weekend before PRIDENTON Sign-making event - date TBA

The Denton Feminist & Queer Collective will be hosting a sign-making event sometime the weekend before PRIDENTON at a location TBA.

Location: TBA

Spidercon $8 - June 17 at 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Hosted by Spiderweb Salon is this eclectic night consisting of readings of sci-fi, fantasy, poetry fanfic, music, comedy, cosplay and burlesque. Although this event isn't exactly themed around Pride, With many of their organizers and performers identifying as queer or transgender, Spiderweb Salon strives to create an inclusive and safe environment for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Location: J&J's - 118 W Oak Street 

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/643144442683548/ 

QT YOGA - Friday night

Karma Yoga is hosting a QT YOGA for Pride on the courthouse lawn! All bodies welcome!

Location: Courthouse Lawn

Three Queens Tap Takeover and Drag Show! - June 29 from 9.pm.-12 a.m.

Three local drag queens and three craft beers will be paired for an exciting evening at Denton County Brewing Company hosted by Kylee Ohara Fatale of SinSational Sundays.

Location: Denton County Brewing Company - 200 E Mckinney Street

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/217396815730201/

Smilin’ Ricks Pride Flash Day- June 30 ALL DAY

Tattoo artist Eliza will be doing flash day with Pride designs at Smilin’ Ricks. They will be releasing available designs soon.

Location: Smilin’ Ricks - 115 Eagle Drive

We Denton Drag It with Violet Chachki $15 - June 30 from 6 p.m.-1 a.m.

This is the second annual We Denton Drag It event. It will be a local drag show and the headliner will be season 7 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Violet Chachki. All proceeds from this event will go towards OUTreach Denton, an organization providing resources to the LGBTQ+ community.

Location: Backyard on Bell - 410 N Bell Avenue

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/365384167295179/

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-denton-drag-it-violet-chachki-tickets-44052102023

Big Pride in the Lil D - June 28-July 1

This is the 2nd Annual PRIDENTON which will last four days! The celebration will kickoff Thursday, June 28 at Glitterbomb at Andy’s and will last until Sunday with an array of events including the ones listed above and things happening at Harvest House and Oak Street Drafthouse. From the tabling of queer art with an emphasis on queer people of color, this year’s Pride has been a labor of love from all of Denton’s LGBTQ groups. There will be food, drinks, music, giveaways and live t-shirt printing from Pan Ector. Be there or be straight!

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/360717461086294/

Also, Denton’s newest queer spot, Q’s Café is expected to open in June. What a way to celebrate Pride month in Denton. Stay tuned for more details on the opening date!

Support queer people! Support queer people of color! Support queer women of color! Support trans women! Support trans women of color! Support sex workers! Support trans sex workers! Support sex workers of color! Support queer art! Pay for queer art! Support queer business! Support during Pride month and forever and always!

Because, while it's easy to get caught up in rainbow capitalist celebrations, let us not forget that the movement for queer liberation was started by a Black, homeless, transgender sex worker.

 

Header image by Brooke Hoese. 
Header image layout design by Tori Falcon.