There’s no shortage of LGBTQIA events as June comes to a close.
July might be just around the corner, but that does not mean Pride is over! There are a host of fun community Pride events happening around Vermont the rest of this month and into the summer, a few of which we wanted to highlight here. We also wanted to share some rides that are safe spaces for those in the LBGTQIA community to be their true selves.
RIDES
Prides Rides is hosting another group ride on June 26th! They will again be up @kingdomtrails for another round of trail riding with Pride Ride’s @kalecail802.
On the gravel front, Pamela Robichaud and Liz Doran host a monthly gravel ride for Femme/Trans/Womens in Hinesburg. Though the June ride has passed, mark your calendars now for the next ones on July 20 and Aug 16. Rides roll out at 5:30/6pm from the Hinesburg town hall.
Meghan Owenns also hosts a community gravel ride series, centering around creating a safe space for women, trans, and femme riders and making new connections in the community. Allies are welcome as well. This ride starts and ends at the Goodwin Baker building in Richmond. Rides leave from Richmond at 6pm on select Fridays, with the next one July 1st. Link to sign up is here! https://forms.gle/CpoUxCWyMSQxyJE48
OTHER EVENTS
The Pride Center of VT publishes an event calendar to help folks stay connected to your local Pride community events across the state. Check it out here: https://www.pridecentervt.org/events/
Burlington Peoples Pride will be taking place June 25th from 2-7:30pm at Oakledge Park (11 Flynn Ave in Burlington). This will be both a festival and a grassroots march free from any corporate or law enforcement presence.
On June 26th at 2pm at City Hall Park in Burlington there will be a Pride march in Burlington commemorating the 39th aniversary of the first Lesbian and Gay Pride march in Burlington. The Vermont Agency of Historic Preservation has forged an Historic Marker to commemorate the courage of the original marchers and the many in our State who have sustained our ongoing movement that evolved into the vibrant LGBTQ+ communities we see throughout our state. Come celebrate and commemorate! (https://www.pridecentervt.org/event/pride-1983-historic-marker-commemoration/)
Another exciting event happening this month is Queer Shopping Night at Outdoor Grear Exchange! This will take place June 30th from 7-9pm.
This after-hours event aims to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all LGBQIA+ folks to shop for outdoor gear and clothing. We’ll be joined by our friends at Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Crag-VT, Stowe Trails Partnership, and more! Staff will be available to assist while you shop, offering friendly, non-intimidating advice about the outdoor activities we outfit including rock climbing, mountain biking, paddling, backpacking, and more! 5% of all sales on June 30th go back to support the Pride Center of Vermont! Folks of all shapes, sizes and levels of experience are always welcome at OGE.
And lastly, while Pride Month provides a great opportunity to recognize and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, the individuals and organizations mentioned above are active all year, as are events that help create safe spaces for all. We’ll continue to highlight and promote these opportunities, working closely with our Community Builder partner, Pride Rides VT.