June is Pride month in the United States, although Las Vegas saves its biggest events (including the city’s annual festival and parade) for October, when the weather isn’t so hot. But don’t worry. There’s still plenty of fun in June to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Southern Nevada.
Why We Celebrate In June
Pride as we know it started with the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, when police raided a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village and patrons fought back. The ensuing riots outside the bar continued for six days and fundamentally changed the discourse of LGBTQ+ activism. Historians note that Stonewall marked a shift in how queer rights were viewed by the general public.
On the uprising’s first anniversary, Pride solidarity marches were held in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. More and more cities joined until the federal government recognized the month officially in 1999.
Pride Today
Pride is celebrated globally with events from parades and protests to community forums and book clubs. But as Pride has grown, it has also become more commercial. Many activists are concerned that rainbow-washing and giant corporate sponsors have taken away from the original message of Pride at a time when there is still a lot of work to be done. To combat this, many local activists have established independent Pride events.
How to Celebrate in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Pride, The Center, and Henderson Equality Center are great resources for LGBTQ+ events. Check out a few of our top picks throughout Pride month in June.
Wednesday, June 4
- 🌈 PRIDE Community Mixer & Pride Family Bingo at the Portal | 5 - 9:30 p.m. | $20+ Bingo Packs | AREA15
Friday, June 6
- 🪩 Neon Youth Prom at the Henderson Equality Center | 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Free | Sunset & Whitney Ranch
Saturday, June 7
- 🙋 LGBTQ+ Topic Mixer Party at The Center | 5:30 - 8 p.m. | Free | Downtown
- 👄 Rocky Horror Picture Show at Regency Tropicana Cinemas | 9 p.m. | $12 | Tropicana & Pecos
Sunday, June 9
- 🛼 Pride Skate at Crystal Palace Skating Center | 7 - 9 p.m. | $10+ | Rancho & Alexander
Thursday, June 12
- ⚾ Las Vegas Aviators Pride Night at the Las Vegas Ballpark | 5:30 p.m. | $19.99+ | Downtown Summerlin
- 🍸 Pride Celebration Party at Juliet Cocktail Room | 9 - 11 p.m. | $50 open bar | Venetian
Friday, June 14
- 🎊 Southern Nevada Pride Fest at Sunset Park | 3 - 10 p.m. | $35+ | Sunset & Eastern
Saturday, June 15
- 🎉 Juneteenth Pride Block Party at The Center | 2 - 7 p.m. | Free | Downtown
Friday, June 21
- 👊 Loud & Proud Pro Wrestling at The Center | 7 p.m. | $10+ | Downtown
Saturday, June 22
- 🎳 Pride Family Bowling at Strike Zone Bowling | 1 - 3 p.m. | Free with RSVP | Sunset Station
Sunday, June 29
- 🏳️🌈 Pahrump Proud Annual Festival at the Pahrump Nugget | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Free | Pahrump
