MONDAY, JUNE 18
Queen City Radio Karaoke — QCR kicks off their Pride week with Monday night karaoke. Order a Yaaass Queen City Mule to benefit Cincinnati Pride. 9:30 p.m. Free. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the 1998 Rock musical by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, is the story of Hedwig Robinson, a genderqueer would-be Rock star. Hedwig the show is a radical Rock concert, from beginning to end. Through July 1. $68 adult; $31 student; $27 child. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, ensemblecincinnati.org.
Queen City Pride Cabaret — Head to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for cocktails and a festive cabaret that celebrates the meaning of Pride thorugh song, storytelling and dance. From LGBTQ pride to cultural pride (and more), this cabaret is a celebration of love and harmony. Proceeds benefit PFLAG’s Scholarship Fund and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education Department. 7-9 p.m. $20 advance; $25 door. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincyshakes.com.
Pride Gender Bender at Sundry and Vice — Gender bend at Sundry and Vice with make-up artists, pop-up performances and DJs. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Sundry and Vice, 18 W. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/sundryandvice.
To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar — Screening on the Queen City Radio patio. 9 p.m. Free. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
Washington Park’s Summer Cinema with Cincinnati Pride: Beauty and the Beast — Cincinnati Pride is partnering with Washington Park’s Summer Cinema series for a family-friendly celebration featuring plenty of sing-along moments and yellow ball gowns. This week, the park is screening Beauty and the Beast — the animated classic — and Pride will be on hand with a swag booth, food options and more. Come dressed in your best Belle or Beast costume (or Lumière or Gaston or…) and take a picture against a special photo backdrop. The best dressed and most creative costumes will win a gift basket. 7:30 p.m.; film starts at dusk. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.
Drag Show by Cincinnati Pride — After the Summer Cinema screening at Washington Park, head to Queen City Radio for a drag show. Starts after film ends. Free. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.
Bear Night at Tillies — This Bear Night celebrates Mr. Cincinnati Leather 2018: Ramon Spurlock and Mr. Tri-State Leather, Dorian Gray. 6 p.m.-midnight. Free admission. Tillies Lounge, 4042 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/tillieslounge.
State of Black LGBTQ in Cincy Forum — This forum brings together diverse leaders in the black LGBTQ community to talk about political issues in Cincinnati and beyond. Panelists will discuss a variety of topics, ranging from visibility of and discrimination toward the black LGBTQ community, the most effective ways to create social justice, support for LGBTQ youth and more. 6-8:30 p.m. Free. African American Cultural and Resource center, University of Cincinnati, 60 W. Charlton St., Clifton, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
Pride Comedy Show — Below Zero is hosting a new Pride Comedy Show featuring LGBTQ stand-ups, improvisers and more for a night of comedy to “knock your rainbow socks right off.” All proceeds will be donated to GLSEN Cincinnati Chapter. 8-9:30 p.m. Donations taken at the door. Below Zero Cabaret Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/belowzerolounge.
Cincinnati Black Pride – Ladies Night — Drink specials, giveaways and music from DJ Kaotic and DJ Hershe B. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Aster, 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
Drag Show at The Main Event — A drag performance and club night. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Free admission. Main Event, 835 Main St., Downtown, facebook.com/maineventcincinnati.
Black Alphabet Cincy — A celebration of black LGBTQ+ films, Black Alphabet Cincy offers a chance to see films that exhibit not only incredible performances, but also give LGBTQ characters the center stage. Two shorts — Change, which follows a gay African-American teenager on the night Obama was elected president, and 3030, an original series that chronicles the lives of two platonic lesbian roommates living in Las Vegas — screen before the feature film Saturday Church, the story of a 14-year-old effeminate boy who struggles with gender identity and becoming the “man of the house” after his father dies. 7 p.m. $12. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave, Clifton, esquiretheatre.com.
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
Black LGBTQ Film: Same Difference — The Same Difference, a documentary about lesbians who discriminate against other lesbians based on gender roles, takes an in-depth look at the internalized hetero-normative gender roles within the African-American lesbian and bisexual community. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $12. Hoffner Lodge, 4120 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cincinnatifilm.org.
Cincinnati Opera’s Pride Night Celebration — The opera’s 12th-annviersary Pride Night Celebration combines opera with a celebration of Greater Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ community and supporters. There will be drinks, music, light bites and dazzling décor in Music Hall’s Corbett Tower. 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiopera.org.
