On June 28, 1986, about 1,000 people joined a Pride march from Ninth Street to the reservoir on Hillsborough Road, and the library set up a controversial LGBTQ-related literature display, complete with titles like Lesbian Fiction and Society and the Healthy Homosexual.
The then-mayor of Durham, Wib Gulley, signed an antidiscrimination proclamation that “all people have the right to love and live free from bigotry, violence, and fear” and promptly faced backlash and a recall election campaign. As Gulley recounted at a more recent library event, that recall failed, and Pride became an annual celebration in Durham.
Nearly 50 years later, Durham Pride is once again taking place against a tense political backdrop. This year, Durham County has decided not to sponsor the events, due to what county commission chair Nida Allam described in a video as “the threats from the Trump administration and his vague executive orders that are threatening to claw back money.”
Still, the LGBTQ Center of Durham has put together a robust group of sponsors and events for Pride: Durham, NC, and the Bull City—nearly 50 years since that 1986 march—is set to celebrate for another weekend. Here’s our rundown of events happening this week and weekend.
Thursday, September 25
Thursday’s pride events are certainly more relaxed, with a focus on wellness and community.
Dose Yoga, with a yet-to-be-opened downtown location, will host a “beginner friendly” yoga class in Central Park. Donations can be made on-site with Venmo, and all proceeds will benefit the LGBTQ Center of Durham.
The Eno River Universal Unitarian Fellowship (ERUUF) will host a multifaith Pride vespers titled “Deep, Divine Waters: The Queer Sacredness of Our Stories” to “celebrate and love our LGBTQ+ community through storytelling and rituals.”
Details
Friday, September 26
Friday’s concerts and parties kick off the livelier phase of the weekend. Hosted by Miss B Haven, the Justice Concert and Rally will feature musicians, poets, storytellers, drag artists, the Poetry Fox, and more.
While any bar in Durham is likely to have a Pride-friendly crowd on any given day, Rubies on Five Points and Velvet Hippo are specifically planning Pride events for the evening.
Details
Saturday, September 27
Saturday’s big event, the community parade and march, will start around the intersection of Main Street and Campus Drive, before looping down Broad Street and back up Ninth Street. Spectators can line the streets to enjoy the fun and catch some of the candy that is often thrown into the crowds. Afterward, the kickback will spill onto East Campus for the rest of the afternoon (alternately, you can join a Pride history hike beginning at city hall). If you can’t make it out to celebrate Pride in person, the INDY and the LGBTQ Center of Durham will once again livestream the parade; tune in at noon at indyweek.com.
And take your pick of afterparties, or make a plan to hit all of them. Velvet Hippo’s rooftop setup is always a good spot to enjoy the early fall weather, while PS37 and Club ERA are the surest destinations for the late-night dancing crowd.
Details
Sunday, September 28
Sunday is something of a blend of the previous three days, with both parties and wellness events.
Start the morning with Gospel Drag Brunch at the Durham Hotel Coffee Bar and a food truck market at Central Park.
At noon, Duke Primary Care Croasdaile will conduct free screenings for colon cancer and prostate cancer, among other screenings. There will also be nutrition counseling, blood pressure checks, and tobacco cessation counseling available on-site.
Elizabeth Street UMC and St. Joseph’s Episcopal will both hold Pride-oriented afternoon services, while Club ERA and Velvet Hippo will keep celebrating past sundown.
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Reach Reporter Chase Pellegrini de Paur at [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected].