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norfolk — Summer might not officially start until later this month, but as Kool & the Gang said, “There’s a party goin’ on right here!”
What’s the occasion? Pride Month.
For at least 21 years, June has marked the official celebration of LGBTQ and commemoration of the community’s fight for equal rights. Its origins trace back to the 1969 police raid of the popular Stonewall Inn in New York City that sparked a movement.
Though there won’t be a large-scale festival at Norfolk’s Town Point Park this year (thanks, COVID), Hampton Roads Pride has organized in-person and virtual events to help the proud ones — and their allies — observe the occasion all month long, and again in September.
Since most of the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, it’ll be like coming out all over again.
HRP board member Charles Ford said once the organization realized the waterfront festival was off the table — it includes a boat parade that draws about 40,000 people a year — they pivoted to smaller events.
And this summer’s Pride is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure to stretch first and drink plenty of water.
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It starts today with a 10-hour Pride Seltzer party at Bold Mariner Brewing Company in Ocean View, complete with special edition cans. It’ll get the vibe right for the rest of the month, Ford said.
Ford will host a variety of events, including a “Meet the Author” at Virginia Beach’s Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library on June 16 where he’ll discuss his book, “LGBT Hampton Roads” with co-author Jeffrey Littlejohn. He’ll also have two pre-recorded LGBT walking tours to watch online.
One tour centers on Hampton’s history while the other traces the community’s footprint in Ghent. There will be about 12 stops, he said.
“Hampton’s will cover all the way back to the naming of Hampton Roads and androgynous pirates, women dressing as men on the ships, up to some of the controversies at Hampton High School,” Ford said, and the first enlisted service member, Leonard Matlovich, to say they were gay.
Ghent’s tour will highlight businesses and churches that provided gathering spaces for the LGBTQ community, the Chrysler Museum and controversy at The Naro when it showed a 1980 German film, “Taxi zum Klo,” about a gay school teacher.
“These won’t be boring Zoom lessons,” Ford said. “They’ll be very, you know, spicy.”
Other events include virtual dance parties, Pride Nights at Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House and the Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, another at Norfolk’s Harbor Park, Pride in the ViBe Creative District, a drag brunch at Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, a family day and Pride Week kickoff at Ocean Breeze Waterpark and a Sunday Tea Dance Revival.
What’s a tea dance? They were afternoon dance parties disguised as afternoon tea times starting in the 1950s. Their purpose was to give LGBTQ people a place where they could dance together — something they couldn’t do in public.
On June 19, the organization will host the Rainbow Starz Variety Show at the Attucks Theater in Norfolk. Expect a mix of performers, from spoken word to drag and comedians from all over the region.
“It’ll be a night for everyone,” Ford said. “Not just the disco divas.”
In September, HRP will host a Pride Fest that’ll feel more like their annual waterfront party. It’ll be free, and the entertainment will be a showcase of regional acts. More details for that event are forthcoming.
Just being able to get outside and celebrate with a community is enough reason to be excited, Ford said. This year brings another layer of emotion: relief.
“There’s a lot to celebrate besides just trying to get out,” he said. “With the Trump administration, there was a real threat to people’s rights.”
Ford listed marriage equality, transgender rights and similar policies, including the former “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which kept soldiers in the closet.
With a president in the White House who is “more of a friend” to the community, Ford said it’s a little easier to breathe.
“How precious and how lucky we are” to have made it past those attempts to roll back community rights, he said.
“There’s a lot of appreciation there,” he said. “Now, we’re just hungry for celebrations.”
Select events
June 3 — Pride Seltzer Kickoff. Noon to 10 p.m. Bold Mariner Brewing Company, 1901 E. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk
June 13 — Pride in the ViBe. 2 to 6 p.m. ViBe Park, 611 18th St., Virginia Beach
Weekend Scoop
June 19 — Rainbow Starz Variety Show. 7 to 9 p.m. Ticketed event. Attucks Theatre, 1010 Church St., Norfolk
June 20 — Family Day and Pride Week Kickoff at Ocean Breeze Waterpark. June 20–26. 849 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach
June 27 — Sunday Tea Dance Revival. 2 to 5 p.m. Venue 112, 401 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach
June 28 — Stonewall 52nd Anniversary Panel Discussion – “What does Pride mean to me?” Virtual discussion, 6:30 p.m.
A full list of events and information can be found at hamptonroadspride.org/pridefest.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct a service reference to Leonard Matlovich due to a source error. Matlovich served in the U.S. Air Force, not the U.S. Navy.
Amy Poulter, 757-446-2705, amy.poulter@pilotonline.com