What is three days long, drags but never lags, and contains every color in the rainbow?
Bisbee Pride weekend, of course!
The celebration of the LGBTQ+ community every June began more than 50 years ago as a response to the 1969 events at the Stonewall Inn in New York. It’s really no surprise that the vibrant, eclectic residents of Bisbee, Arizona would go on to carry that flag of pride and activism into the 21st century.
In 2004, a group of Bisbee friends organized a small Pride celebration which would grow into the fun-packed weekend it is now. Drawing visitors from afar and garnering support from the locals, Bisbee Pride has also evolved into a nonprofit organization dedicated to the wellness, rights, and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community of Cochise County.
It’s no surprise that Bisbee subsequentially went on to defy state officials and become the first city in Arizona to legalize civil unions in 2013 – well before the Marriage Equality Act went national.
Party With a Purpose
This weekend, from June 13-15, Bisbee Pride celebrates 21 years with the timely theme, Party with a Purpose: The Fight Continues. Events officially kick off Thursday night with Bowling for Dildos at St. Elmo’s bar (the name is self-explanatory). The Pride Parade begins Saturday morning at 10 AM and starts near the historic Cochise County Courthouse on Quality Hill Rd.
You can find the full schedule at BisbeePrideAZ.com or on their Facebook page here, but a brief rundown of the weekend festivities include:
FRIDAY
- Pride Village offers vendors and food at Grassy Park.
- Dress up for the Lingerie Pub Crawl, 6:30-10 PM.
- Pink Pony Club Dance, 7 PM to midnight
SATURDAY
- Watch the Bisbee Pride Parade at 10 AM along Main Street.
- A Pride Kids Space at Covenant Presbyterian Church Annex is open from noon to 2 PM.
- Entertainment all day on two different stages; includes performers from all over Arizona, plus headliners Mayhem Miller and Mariah Balenciaga from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
SUNDAY
- Twisted Sister Bingo at the Legion Bar and Grill.
Many of these events are ticketed and can be purchased in advance here.
Mineshaft, a premiere gay men’s event in Southern Arizona, is adding to the Pride festivities with Bisbee Rainbow Weekend. Their offerings include happy hour, a concert, drag and comedy shows, plus mud wrestling. Both individual event tickets and weekend passes are available to purchase.
For non-locals, Bisbee is less than two hours from Tucson and about four from Phoenix. Hotels and Airbnbs are understandably booked up well in advance for this iconic weekend, so come for the day or plan ahead for next year. Parking is an adventure on a good day, so we recommend patience and comfortable shoes.
The Fight Continues
Pride is much more than three days or even a month for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s living every day with authenticity and being able to love who you love. While this coming weekend may be bursting with color and joy, every day is filled with news and stories of people who wish to prevent these basic freedoms for communities that include LGBTQ+ friends and family.
We invite you to celebrate a perfectly unique weekend in Bisbee by partying with a purpose, but let’s not forget to keep fighting for love, rights, and acceptance. Always.