Your “06880” Pride Guide

June is Pride Month.

But it’s not just for people who identify as LGBTQ (or IA+)*. All allies — and there are many in the Westport community — are invited to join the fun (and serious stuff).

The main event is the June 12 celebration at Jesup Green. But there’s much more too, including:

June 2: To Wong Foo, Thanks Julie Newmar! (Remarkable Theater, 8:30 p.m.)

In the 1995 comedy with Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo, 3 New York drag queens on their way to Hollywood for a beauty pageant are stranded in a small Midwestern town — and show residents that looking different doesn’t mean they don’t have humanity in common.

For more information and tickets, click here.

June 3: Bedford Middle School, Coleytown Middle School, and Staples High School Pride Day Celebrations

Bedford and Coleytown make history, by hosting Connecticut’s first middle school Pride Day celebrations. Hosted by the Westport Public Schools Pride Coalition, it features the debut of a new Staples and middle school mentorship program led by Staples faculty and coalition chair, Kayla Iannetta. Staples’ celebration will build on last year’s inaugural event.

June 4: All 4 Drag and Drag for A ll (MoCA Westport, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

A fun, family-friendly drag experience; all ages invited and welcome. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktail hour (with a cash bar); the show begins at 6:30, with 4 great entertainers.

Headliner Desmond Napoles (stage name: Desmond is Amazing) is a 15-year old award-winning New York City LGBTQ advocate, performer, model, public speaker and fashion designer.

For more information and tickets, click here. https://bit.ly/3sfvTsu.

Desmond is Amazing

 June 8: How to Survive a Plague (Remarkable Theater, 8:30 p.m.)

This 2012 documentary about the early years of the AIDS epidemic, and the efforts of activist groups, was culled from over 700 hours of archived footage: news coverage, interviews, and videos of demonstrations and meetings.

For more information and tickets, click here.

June 12: Westport Pride Celebration (Jesup Green, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

The 2nd annual community-wide event includes music and other great performances, speakers, local clergy, a proclamation from 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, and a pride flag flying over it all.

Plus: children’s art activities, face painting, hair and makeup, pride merchandise and swag, and educational materials on hand.

Showing the flag at last year’s Westport Pride celebration. (Photo/Kerry Long)

June 12: Pride Eucharist (Christ and Holy Trinity Churh, 5 p.m.)

A come-as-you-are in-person service of scripture, song, prayer and Holy Eucharist in the Christ & Holy Trinity Courtyard (Branson Hall if it’s cold or raining.)  For more information, click here.

June 15: Pride Spirit Day (Westport elementary schools)

The elementary schools focus on families, and the many different ways they can be. Students learn about important LGBTQ+ figures from read-alouds and bulletin boards. Outside the buildings, chalk drawings and messages spread love and the message that everyone deserves to be proud of who they are.

June 17: Pride Cabaret Night (Westport Library, 6:30 p.m.)

An evening of music, performing arts and comedy, hosted by comedienne and activist Mina Hartong.

For more information and to RSVP, click here.

June – August: Summer of Love | Merchants of Pride – Various Locations

All summer long, merchants offer pride-themed items, events and more. NOTE: These offers begin June 1. Don’t click the links, or visit the stores or restaurants, until Tuesday!

A Splash of Pink: Shopping Night (Wednesday, June 1, 5 to 8 p.m.). Light bites, and a rainbow bar of cocktails. A portion of the evening’s sales will be donated to Westport Pride.

Allium Eatery: A portion of  proceeds from the sale of “Fields of Love” will benefit Westport Pride. This change will change periodically throughout the summer so the culinary team can create innovative dishes. It is called “Fields of Love” to honor “embracing diversity and the beauty of all ingredients, just as we all should with the LGBTQ+ community.” June 1 through August 31.

Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti: A portion of proceeds from the sale of the newly created AZALEA cocktail (vodka, lemonade, strawberry shrub, bubbles) will be donated to Westport Pride. 

Don Memo/Kawa Ni/The Whelk: Signature cocktail for the month of June.

Middlemarch: Partners with Jeweled Coquette to create a special limited edition Bon-Bon necklace. The designer followed the original pride flag design from 1978. Stones are jade, sunstone, opal, chalcedony, quartz and serpentine. Necklaces are hand-knotted on 20″ silk, with a 15K gold filled spring ring closure. Orders can be placed online or at the store. Retail price is $200; 20% donated to Westport Pride. Offer good June 1-30.

Sono1420: Limited edition PRIDE bottle of SONO1420 vodka.

WEST: 20% off all Aviator Nation apparel for month of June. A portion of proceeds donated to Westport Pride.

Whoop Handstitch: A limited edition with “PROUD” stitched in rainbow thread on a white sweatshirt; also, a gray cashmere sweater with “LOVE IS LOVE” with rainbow thread. The sweatshirt retails for $95; $20 will be donated to Westport Pride. The sweater retails for $185, with $50 donated to Westport Pride. June 1 through August 31.

Finally, there’s this: Throughout June, Jillian Elder will offer special Wesptort- and Pride-themed t-shirts. hoodies, mugs, tumblers and tote bags. 10% of all sales will be donated to Westport Pride. Click here to order.

*The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and asexual or agender; the “plus” sign indicates other sexual orientations people may identify as or with.