Add These Wholesomely Fabulous Ann Arbor Library Pride Events to Your Calendar
From sweet kid-friendly crafts to a carefully curated queer film fest, the library is the perfect break from Pride fest crowds
You could fill up every moment of free time from now until the end of June with a Pride fest somewhere in Michigan, but that kind of nonstop socializing and frenetic energy isn’t for everyone. It’s a good thing, then, that the Ann Arbor District Library is here with a month of activities that capture the spirit and joy of Pride in more intimate settings.
Rich Retyi, Ann Arbor District Library communications and marketing manager, tells Pride Source that the library celebrates Pride to encourage community engagement and, of course, for the sheer enjoyment and fun Pride season offers each year.
You’ll find activities the whole family can enjoy (and plenty of adult-focused events) at the library’s main branch and select satellite branch locations.
Family-Friendly Pride Events
“Love Makes a Family”
Saturday, June 1 through Sunday, June 30, Malletts Creek Branch (3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy.)
Start your Pride month by taking a trip to the traveling exhibit “Love Makes a Family,” which showcases a series of interviews and photographs featuring LGBTQ+ families. This display explores topics like overcoming stereotypes and other challenges LGBTQ+ people often face. With child-friendly elements, this exhibit is great for the whole family and is sure to encourage honest conservation.
Gumball Pride Necklaces
Thursday, June 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Westgate Branch (2503 Jackson Ave.)
Do something creative this Pride month and make a unique piece of jewelry that is both fun to look at and snack on. The kid-friendly gumball Pride necklace workshop is where you can make a fun rainbow necklace. Adults are welcome, too!
Yarn-Wrapped Rainbows
Friday, June 28, 3-4 p.m., Malletts Creek Branch (3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy.)
Get crafty and celebrate Pride while learning how to make some bright and cheerful yarn-wrapped rainbows. Complete your yarn rainbow with cute fluffy clouds and attach a string so you can show off your hard work. This craft is suited for children 5 to 11 years old.
Queer Film Series
“Pariah”
Monday, June 3, 6-7:30 p.m., Downtown Library (343 S. 5th Ave.)
The first film screening hosted by Ann Arbor District Library in June is Dee Rees’ “Pariah,” a film selected for preservation in 2022 in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance. “Pariah” is a coming-of-age story that represents the experiences of Black queer women. The 83-minute-long film follows the story of a young Black Brooklyn teenager, Alike (Adepero Oduye), who has embraced her sexuality as a lesbian but battles to confide in her parents. Rated R.
“The Unabridged Mrs. Vera's Daybook”
Saturday, June 8, 2-3:30 p.m., Downtown Library (343 S. 5th Ave.)
Experience a story of love, art and activism in the work of San Francisco artists David Faulk and Michael Johnstone. “The Unabridged Mrs. Vera’s Daybook” follows how long-term AIDS survivors Faulk and Johnstone bring love and joy to a broken community during one of the darkest periods in U.S. history. The film is vivid and poignant — a piece of art. Rated PG.
“But I'm a Cheerleader”
Tuesday, June 11, 6-7:30 p.m., Downtown Library (343 S. 5th Ave.)
Rewatch camp classic “But I’m a Cheerleader." The film stars “Orange Is the New Black” star Natasha Lyonne as Megan as well as RuPaul playing the unconvincingly-closeted Mike. The film follows Megan's journey through conversion therapy, which ends up backfiring hilariously. Rated R.
Other Events
Drag King Revue
Saturday, June 29, 6-7:30 p.m., Downtown Library (343 S. 5th Ave.), 4th Floor Meeting Room
A huge hit when the library introduced the event last year, the Drag King Revue is back for a second year. Enjoy an exciting night of drag performances inspired by the book “The Last Night at The Telegraph Club.” Retyi reveals that guests will be treated to a panel discussion afterward “that talks about the artform, what drag king culture is and the other side of the drag king-drag queen conversation.”
Drag Bingo
Sunday, June 23, 3-4 p.m., Downtown Library (343 S. 5th Ave.), 4th Floor Meeting Room
Another beloved event hosted by the Ann Arbor District Library is drag bingo. This exciting event has long been a favorite — this year it will be led by local queen Jadein Black. Enjoy an afternoon of music, fun prizes and lots of laughter.
Queer Horror Cinema Presentation
Friday June 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Pittsfield Branch (2359 Oak Valley Dr.)
Film buffs, this one's for you. Dr. Sean M. Donovan, a scholar of LGBTQ+ media studies and former professor at the University of Michigan and curator of queer experimental cinema for the Ann Arbor Film Festival, will join this year's event with a presentation on the intersections of horror films and queerness.
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