More Fun Gay Events in Tucson and Southern Arizona

Tucson Gay Pride 2013

Tony Ray Baker
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Tucson Gay Pride 2013
What: G3 Happy Hour When: Friday, October 11 2013 5:00 PM. Where: V Thai, 9 East Congress, Downtown Admission: $5 at the door includes entry, first drink of choice (including call and beer),    asian-fusion appetizers, live DJ, door prizes and Tucson’s best crowd! Official Website: www.TucsonG3.com G3 Gay Mens Happy hour, formerly G2H2 is planning an amazing event that looks like lots of fun. I think this is the only event along and during the Pride Parade Route. V Thai is located at 9 East Congress St. Downtown near the corner of Stone and Congress. They offer some amazing food options and there will be a live DJ, prize giveaways and Video for the event!  V Thai is opening at 5PM for this event so that you have time to relax and have drinks before the parade starts at 6:00PM. The parade route passes by the front of V Thai so it is a great spot to view the festivities and party with a geat crowd. If you have not been to V Thai before, it should be easy to find with a, 20 story high logo of G3 on the side of the building. After 10PM. the party moves to Playground at 5th and Congress for the Playboi after party.
Tucson Arizona Gay Pride Festival 2013What: Tucson Pride When: Saturday, October 12th 2013 Where: Kino Sports Complex. This event is NOT at the Kino Stadium but at “Soccer Field Number 2”. Turn South off Ajo onto Forgeus and drive straight South Admission: $10.00 at the door. VIP Tickets available online at http://tucsonpride.org/. Tucson Pride presents it’s 36th Annual LGBTQ Pride Festival . $50. VIP. Advance tickets can be bought on-line at http://tucsonpride.org/ Advance purchase tickets can be picked up at the will-call table at the entrance on the day of the event. This Years Tucson Pride Theme is Pride 365 highlighting the Southern AZ LGBTQ communitys commitment to show our pride every day of the year. This years Pride festival will be held at the Kino Sports Complex “South Soccer Field”. This is a large venue, features a field of cool grass and stadium lighting which will allow the revelers to party after dark. This is also a fenced county venue allowing beer,wine and yeah, spirits for the first time at a Tucson Pride Festival! So when heading out to the park this year make sure and bring your ID. 12 noon -9PM
Gay Tucson Pride 2013 Aidswalk Downtown ArizonaWhat: Tucson AIDSWALK When: Sunday, October 13th. 2013 Where:  From Joel D. Valdez Main Library – Jácome Plaza Downtown Tucson The 25th annual AIDSWALK  is a 5k walk and a 10K fun run which is a  tremendous resource for Southern Arizona which provides services such as HIV Testing ,case management, housing, food programs, medication assistance and prevention programs, . This year the organization is looking for 2,000 walkers and hopes to raise over $150,000 in order to continue their support for programs and services by The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Please join this great organization to make this the best AIDSWALK ever October 13th. 2013 in downtown Tucson. For more information about AIDSWALK Tucson, visit http://aidswalktucson.saaf.org/
 The weekend starts off hot and wet at “Queertopia”, the pre-pride pool party hosted by the fabulous Miss Ajia Simone at the Arizona Riverpark Inn.  The pool party goes from 3-10 pm on Friday, October 12, and will feature the glorious mixes of DJs RAW-B & CELLOFAME.  Go-Go Dancers, Sing-Along Movie, Drink Specials & Jello Shots, Snack Bar… sounds like a blast to me.  Pride also has special room rates at the Riverpark Inn… so don’t worry about composing yourself to get back home! The Pride Parade, “Pride on Parade”, starts at 11am Saturday, October, 13th on 6th Avenue between 18th Street and 12th Street.  The theme for this year’s parade is “Pride Links Us Together”.  Oh… and this is exciting too… Pride in the park (known in Tucson as “Pride in the Desert”) will actually be in a park… with trees… and benches… not a ballpark!  It starts after the parade at 12 pm in Armory Park.
After the park… regain your wits, grabs some food, rehydrate, and get your booty on down to Hotel Congress for the official Pride After Party “Illusion: A Fool’s Paradise”, hosted by FLUXX Productions.  Party starts at 9 pm and best costume wins a prize.  So think about what your best illusion is and, as Tim Gunn would say, make it work.
And if all the downtown Pride activities aren’t enough for you, then I have great news!  The same weekend… downtown also… is Tucson Meet Yourself and AIDSWALK.  That’s three of Tucson’s largest events… all downtown… all the same weekend.  This is going to be amAAAAziiing!  Check out the AIDSWALK Tucson and Tucson Meet Yourself websites for more info.