Shabbat with RUACH — Celebrate Shabbat and Pride with RUACH, Rockdale Temple’s young professional community. There will be Shabbat services marking Pride weekend at the temple, followed by Shabbat dinner at Grand Central Deli. 6:15 p.m. services at Rockdale Temple, 8501 Ridge Road, Amberley Village, rockdaletemple.org; 7:45-9:45 p.m. Shabbat Dinner at Grand Central Delicatessen, 6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, RSVP to mkahan@rockdaletemple.org.
’90s Videos Night- Pride Weekend Kick-Off — Tillies Lounge hosts an evening featuring all your favorite dance and club hits from the 1990s — as screened by VJ Paul. Show up in your best ’90s club wear. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Free. Tillies Lounge, 4042 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/tillieslounge.
Rock Da Boat Boat Ride on the Ohio River — Two levels with two bars featuring ‘’90s and throwback music on the first floor and current hits from Rock Hard Productions and DJ EazyKutz on the second. 18 and older. 10:30-11:30 p.m. boarding; 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. ride. $25; $30 day-of. Cincinnati Public Landing, 435 E. Mehring Way, Downtown, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
Odd: An Alternative Drag Show — Ella Gunt and Stixen Stones host an alternative drag show at The Mockbee to benefit Grace Place, a shelter in College Hill that houses and supports mothers and children who are transitioning out of homelessness. Show is 21+. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free admission. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, West End, facebook.com/themockbee.
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival — Celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month with the city’s biggest and best love fest of the whole year: the 45th Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival. The Pride Parade kicks off the festivities at 11 a.m. Saturday, stepping off from the intersection of Seventh Street and Central Avenue before winding its way through downtown to the festival grounds at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove. Expect tons of local organizations, companies and entrainment marching to beat of their own drum, including Pride sponsors like Pure Romance, US Bank, Delate Airlines, Kroger, Fifth Third Bank, P&G and more. The festival features two stages of entertainment with all LGBTQ+ artists and performers, including headliners Superfruit, Ginger Minj and Kim Petras, plus vendors, food, booze, family-friendly area and more. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. Sawyer Point, 705 E Pete Rose Way, Downtown, cincinnatipride.org.
Queen City Radio Pride Party — After the Pride festival at Sawyer Point, head to QCR for two drag shows, hosted by Keith Hard and Jessica Dimon. 4 and 10 p.m. Free admission. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.
Absolut Pride Party — Below Zero Lounge’s 10th-annual Absolut Pride Party, hosted by Absolut Vodka. Dress in your favorite Pride attire, enjoy Absolut drink specials and dance all night to the sounds of VJ Fuel. Upstairs/next door, the ladies at The Cabaret have an amazing show lined up, too. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Downtown, facebook.com/belowzerolounge.
Pride Weekend at Marty’s Hops & Vines — Head to Marty’s for drink specials on Taft’s Pride and Passion fruit ale, Brothers Drake Meadery Freestone Hopped mead and limited-edition Rosé Bubbles cans. June 22-23. Prices vary. Marty’s Hops & Vines, 6110 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, martys-hopsandvines.com.
Namastay Woke – Black Queer Pride — Namastay Woke is a yoga class inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and seeks to move people into action. This class is for everyone, from the racially exhausted, activists and organizers to those looking for intersectional spaces and more. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Donation based. Gabriel’s Place, 3619 Reading Road, Avondale, facebook.com/healnbuild.
Official Cincinnati Black Pride Party — Featuring Brookville’s Tyco & TheeTuhvon D’Neal. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Jack Casino, 1000 Broadway, Pendleton, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
Pride Sunday Tea Dance — Head to Queen City Radio for a Sunday Tea Dance with DJ Jacoby. 4-7 p.m. Free admission. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.
Pride N Paint — Head to The Mockbee for a Pride N Paint night, with sounds by DJ Yung Red and DJ Kaotic. 2 p.m. doors; 3 p.m. paint event. $35. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, West End, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
Fever! The Pride Edition — Every last Sunday of the month, Below Zero plays classic Disco hits. For this special Pride edition of Fever!, break out the bell bottoms and get ready to shake your groove thing. 4-7 p.m. Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/belowzerolounge.
Millennial Dodgeball Tournament and Cookout — A community barbecue with a dodgeball tournament for those born between 1980-2000. 4-9 p.m. Free. McFarlan Woods Picnic Shelter, Mount Airy Forest, 2800 Westwood Northern Blvd., Westwood, cincinnatiblackpride.com.
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
Drag Queen Story Hour — Drag Queen Story Hour “captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive and unabashedly queer role models.” Local drag queens will share fun stories, make crafts and inspire creative play. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Northside Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 4219 Hamilton Ave., Northside, cincinnatilibrary.org.
This article appears in Jun 13-20, 2018.