Per Montgomery County:
Montgomery County’s celebration of June as Pride Month continues with special events of varying types. The events will include “Pride on the Field” in White Oak on Friday, June 24, and Pride in the Plaza activities on Sunday, June 26, in Silver Spring.

Friday, June 24: Pride on the Field: An LGBTQ+ Field Day.

Montgomery County Recreation Department and Unmatched Athlete will partner for a day of outdoor games and sports from noon-4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at the White Oak Recreation Center. No matter your athletic ability, there will be something fun for everybody. Following Pride on the Field, there will be activities at the recreation center’s new LGBTQ+ Safe Zone from 7-10 p.m. Register here.

Friday, June 24: Pride in the Park: Movie Night

Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a cozy outdoor screening of the film Saturday Church in Jesup Blair Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Bring your own food and drink or purchase refreshments from Silver Branch Brewing and an on-site food vendor. The movie will begin at sundown. Saturday Church takes the viewer through the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a boy who is struggling with his gender identity and faith. Ulysses uses music and fantasy to navigate his life in the inner city, meeting many new friends along the way that help him discover his freedom of expression and passions. No tickets are required for this event. Presented by Montgomery Parks. More information here.

Saturday, June 25: MOCO Pride Youth Picnic

MoCo Pride Youth, the LGBTQ+ student advocacy group of Montgomery County Public Schools, has organized an afternoon of food and socializing for LGBTQ+ youth in Downtown Silver Spring’s Woodside Urban Park from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. All LGBTQ+ teens are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are MCPS students. Get free tickets.

Saturday, June 25: Pride in the Park: Youth Open Mic

Do you have a notebook full of poetry you want to share with the world, or a song that needs an audience? All LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are invited by MoCo Reconnect to spend some time behind the microphone sharing their poetry, stories, songs, and any other creative musings from 3-5 p.m. at Woodside Urban Park on Saturday, June 25. Woodside Urban Park is located at 8800 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. More information here.

SUNDAY, June 26: Pride in the Plaza Festival!

Come out and show your pride in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring for a fun, all-day, outdoor festival celebrating LGBTQ+ community, health, well-being and joy. The festival is free. Get tickets now.

Festival highlights will include:

• Local LGBTQ+ artists, businesses and supportive nonprofits.
• Free HIV testing.
• Drag Queen Story Hour: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• LGBTQI Pride Show & Drag Duels Finale: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
• Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball: 5-8 p.m

There will be a Pride Family Day event on Saturday, June 11 from 11am-2pm at Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo). The event is being held in collaboration with County Council Vice President Evan Glass, who tells us:

This is my fourth year organizing Pride events throughout Montgomery County and the LGBTQ+ Family Day at Glen Echo Park is one of my favorites. This free event is wonderful way to celebrate all our families and our beautiful diversity.

Per Glen Echo:
Glen Echo Park is proud to collaborate with the office of Montgomery County Council Vice President Evan Glass to provide the 2nd annual Pride Family Day!

Between 11 am and 2 pm on June 11, we invite families to enjoy:

• Interactive chalk maze designed by Chalk Riot, whose motto is, “We make ordinary surfaces extraordinary!”
• Carousel-themed craft activity bag for all ages (while supplies last!)
• FREE carousel tickets (while supplies last!)
• FREE Snacks & Specialty Glen Echo Park Root Beer (while supplies last!)
• Discounted tickets to a mainstage performance at the Puppet Co. Performances of Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs are scheduled for 11:30 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday June 11th. Recommended for ages 4+. Run time approximately 45 minutes. Use coupon code: PRIDE22 when purchasing your tickets online. Please purchase tickets in advance to use the discount and direct any questions to [email protected].

Families can also enjoy the playground, the picnic area, the Glen Echo Park Aquarium (tickets required; book in advance), and a variety of art galleries throughout the park.

Advance Registration Requested.

Register

Saturday is Pride family day at Glen Echo Park. Hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/g7IfZh9iJ5

— Evan Glass (@EvanMGlass) June 10, 2022

Per Montgomery County:
“Crafting Queer Resistance: The Emergence of LGBTQIA+ Voices in Contemporary Craft” will be presented online by Montgomery History on at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 13. John-Duane Kingsley, an author and independent consultant on the intersection of design history and the queer experience, will lead the presentation.

Crafting Queer Resistance will explore the expanding world of queer makers within textiles, wood, ceramics and metal. The presentation will look at how queer makers’ unique experiences challenge the histories, techniques and materiality of their mediums.

To learn more about the work of Mr. Kingsley, go to www.dandycraft.org.

