With so many amazing events this pride month, a top ten list wasn't going to cut it. Instead we've put together a whole calendar of local LGBTQ+ happenings - one for everyday in June!
Sunday, June 1st: YWMP Drag Karaoke Fundraiser
We kick off the month with a bang at the Tap Social with a loud and proud Drag Karaoke fundraiser to support the work of local music collective, YWMP. Hosted by Scarlet Skylar Rae, go on a musical journey through the decades with a different era every hour, as sung by YOU! And in the meantime, donate to YWMP’s crowdfunder here.
YWMP Drag Karaoke Fundraiser: Tap Social Taproom, Sun 1st, 4pm - 8pm. Tickets £5, plus online booking fee.
Monday, June 2nd: Maisie Screening at UPP
The Ultimate Picture Palace screens this touching and humorous documentary focusing on Britain’s oldest drag performer, Maisie Trollette. Presented by Oxford Pride, this evening will also include a pair of short films by local filmmakers and a short talk on the history of drag by Rusty Kate.
Maisie : Ultimate Picture Palace, Mon 2nd Jun, 6.30pm, tickets £5 to £10.50, available here.
Tuesday, June 3rd: Tuesgay Skittles
Every Tuesday night is student night at the LGBTQ+ club Plush. Draws include £1 club entry, a prize wheel to spin, Drag entertainment, and a range of budget-friendly drink offers. If you’re looking to pregame, Jolly Farmers helpfully does 10% off for students on Tuesdays. Non-students looking for good value cocktails should make a note of Plush’s ‘Broke Thursday’ offers for similar affordability.
Tuesgay Skittles: Plush, Tuesdays, 10.30pm - 3am. Student entry £1 before 11.43pm, £5 before midnight, £6 after. 18+, photo ID required.
Wednesday, June 4th: Oxford’s Queer History Walks
When we think about Oxford’s LGBTQIA+ history, a few names might leap to mind; Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh, John Gielgud. But what about the more unsung stories? Join tour guide Hannah Field on a walking tour to uncover the city’s lesser-known queer chronicles, from refugee smugglers to Catholic saints, and introduce yourself to LGBTQIA pubs, clubs and societies still running today to make some history of your own.
Oxford's Queer History Walk: beginning at Museum of Oxford, Oxford Town Hall, Wednesday 4th Jun, 2pm - 3.30pm. Tickets £10 plus booking fee, suitable for ages 16+.
Thursday, June 5th: Love Night: Pride Special at Jolly Farmers
Head over to the Jolly Farmers tonight for Love - the monthly night for lesbian, bi and queer women in Oxford to meet new friends and make connections. The events are relaxed, welcoming, trans-positive, and provide a vital dedication WLW space. Curious for more info? Check out our conversation with the group organisers from last year here.
Love Night Pride Special: The Jolly Farmers, Thu 5th Jun, 7pm - late. Drop in, free!
Friday, June 6th: The PHWOAR Next Door: Queer, There and Everywhere
One thing’s for sure, Oxfordshire boasts some top-calibre cabaret. T(ART) Productions' PHWOAR Next Door shows are required viewing for any fan of local drag, and their Pride show Queer, There and Everywhere brings in the big guns for June, hosted by inimitable compères Frisky Whispers and Ginger Tart.
With acts spanning the kitschy, the raunchy and the surreal, this troupe turns burlesque on its head - take a look at our thoughts on their last show for a flavour of what to expect.
The PHWOAR Next Door: Queer, There and Everywhere: Cornerstone Arts Centre, Friday 6th Jun, 7.30pm. Tickets £18, £16.20 Concessions, £14.40 Members.
Saturday, June 7th: Oxford Pride's Parade and Main Stage in South Park
The centrepiece of Oxford Pride is Pride Day itself, with a parade in the morning through town from Paradise Square to Radcliffe Square, followed by Pride entertainment in South Park. There’s a full line-up of performers, mixing live music and drag acts, with a bill that includes Channy Thompson, ACE, Pinkish and Danny Beard.
Oxford Pride: parade through town and entertainment in South Park, Sat 9th Jun, from 10.30am, £3 voluntary donation.