Gay Pride Celebrations

Tony Ray Baker
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Gay Pride Celebrations

Tucson is lucky enough to have two Gay Pride celebrations annually visit our fabulous community. The first Gay Pride occurs in June, which coincides with the Stonewall Rebellion and subsequent public demonstrations. The second Pride comes a bit later in the year. That time is finally upon us! Join us as we celebrate with two iconic events: Tucson Pride Parade and Pride in the Desert.

Pride Parade 2019

Gay Pride Celebrations
Tucson Pride Parade 2019

The Tucson Pride Parade has a long, rich history in our community. This year will watch the procession proceed from Broadway / Craycroft and head towards Reid Park, where we will meet up with the festival.

I am so happy Tucson Pride decided to hold the Pride Parade immediately before the festival. The parade used to be organized on the night before, while allowed for some fantastic after-parties, it meant the two events were disunited from each other with little overlap. By having one naturally lead into the other, the Pride Parade and the festival will have increased synergy and provide an even better representation of our amazing community!

For even more information about our gay pride celebrations; Tucson Pride Parade 2019, check out the GayTucson Calendar!

Gay Pride celebrations: Pride in the Desert 2019

Gay Pride Celebrations
Tucson Pride in the Desert 2019

Pride in the Desert (or Park) has always been the flagship event of Tucson Pride weekend. Featuring hilarious hosts, marvelous musical performances and fantastic shows, Pride in the Desert truly has something for everyone. There are adorable shops with Pride souvenirs and phenomenal fashion vendors to get you looking your best. It is a wonderfully welcoming, safe space for everyone to be themselves and have a blast!

Find out everything else you could ever need to know about Tucson Pride in the Desert 2019 at the GayTucson Calendar!

Show Us Your Awesome Talent at the 2022 Tucson Gay Pride in October!

Tony Ray Baker
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Show Us Your Awesome Talent at the 2022 Tucson Gay Pride in October!
While national Pride month has come and gone we still have the 45th annual Tucson Pride to look forward to in October! Here’s a little info on the upcoming festivities and how you can get involved if you’re interested in the open entertainment call.

Pride Weekend

Kick off the weekend on Friday, September 30th with the Pride Parade. Registration will be open soon so stay tuned. The official Pride Festival is on October 1st from 12:00-10:00 PM at the Georges DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park. If you’d like to be a vendor registration is now open, hurry before all the best spots are snatched up! Pride Brunch is on Sunday at Highwire Lounge, stay tuned for details. This is a great chance to unwind from the crazy weekend’s festivities and catch up with friends you might have missed at the park. Do you know any LGBTQ people who don’t love a good brunch? Neither do we.

The Open Entertainment Call

Image of 3 drag queens posing with a girlAre you an entertainer or performer of some type? Do you enjoy the feeling of the crowd’s adoration washing over you? Well now is your chance to apply to be a part of Tucson Pride 2022. They are currently looking for bands, dancers, comedians, DJ’s, drag performers, track entertainers, and more! If you think you’ve got what it takes you have until July 31st to get your application in. You’ll need to include a letter of interest along with video samples or links to your work for review. Now is the time to showcase your talent! Spots are limited so we encourage you to act fast. Send submissions to NancyN@TucsonPride.Org

Just visiting?

Do you have friends or family coming into town to celebrate with you? Well, Tucson Pride just announced the official hotel for this year. Make your reservations at The Graduate, located off Main Gate Square at the University of Arizona. This hotel is shiny and new with eclectic design elements that showcase the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Rooftop image of the Graduate TucsonWe’re talking rooftop heated swimming pool, firepits, and a bar and restaurant just for starters! Yes, all of that is on the roof. You can also bring your furry family with you if you like. This is going to be the place for after-parties so book your stay now. If you have any questions about the upcoming festivities you can send them to information@TucsonPride.Org.      

Tucson Pride 2019 Photos

Tony Ray Baker
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Tucson Pride 2019 Photos

Tucson Pride 2019 - Photo Review

Here are pictures from the incredible event that was Tucson Pride 2019!