To view the presentation, register at https://montgomeryhistory.org/.

Questions about accessing Montgomery History programs can be addressed to Matt Gagle, director of programs, at [email protected].

Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Montgomery County officials kicked off Pride Month with the release of the first-ever survey of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) residents. Launched on June 1st,  the LGBTQ+ community survey will collect anonymous information about health and wellness, access to resources and services, experiences of discrimination and other aspects of residents’ life in the community.

The survey, which was drafted in collaboration with the County’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and launched by the Office of Community Partnerships, aims to gather data that will guide the future work of the County’s LGBTQ Liaison and LGBTQ Advisory Board.

“Montgomery County has made a commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community feels safe and welcome, said County Executive Marc Elrich.  “This survey will provide important data to help us keep that commitment.   Our LGBTQ+ community contributes to our history, economic vitality, and culture, building a brighter future for all.”

The survey’s findings will be shared with other County departments and presented back to the community for feedback and dialogue. “We are hopeful that the results from this survey will give us a clearer understanding of the experiences and needs of Montgomery County’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities,” said Dr. Amena Johnson, the County’s LGBTQ liaison.  “We designed the survey to elicit actionable responses. We don’t plan to sit on this data, we plan to use it to create a safer and more affirming Montgomery County for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Find the survey in multiple languages on the Office of Community Partnerships website.  Deadline to complete the survey is Friday, July 15.

The survey is being distributed electronically throughout the community, and residents and community organizations are invited to share the survey links with their networks. Respondents who complete the survey, which takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete,  will have a chance to win an incentive.

The County’s LGBTQ Advisory Group will attend the Pride in the Plaza festival on June 26th in downtown Silver Spring to promote and distribute the survey.  Members of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board are M Aragon, Lee Blinder, Julian Harris, Loraine Hutchins, Samantha Jones, and Vanessa Til. Find more information on the advisory group on the Office of Community Partnerships website.

For questions about the survey, please contact Dr.Amena Johnson at [email protected].

Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza will take place on Sunday, June 26 from 12 noon to 8 p.m.at  Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring). More information on this and other County-sponsored Pride events can be found at PrideInthePlaza.com.

Per Montgomery Parks:
In celebration of PRIDE Month, Improbable Comedy is getting a rainbow makeover and showcasing local queer comics! Some of the best LGBTQIA+ performers will make you laugh with their stand-up routines – touching on personal topics of relationships, family, love, and more.

This event will be held on the lawn of Fairview Urban Park and begins at 6:00 pm with food and beverage for purchase from Giacomo’s Brick Oven Pizza, Clayboys Shave Ice, and Astro Lab Brewing. The show kicks off at 7:00 pm and guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets for viewing.

This event is intended for mature audiences ages seventeen and up and is not recommended for viewers under seventeen. Viewer discretion is advised.

Event Information and Guidelines

• Address: 8900 Fairview Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Parking: Paid parking is available at the Spring Cameron Garage (2) across the street and the venue is accessible via public transportation. See details below.
• Outside alcohol is not permitted at the event.
• Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Restrooms available at the event.

Interested in more performances this summer? Montgomery Parks is hosting a series of events with Parks Playhouse. Click below to learn more.

For any questions about the event, please contact the Activation team at [email protected].

Transportation Opportunities

Bus # Q1, Q2, Q4, Y2, Y7, and Y8 to Georgia Avenue & Spring Street. Stop ID: 2000214

Bus # Q1, Q2, Q4, Y2, Y7, and Y8 to Georgia Avenue & Spring Street. Stop ID: 2000219

Bus # 28 to Fenton Street & Cameron Street. Stop ID: 28256. Exit the bus and walk Northwest on Fenton Street towards Cameron Street. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Cameron Street. In 0.1 miles, turn left onto Spring Street. The park will be on the right side of the street.

Bus # 8, 9, 13, 14, 21, 22, Z2, Z6, Z8 to Colesville Road & North Noyes Drive. Stop ID: 2000235. Exit the bus and walk north on Colesville Road towards North Noyes Drive. Turn left onto North Noyes Drive, and after 0.2 miles, turn left onto Fairview Road. The park will be on the right side of the street.

Red Line Metro to Silver Spring station: Exit the metro station onto Wayne Avenue. Turn right onto Colesville Road and walk for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Spring Street, and the park will be on the right side of the street.

Ages 17 & up

This event will be held at Fairview Road Urban Park

Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 2, 2022
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 2, 2022—Montgomery County Council Vice President Evan Glass will be joined by County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmembers and leaders of the LGBTQ+ community for a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the beginning of Pride Month on Tuesday, June 7 at 11 a.m.

