Gwenn FrissCape Cod Times
Provincetown is hosting its 7th annual Pride celebration May 31 through June 2, with visitors from Obodo Nigeria, a youth-led nonprofit that uses art and technology to advocate for the rights of queer Nigerians.
“Global Queer Solidarity is imperative during these times as the hate against LGBTQ+ people rises worldwide, especially in the Global South,” Matthew Blaise, founder and director of Obodo, said in a statement from the Provincetown Business Guild, which organizes Pride and is partnering this year with Obodo.
At 5 p.m. Friday, there is an exhibition at the Provincetown Pride Center at 115 Bradford St. The work of five artists from the Obodo Queer Artist Fund 2024 will be shown. The art, exploring queer experiences in Nigeria, will be on display through June and available to buy.
As part of “Reimaging Queer Africa,” Rachel Victory, a visual artist working in photography and film who is part of the Obodo group, will also be taking part in Provincetown Pride.
"Their stories of the courage it takes for them to be queer in their home space are really moving and important to me, especially in Provincetown where we have the freedom to celebrate ourselves in a 70% majority," said Trevor Pittinger, executive director of the Provincetown Business Guild. "It's still necessary for us in Pride to improve as queer people, to remember that we’re responsible for queer people everywhere. We need to realize how much work there is to be done on a global level."
Provincetown Pride Weekend has grown steadily over seven years, Pittinger said. Five or six years ago, there were a few hundred people at the rally. Last year, 1,500 came. Pittinger said Pride Weekend draws "a greener crowd," more young people, more women, more diversity.
"People feel like they need to make a pilgrimage to queer mecca and they don't know when to come," he said, adding that Provincetown has gotten more notice on best Pride celebration lists and the weekend has grown especially since the pandemic.
But before the weekend even starts, many people will be coming from Boston and beyond via what guild officials call the Bay State Cruise Co.’s “Official Pride Crossing.” The trip offers a preview of Pride weekend events, Pride flags flying from the boat and drinks will be available as the ferry travels to Provincetown.
Provincetown Pride: Bingo, dance parties, rally and market
From 3 to 5 p.m. May 31, try your luck at Pride bingo at the Governor Bradford, hosted by drag hostesses Roxy Pops and Lakia Mondale. The $40 per person entrance fee includes eight games, prizes and entertainment.
Later that night, from 10 to 11:30 p.m., the Red Room hosts the Full Spectrum Pride Kickoff Dance Party presented with Obodo. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
“Music from DJs Mister Zero and Sam Sewell will power the night with Pride dance tracks and Afrobeats curated by Obodo,” according to a Provincetown Business Guild press release.
On Saturday, the celebration continues at noon with the free Pride Festival andMarket (which this year includes African arts and crafts) inside Provincetown Town Hall at 260 Commercial St. The event features LGBTQ+ artisans, vendors, a cash bar and a live DJ.
At 4 p.m., a Pride rally will be held on the steps of Provincetown Town Hall led by hosts Mackenzie Miller and Austin Fiszel, along with Obodo Nigeria’s founder Blaise.
The rally will feature a diverse lineup including representatives from Womxn of Color Weekend, innovation and inclusion expert and activist Muhammad Burhan plus, local performers Brittany Rolfs and Delta Miles.
New program helps young adults afford Provincetown visit
Also speaking will be Hayden McDermott, a first-time Provincetown Pride attendee and Summer One Program recipient. That new program provides affordable opportunities to first-time visitors aged 21-29.
“This program signals to younger LGBTQ+ generations that Provincetown is a space for them, too. It supports one of the PBG’s goals to attract new generations of queer visitors to Provincetown to experience the unparalleled magic of Ptown’s welcoming, inclusive community,” guild officials said in a written statement about the program they co-sponsored with local lodging partners.
Immediately after the rally, from 4 to 7 p.m., the Boatslip Resort & Beach Club, at 161 Commercial St. holds one of two tea dances and one boot camp tea for the Pride Weekend.
On Saturday night, Provincetown’s resident stand-up comic, performer and producer Kristen Becker hosts the third annual “Queer Comedy Showcase at Town Hall.” Stars include Jes Tom who was recently featured on the Netflix comedy special “Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda,” Akeem Woods, a regular at New York City’s Comedy Cellar, Kia Barnes who has been featured on Netflix, BET, NBC, and the “Lez Laugh Comedy Show,” and Zach Zimmerman, recently named a 2023 Vulture “Comedian You Should and Will Know.”
The show is 8 to 9:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 for anyone under 30 and go to $55.
5K Run/Walk down a Pride-decorated Commercial Street
Sunday morning brings the Feet Over Front Street 5K Run/Walk, starting at Harbor Hotel in Provincetown’s East End and running the full length of Commercial Street – including the full length of MacMillan Pier.
“It offers participants a start-to-finish, rainbow-railroad takeover of the main drag of the world’s premier queer travel destination,” according to the website of the Provincetown Business Guild which partnered with the Provincetown Runners in 2022 to add a Pride Weekend run to the one traditionally held in August to coincide with Carnival.
Front Street was the original name, dating back to the 1880s, for what is now Commercial Street.
For a full listing of Pride Weekend activities, visit ptown.org/.
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