Photo courtesy The Salty
Pride Month is officially here, and Oak Cliff is rich with LGBTQ+ history.
AIDS Services of Dallas was established here in 1987 to house and help people living with AIDS, and it’s still operating on Zang Boulevard. Prism Health North Texas, the healthcare provider that hosts the LifeWalk fundraiser for HIV awareness, is also based here.
Oak Cliff is home to several LGBTQ-owned small businesses, and has fostered gay and lesbian politicians. Former City Councilman Ed Oakley was the first openly gay person to make it into a runoff election for Mayor of Dallas in 2006, the same year Lupe Valdez was elected Dallas County Sheriff. She was the first openly lesbian sheriff in the United States.
This year, Pride is back and better than ever. Here are a few ways to celebrate throughout the month.
- Orgullo Oak Cliff Pride: The annual Oak Cliff Pride and Market returns this year on June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Four Corners Brewing Company. There will be a mix of vendors, delicious food, refreshing drinks, a spectacular drag show, and lively music.
- Tipsy Beach Pride Party: Tipsy Beach, a summer spin-off of the popular Tipsy Elf, is a month-long beach party coming to Oak Cliff on June 7. The event will feature a Pride Party on June 23 starting at noon at 308 North Bishop Avenue.
- MaricónX: Stories de Mi Tierra: This exhibition at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center is on display through June 7 and celebrates LGBTQ+ identity, culture, and the resilience featuring artists from diverse backgrounds who share their stories through art, reflecting the beauty, challenges, and victories intertwined with their heritage and queerness.
- Pride at The Salty: The Salty Donut will be celebrating Pride this year at all locations from June 17 through June 23. The store will be offering three specialty items, with proceeds benefiting local organizations that support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through advocacy in each of the markets where you can find The Salty. The specials include: the Funfetti Disco Glitter Donut, Rainbow Donut Holes, and the Blue Majik Vanilla Bean Latte.
- Whose Books Teen Pride Community and Celebration: Whose Books will be hosting a Teen Pride Night for LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 13-19 on June 27 from 7-8:30 p.m. The evening will feature food, art, real talk, books, music, and games.
- Pride merch at Bullzerk: Looking for some Pride gear? Bullzerk will have Pride shirts stocked at their Bishop Arts location starting this week. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be donated to The Resource Center, which serves the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities in DFW.
- The Celluloid Closet at the Texas Theatre: The Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff will be showing the Celluloid Closet on June 15 at 5 p.m. The documentary highlights the historical contexts that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people have occupied in cinema history, and shows the evolution of the entertainment industry’s role in shaping perceptions of LGBTQ+ figures.
- City of Dallas Pride in Excellence Awards: The City of Dallas will hold the Pride in Excellence Awards Reception on June 5 at noon at at the Dallas City Hall Lobby, located at 1500 Marilla St. The event is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community.