What: Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony.

When: Tuesday, June 7 at 11 a.m.

Where: Outside of the Executive Office Building on Veterans Memorial Plaza, which is located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville (on the Government Complex Center Terrace located between the Montgomery County Circuit Court annex and the Executive Office Building). Parking information can be found here.

Who: Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass, County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmembers and leaders of the County’s LGBTQ+ community.

Council Vice President Glass will host a series of community events celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. A full list of upcoming Pride Month events can be found here.

For additional information contact Council Vice President Glass’ Chief of Staff Valeria Carranza at [email protected] or 240-777-7954.

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

This year marks the fourth year that I'm organizing events throughout Montgomery County to honor and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community. From family day at Glen Echo Park to drag story hours, there’s something for everyone. pic.twitter.com/IdeF0ljjIQ

— Councilmember Evan Glass (@CMEvanGlass) June 1, 2022

The City of Rockville’s Human Rights Commission will celebrate the sixth annual Rockville Pride with a virtual event on Sunday, June 5, from 2-3:30pm. According to the event’s website, the virtual event will be interactive and will include LGBTQ+ resources and breakout room discussions of LGBTQ+ topics. There will be two breakout room sessions, with four topics to choose from. During each breakout session, participants can choose between these four rooms to join. There will be a prompt for each room and HRC members will moderate these open discussions.

Per the City of Rockville:
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer/Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The commemorative month also recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history—locally, nationally, and internationally. The City of Rockville has issued proclamations declaring LGBTQ+ Pride Month since June 2017.  The City will celebrate 2021 PRIDE month with a panel discussion titled “Coming Out to Your Community”.

Rockville celebrates Pride Month in June. This year, the City of Rockville’s Human Rights Commission will celebrate the sixth annual Rockville Pride with a virtual event on Sunday June 5, 2022 and a celebration in Rockville Town Square Park from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2022. Interested in performing or becoming a sponsor? Contact Ali Hoy at 240-314-8304 or [email protected]. Find more information about Pride, as details become available, at www.rockvillemd.gov/pride.

Last year’s Rockville Pride events included a virtual panel discussion on Saturday, featuring community leaders and students, who will provide resources and share experiences, Instagram posts created by HRC student ambassadors, and a Pride virtual festival that included performances, art and special message.

Per Montgomery County:
County to Host Second Annual Pride in the Plaza Festival June 26; Events Planned June 21-26 throughout Silver Spring
In honor of Pride Month, Montgomery County will host its second annual Pride in the Plaza, a free, outdoor LGBTQ+ pride festival on Sunday, June 26 from noon to 8p.m. in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.

Pride in the Plaza will feature food, music, an LGBTQ+ focused resource and vendor fair, bilingual Drag Queen Story Hour, and the championship finale of Live in Your Truth Program’s Drag Duels series. The day will conclude with the second annual Pride in the Plaza Mini-Ball, a free voguing competition with cash prizes, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with Capitol Ballroom Council. Local businesses that want to support Pride in the Plaza can visit PrideInThePlaza.com/partners-in-pride.

Pride in the Plaza will showcase a diverse cross-section of local nonprofit organizations, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, artists, and networks tabling to share information about their services for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities. HIV and other health screenings will be provided free of charge, in honor of National HIV Testing Day (June 27).

In the week leading up to the festival, the County is partnering with LGBTQ+ led organizations on a slate of events for residents of all ages, including Pride in the Field, an LGBTQ+ focused field day, Pride in the Parks Movie Night, Pride in Sexual Health Symposium for healthcare providers, Pride on the Page Book Talk with local author Eric Nguyen, and a Pop-up of the Maryland Trans Resilience Conference, organized by Trans Maryland. A full list of events can be found at PrideInThePlaza.com/Events.

“We are thrilled to host Pride in the Plaza again in 2022,” said Melvin Cauthen, administrator for the County’s HIV/STI program and Pride in the Plaza steering committee member. “This year, we have expanded to a whole week of events, and more importantly, we are building partnerships that will continue to connect and support LGBTQ+ communities far beyond Pride Month.”

To encourage residents to attend multiple events, the County has created a “Passport to Pride.” Those who attend and get their passports stamped at three or more Pride in the Plaza events will be entered to win one of 10 grand prizes. The passport can be found online here or picked up at any Pride in the Plaza event. Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring. Free parking is available in the Ellsworth Drive parking garage adjacent to the plaza.  Pride in the Plaza is hosted by Montgomery County’s HIV/STI program, which provides free HIV testing and treatment, PrEP for prevention, and STI testing and treatment at the Dennis Avenue Health Center. Call 240-777-1760 to make an appointment or visit DoItForYouMC.org for more information.