Sunday, June 3rd: God’s Own Country at the Phoenix Picturehouse
Francis Lee’s beautiful LGBTQ romance gets a screening at the Phoenix Picturehouse. Set in the heart of rural Yorkshire, this is the kind of romance as Josh O’Connor’s farmer falls for a worker during the farm’s lambing season. Poignant and moving, God’s Own Country is a film to sit with and let wash over you.
God's Own Country: Phoenix Picturehouse, Sun 8th Jun, 1.00pm, tickets £9.35, available here.
Monday, June 9th: Oxford LGBT Book Group
Hannah Gadsby once said of attending their first Pride, “Where are the quiet gays supposed to go?” If you prefer something more low-key and laid-back to the noise and crowds of a big parade, Oxford LGBT Book Group could well be the place for you. A cosy and welcoming monthly reading group nestled in the Jolly Farmers, their next book will be Pretended: Schools and Section 28, by Catherine Lee.
Oxford LGBT Book Group: The Jolly Farmers, Mon 9th Jun. Book ahead or drop-in, free!
Tuesday, June 10th: Make plans for Thame Pride!
Looking ahead a few weeks, the first ever Thame Pride will take place on Fri 20th - Sun 22nd, with the main celebrations on Saturday. There will be loads of entertainment, from a magic show, a cabaret, and live music, to flower crown making, film screenings, kids' activities and more! Head over to the website and see if anything takes your fancy.
Thame Pride Weekend: Thame City Centre, Fri 20th - Sun 22nd, timings vary, prices vary depending on event (some free).
Wednesday, June 11th: Oxford Pride and Paddle
It’s been announced that last year’s popular Pride and Paddle series at Hinskey Heated Outdoor Pool will return this year! From 5-7pm on Wednesday nights in June, Oxford Pride will hold a ticketed event for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to have sole use of the pool. As of June 1st, tickets have not appeared to go live yet, but keep an eye on the Oxford Pride Instagram for further details!
Thursday, June 12th: Pride Bingo: Drag Special!
You can safely bet that Oxford Drag Collective will be bringing the energy at the Pride edition of their monthly Drag Bingo at the Tap Social Taproom in Botley. Whether you're a bingo whiz or a drag superfan, it’s a night of glamour, gags, and great prizes that’s bound to leave you smiling.
ODC Drag Bingo: Pride Special: Tap Social Taproom, Thu 12th, 8pm. Tickets £10.
Friday, June 13th: Molly's FriYAY
Whoever said Friday the 13th is unlucky has never been to one of Molly’s monthly socials. Molly’s is a friendly space for the queer community to meet new pals, hosted out of various cute venues around Oxford. If you’re going solo or have never attended before, the hosts are always happy to help you break the ice. This month’s meet-up in upstairs in the central, playfully decorated George St Social.
Molly's FriYAY: George St Social, Fri 13th, from 7.30pm. Tickets £2 cash or card on the night.
Saturday, June 14th: The ODC Drag Makeup Class!
Whether you’re a drag artist looking to up your makeup game, or just want to elevate your day-to-day makeup, the Oxford Drag Collective has your back! Co-taught by popular drag queen and king Cairo Iman Ali and Dr Acula, this one-off class at the Cornerstone Arts Centre is packed with expert techniques and hands-on learning. You’ll leave with a solid foundation of knowledge to build your drag personas from, and numerous small tricks for adding a glamorous and polished finish to any makeup look.
ODC Drag Makeup Class: Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot, Sat 14th, 10.30am - 12.30pm. Tickets £21.
Sunday, June 15th: Oxford's DIY Pride
Oxford’s first-ever non-corporate Pride event, hosted and led by local LGBTQIA+ performers and community organisations. If you can’t make the main Pride event this year, this is a great alternative, with a daytime gathering at Florence Park Community Centre and a more adult night of cabaret at the Old Fire Station.
With live music, open mics, disco, crafts and stalls from local queer artists sellers, this is Pride by the community, for the community.
Be sure to check out our interview with the organisers as well!
Oxford DIY Pride: Daytime Florence Park Community Centre, Evening Old Fire Station, Daytime 1-5pm, Evening 8-10pm. Free entry, donations encouraged!