Central Coast Pride brings Pride Month celebrations to SLO
Central Coast Pride has a number of upcoming events to honor 2023’s Pride Month and give community members the opportunity to show their colors and embrace diversity and inclusivity. Events put on by this organization started in May and will culminate in the weekend-long celebration beginning the first weekend in June.
“In a world where society has so many expectations, I think it’s extremely valuable to have Pride events where we can shed those expectations and have, even if it’s just one day or one night, where we can really say, ‘You know what, at my core, this is who I am,’ and be loved and accepted in that,” Albers said.
Several events will be held this weekend, which will mark the official beginning of Pride Month. These events, set at three different venues across San Luis Obispo, are the culmination of the months of work by Central Coast Pride.
On Friday June 2, a Drag and Burlesque show will be held at the Fremont Theater. The three-hour show starts at 7 p.m. and will feature performances from The United Queendom and SLO Tease Burlesque Troupe. Although the event is currently sold out, SLO PRIDE Events Director, Laura Albers, said volunteer opportunities are still open.
“Particularly for students, if they didn’t get any tickets, or the tickets were too expensive, it’s another way to get in if you’re at least 18,” Albers said.
Saturday’s event, Pridefest, will take on the form of a traditional festival event at Laguna Lake Park. This includes performances by musicians and drag queens, along with a variety of informational booths and local vendors. Central Coast Pride called the event a “day filled with joy, acceptance and unity,” in an Instagram post.
June 4 will host a Pride brunch at the Dallidet Adobe and Gardens. The event is open to those 21 and older, and some tickets are reserved for members of the LGBTQ+ community who may be unable to attend due to ticket prices.
Later in the afternoon, the festivities will continue at Mission Plaza with live entertainment and music from headlining band The Family Stone.
May 5 marked the start of SLO’s Pride celebrations at the SLO Museum of Art. The various Pride events throughout the month of May included a Trans Pride Drag and Dance Show at Libertine Brewing Company, Trans Pride at Meadow Park, an LGBTQ+ panel discussion where locals spoke about their lived experiences as trans* people and more.
With such a packed and eventful weekend ahead, planning is extensive and began as early as January. A group of about 20 volunteers have been pushing the work forward since then.
Albers said the work leading up to the celebrations has required “putting out fires all day long,” but it especially pays off to see the acceptance, love and sense of community that these events hold.
More information about June’s Pride events, including a detailed calendar, can be found here.