Free Summer of Love PRIDE Walk June 27

Per Montgomery Parks:

Celebrate Pride Month with Montgomery Parks and the Moco Pride Center at the free Summer of Love PRIDE Walk at Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreational Park on Sunday, June 27, from 4:30 to 8:30 pm.

Bring your friends and family and take an evening walk on our Pride-themed trail that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community of Montgomery County! Hang out at the PRIDE picnic area, where you’ll find a DJ and lawn games!

Along the 0.8-mile fully paved trail, you’ll have multiple chances to take fun, Instagram-worthy photos with your loved ones at the colorful butterfly field, chalk art, and other areas.

Please bring your own picnic blanket or chairs to hang out in the PRIDE picnic area. DJ Confetti the First will be on-site to provide music, and you can grab food from the Pop Up Poutine & Patisserie food truck and the Kona Ice truck! Feel free to bring your own snacks or food for the PRIDE picnic area, as well as plenty of water to stay hydrated!

Registration is required for this event through Eventbrite. Please make sure you include the total number of guests in your party when registering and the contact email for at least one person.

Transportation Information:

There is plenty of parking onsite if you are driving to the park.

The following bus routes are also available:

• Number 10 Bus (Platform F, Stop ID: 29190) from the Glenmont Metro Station will drop you off at the East Randolph Road and Billington Road stop, which is about a 15-minute walk to the park from the stop.
• C8 Bus EAST to College Park Station (Platform E, Stop ID: 2001100) stops at New Hampshire Ave and Jackson Road. After getting off the bus, it is about a 15-minute walk to the park from the stop.

Additional routes are available on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) page.

Event Guidelines:

1. Registration is required in advance.
2. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entirety of the event.
3. Dogs are permitted as long as they are leashed, and owners are required to pick up after their dogs and dispose of any waste in trash cans on-site.
4. Please arrive at the Check-In table during your designated start time for the Pride Walk on the trail. This allows us to avoid overcrowding the trail.
5. Since this event takes place in the evening, please be sure to plan accordingly. You may want to bring bug spray and a flashlight for your group. The paved trail will be moderately lit with in-ground lights, but there will be no direct overhead lighting.

Montgomery County to Host Pride in the Plaza on June 27; Inaugural LGBTQ+ Sexual Health Campaign to Launch on National HIV Testing Day

Per Montgomery County:

In honor of Pride Month and National HIV Testing Day, the HIV/STI Program, part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host Pride in the Plaza, an outdoor LGBTQ+ health and wellness community resource fair from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 27.

Health officials will also launch “Do it For Montgomery County,” a comprehensive, inclusive LGBTQ+ sexual health campaign created as part of the County’s Plan to End HIV. This free event will open with a pride flag raising ceremony at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring. Activities will conclude with an evening “Mini-Ball” voguing competition-in partnership with Speak Out & the Capitol Ballroom Council.

Pride in the Plaza will showcase a diverse cross-section of local non-profit organizations and artists tabling to share information about their services for Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ communities. Music, dancing, and other interactive activities will take place and free, on-site HIV testing and prevention education will be available throughout the event.

LGBTQ+ communities in Montgomery County, particularly Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities, experience disproportionate impact from HIV. In response to community feedback, the County’s Plan to End HIV calls for the expansion of LGBTQ+ health resources in the County and improved HIV and sex education access for LGBTQ+ youth. Significant increases in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention are planned for a 90 percent reduction in new cases by 2030. The “Do it For Montgomery County” sexual health campaign features a new website, new social media platforms, bus, metro, and digital ads and includes multicultural, inclusive LGBTQ+ messaging on HIV testing, treatment, and prevention.

“Pride in the Plaza represents the County’s ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ health and wellness, said Melvin Cauthen, administrator for the HIV/STI program. “This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first cases of HIV in the United States. LGBTQ+ health encompasses so much more than HIV, but this epidemic persisting over four decades with increasing disparities shows us the danger of a ‘one size fits all’ public health approach. We are committed to fighting HIV equitably.”

Veterans Plaza is located at 1 Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring.  Free parking is available in the Ellsworth Drive parking garage adjacent to the plaza.

The County’s HIV/STI program provides free HIV testing, free and low-cost HIV treatment, pre-exposure medication PrEP and STI testing and treatment at the Dennis Avenue Health Center. Call 240-777-1760 to make an appointment or visit DoItForYouMC.org for more information.