Every year in June, millions of members and allies of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community flock to cities nationwide to attend parades and other events celebrating Pride month. St. Petersburg is no exception, and is in fact home to Florida’s largest LGBTQ Pride Celebration. In 2019, over 265,000 people flocked to the city to attend its Pride events. 

To the disappointment of many, social distancing measures intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 led the Board of St. Pete Pride to cancel all of its large in-person events scheduled for June 2020. While it is understandable to mourn the loss of the in-person event, that doesn’t mean you have to wait until 2021 to celebrate Pride.

 Here are just some of the ways to celebrate Pride this month--even without a parade:  

Support local LGBTQ businesses and events. 

• Punky’s Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg is hosting several LIGHT UP Pride events this month. Throughout the month of June, Punky’s will have additional lighting up after sunset and encourages visitors to come with rainbow flags and LGBTQ gear to show off their Pride. 

• Low Tide Kava Bar in Gulfport is hosting a tie-dye for Pride event on June 28th that will benefit St. Pete’s Out of The Closet Thrift Store, which has a walk-in clinic and provides a number of services such as HIV testing, blood testing, and diagnostics. 

• Usually found on-site at the Pride Parade, The Gayest Store on Earth is a LGBTQ-owned business operating in the Tampa Bay area. It sells merchandise that reflects LGBTQ Pride, including 24 types of flags. Though it won’t be able to be a vendor at Pride itself, it is still possible to support the company through its new online store. 

• Pride Central will feature over 35 participating shops and pop ups throughout the 500-1100 blocks of Central Avenue. The event will take place on June 27th from 12PM-5PM and feature LGBTQ companies and Pride sponsors.   

This is just a sampling of the events and companies supporting Pride month. St. Pete Pride has an online directory of its dozens of local business sponsors. 

Attend a virtual Pride celebration or exhibit. 

While nothing beats the real thing, virtual pride celebrations are a great way to celebrate Pride from home. Here are some of the biggest Pride events that you can participate in from anywhere in the world, all without having to get off the couch: 

• Global Pride is a 24-hour online celebration of Pride that will be led by international world leaders, drag performers, pop stars, and other public figures. The event will take place on June 27th and serve as a platform to celebrate diversity and equality during these unprecedented times. 

• The nation’s first Pride parade was held in New York City in 2020, making this year the 50th anniversary of the event that started it all. Even with COVID-19, NYC Pride has announced over 50 official and partner Pride events offered throughout 2020, including a virtual Pride 5k and a virtual garden party hosted by The LGBT Community Center of NYC. 

• While not quite a parade, The Guardian recently wrote about the best online LGBTQ art exhibitions for Pride month. From short films and documentaries on LGBTQ activism and history, sculptures, photographs, and more, there are a number of ways to celebrate Pride through art. Other museums and studios are featuring queer artists as part of their online exhibitions to amplify their voices during Pride. 

Do something low-key at home. 

If attending a virtual event isn’t for you, consider doing something more relaxed to celebrate Pride at home, like hosting a socially distant picnic with LGBTQ friends, decking your apartment or home out with Pride decor, or educating yourself by reading a book or watching a LGBTQ film on your favorite streaming platform.  

However you choose to celebrate, do it with PRIDE!   

No being able to attend St. Pete Pride festivities in person doesn’t mean you have to wait until next year to celebrate the Pride you feel as a member of the LGBTQ community. In the meantime, consider an at-home movie marathon, a virtual event, or a purchase at a LGBTQ-friendly business in the Tampa Bay area. 

At McNulty Counseling and Wellness, we believe that no one should feel that they cannot express who they are, who they love, or what they love. We stand with the LGBTQ community and are here for your unique mental health needs during and after Pride month. 

Keep an eye out in Downtown St. Pete, visit, or reach out to the office of McNulty Counseling & Wellness for a FREE Pride sticker. Don’t be afraid to express your pride. You’re not alone.