SAAF Jello Wrestling

Tony Ray Baker
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0
SAAF Jello Wrestling
SAAF Jello Wrestling has grown to become one of Tucson’s most anticipated yearly events!  From the glamorous costumes to the hilarious personas, you’re going to love the pageantry and air of theatre that pervades the entire event. However, once the competitors are in the green ooze, then you truly see the captivating spectacle for what it is.  It’s friends and lovers, in the spirit of teamwork and competition, locked in intense combat.  It’s that raw, animalistic spirit that animates the entire event and makes SAAF’s Jello Wrestling such a wonderful thing to do in Tucson!

How Jello Wrestling Came to Tucson

This is the tale of Reno Gannon. In 1987, while tending bar at a local watering hole entitled “Rumor Hazzitt”, he went on vacation to Mexico and came back with a fantastic fundraising event. Wrestling in vats of Jell-O! Together with the owner of Rumor Hazzitt, they pulled together the first such event!  It was a fundraiser for Shanti, an early AIDS Service Organization that merged with other local agencies to form Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. The tale of Reno has a tragic end, however, as this wonderful, loving man was cut down at the precocious age of 23 by the scourge of AIDS.  To this day, the Jello Wrestling event remains a memorial to his legacy.

What Happens at SAAF Jello Wrestling?

SAAF Jello Wrestling is a team sport.  Each team of wrestlers raises funds to wrestle during a pit of Jell-O, typically with extraordinary costumes and characters. Between wrestling matches, the Drag Diva Hostesses will run a live auction that includes a wide range of fantastic items to titillate the crowd. Funds raised through Jell-O Wrestling assist SAAF with their awesome mission of cultivating a healthy & stigma-free society through transformative action.

How Can I Help?

Wrestling in the SAAF Jello Wrestling event is an awesome way to support the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). All wrestlers should raise a minimum of $500 in sponsorships. With the addition of online giving through the SAAF website, raising sponsorships can be done with an email!  Find Out More Here:
Wrestle/Sponsor a Wrestler
Not the wrestling type?  Don’t worry, there are tons of volunteer opportunities at SAAF Jello Wrestling! Visit this page to choose what you’d like to do and when!
Volunteer
Have a great day, Tony Ray 🙂

Tucson Gay Pride

Tony Ray Baker
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0
Tucson Gay Pride

Tucson Pride 2024: Celebrating Diversity and Community

Get ready for the biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration in Southern Arizona! Tucson Pride 2024 brings together the vibrant LGBTQ+ community and allies for two days of unity, joy, and empowerment. From the colorful Pride Parade to the lively Pride Festival, this year’s event promises to be a celebration like no other. Join us in embracing diversity, advocating for equality, and creating lasting memories!

Pride Parade
Pride Festival

Tucson Pride Week Featured Events

G3 Pride Kickoff Party 2024

Start Pride Weekend off right at the G3 Pride Kickoff Party on the SkyDeck at Playground! Join the party under the stars with great music, drinks, and dancing, all while celebrating the start of Tucson Pride Week. Your first drink is on us—don’t miss out on the fun!

Get all the details and RSVP now

Tucson Pride Parade 2024

Join Tucson’s LGBTQ+ community as the streets light up with vibrant colors and celebration during the Tucson Pride Parade! March alongside friends, family, and allies in this exciting kickoff to Pride Weekend. Don’t miss the electric atmosphere at Armory Park.

Learn more and register for the parade

Tucson Pride Festival 2024

Get ready for a full day of music, food, and fun at the Tucson Pride Festival! Held at Reid Park, this annual festival features live performances and activities for all ages. Whether you’re looking to dance, shop, or enjoy family-friendly entertainment, this event has something for everyone!

Discover the festival lineup and get your tickets

2024 Grand Marshal: Jess Losoya

Tucson Pride is proud to announce Jess Losoya as the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Parade! Jess is a longtime advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, known for his resilience and leadership in supporting marginalized individuals. His work with the Amity Foundation and various non-profits like the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) has made a lasting impact on the community. Jess’s personal journey through foster care, addiction, and recovery has shaped his passion for helping others. As Grand Marshal, he represents the strength, perseverance, and compassion of the LGBTQIA+ community in Tucson.

Past Tucson Gay Pride Events and Photo Galleries

Show Us Your Awesome Talent at the 2022 Tucson Gay Pride in October!

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While national Pride month has come and gone we still have the 45th annual Tucson Pride to look forward to in October! Here’s a...

Pride Events in Arizona This June

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Tucson Pride is in October, but for the rest of the country, it’s in June. You’ll know it by the mass rainbow apparel that...

