Celebrating Pride Month 2021 in the Coastal Region and Beyond

Posted by James Diehl on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10:01 AM By James Diehl / June 4, 2021 Comment

June is "Pride Month" in the United States, an opportunity to recognize the struggles of the country's gay and lesbian communities and an even greater chance to foster inclusion and acceptance of all Americans.

Most people familiar with the Oldfather Group's home base in Rehoboth Beach know that this area has a pretty significant LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community that's centered around Baltimore Avenue and the extremely active CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.

For years, first Steve Elkins and now David Mariner have overseen CAMP Rehoboth, its programs and the huge number of volunteers who help the organization run smoothly year after year in the "Nation's Summer Capital."

CAMP Rehoboth members play a big part each year in the annual Delaware Pride Festival in Dover, as they almost certainly will again in 2021.

This festival in the state capital region is the largest LGBTQ gathering in the First State and gives the community exposure on a statewide level, promoting platforms of diversity and equality. It's not being held, however, until early October this year, with other Pride events in neighboring states and municipalities also taking place in later months.

The nearest festival to Delaware during Pride month in June will be held in Baltimore between June 13 and 20, highlighted by a Pride parade on Saturday, June 19. Learn more about this event at www.baltimorepride.org.

Washington, D.C. will also be hosting a number of Pride events this month, highlighted by a caravan of cars being dubbed the "Colorful Pridemobile Parade" on Saturday, June 12. The parade is one of more than a dozen events planned during Pride Month in the nation's capital.

Learn more about this year's Pride Month events in Washington, D.C. by visiting www.capitalpride.org.

On a local level, CAMP Rehoboth is joining LGBTQ community centers around the United States for a special event called "Can't Cancel Pride 2021" on Friday, June 4, beginning at 9 p.m.

The event features appearances by Pink, Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan and several other entertainers and will be streamed live on CAMP Rehoboth's Facebook page. Or you can learn more about this event at www.cantcancelpride.lgbtcenters.org.

Organizers of the annual Pride parade and festival usually held in nearby Salisbury, Maryland every year announced recently that the event has been cancelled for 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns, but will return on June 25, 2022.

Other larger Pride Month festivals in the local region for 2021 include:

Westminister Pride Festival (July 10). This festival is held in Carroll County, Maryland, in downtown Westminster, on July 10. Learn more about the Westminster Pride Festival here.

Delaware Pride Festival (October 2). This festival is held at Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware, on October 2. Learn more about the 2021 Delaware Pride Festival here.

Howard County Pride Celebration (October 9). This festival is held at Centennial Park in Ellicott City, Maryland, on October 2. Learn more about the Howard County Pride Celebration here.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival (October 9). This festival is held in Havre de Grace, Maryland, on October 9. Learn more about the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival here.

Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival (October 30). This festival is held in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, on October 30. Learn more about the Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival here.