Tucson Pride 2019 Photos

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Here are pictures from the incredible event that was Tucson Pride 2019!

Gay Pride Celebrations

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Tucson is lucky enough to have two Gay Pride celebrations annually visit our fabulous community. The first Gay Pride occurs in June, which coincides...

Tucson Gay Pride Guide June 2019

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It's finally here! I feel like a kid on Christmas! It's Gay Pride Month. Just because our Tucson Gay Pride isn't until September doesn't...

Johnathan Celestin Performs Live at Tucson Pride 2018

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Tucson Pride is no stranger to incredible performances.  Who can forget about last year's amazing concert from Velo, or the time we brought in Margaret Cho?  I...
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Tucson Gay Pride Origin Story

Tucson Gay Pride

From its humble beginnings atop the soaked summit in Himmel Park, Gay Pride in Arizona has gone through enough "wardrobe changes" to make Lady Gaga sweat!  Fast forward to today and Tucson Gay Pride is one of the largest annual events to hit Southern Arizona, featuring a huge cast of entertainers, local celebrities, and all-around great people.

Back To The Future

Himmel Park - The Site of Tucson 1st Gay Pride

On a robust weekend morning some 40 years ago, I find myself trying something brand new. Staring down the water-soaked grass of the largest hill in Himmel Park, I gathered with Tucson's burgeoning LGBTQ community and constructed a Slip-n-Slide. It was no ordinary Slip-n-Slide, however, it was the biggest and wettest and probably the most dangerous construction ever attempted.

Careening down the hill at close to the speed of sound, you have no control and no hope of slowing yourself, let alone stopping. Waiting for you perilously at the bottom of the hill was a vat of thick, primordial mud. This mud promised to swallow any would-be adventurer whole and spit them out, covered in grime and exhilaration.

Terrifying stuff, huh? To this day, I can remember looking down at all this and thinking, "am I out of my mind"? So I hesitate. Old friends go flying out of view. Still I hesitate. Cute guy disappears into the pond of mud. Yet, I hesitate.

In retrospect, I don't know what took me so long. Bathing suit? Check! All belongings safely stowed away? Check! What was I waiting for? So I closed my eyes and made a promise to myself; "jump on three".

"One. Wow it's cold out here! Maybe I should wait a bit for the sun to break through the clouds...", I think.

"Two. That mud can't be sanitary. Is that my car alarm? (note: this is before car alarms)".

"Three" I throw myself off the peak without even thinking. Almost immediately, I start to pick up speed as the mud pit barrels towards me. I put my hands down as an emergency break but they only knock me off balance, so now I am sliding face-first into the abyss...

Sploosh! That's all I remember. Lots of light, then a loud "sploosh", then darkness and silence. Proudly, I raise my head, wipe the dirt from my eyes, and emerge from the pit victorious. Everyone is screaming and clapping and hollering their approval, and I find myself jumping and dancing to the joyous symphony.

It's About Time

IBTs Gay Lesbien drag queenDance Club Tucson

It was basically a party without the party. A time for friends and lovers to come together to enjoy eachothers company. But I was a hot-blooded 20-something, lets get this party started! Enter Fred and Dave, the former owners from IBT's...

We could see them in the distance. A large, boxy truck with faded paint came ambling up the road. As the truck approaches, you can here the unmistakable cadence of dance music. Boom. Tink. Boom. Tink. My heart starts to beat to the rhythm. Boom. Ba-Boom. Boom. Ba-Boom.

The truck danced ever closer, until it's full majesty came into view. It's a tricked-out beer truck from IBT's filled to the brim with kegs of mouth-watering bear and speakers of brow-watering dance music. All I could think was, "It's About Time!"

Embrace Your History

From those halcyon days of yore, Tucson Gay Pride has become the annual behemoth that it is. Yearly, people from far-flung places convene in sleepy little Tucson to throw the best party of the year! Starting Friday night and proceeding all the way through Saturday, the hosts of Tucson Gay Pride have planned a mind-boggling number of special events and fun things to do for everyone! Not solely for the members of my amazing Tucson LGBTQ family, Tucson Gay Pride is a celebration of the differences and the diversity that make our community truly special. I can't wait to see you at this year's Tucson Gay Pride as we add another chapter to our illustrious history!

PS.  Some of this story may be a little exaggerated, or not.  Who can really remember?  LOL

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