Partying is the ultimate form of queer resilience. After all, the seeds of LGBTQ+ rights were planted at gay bars.
So.Gay is here to help get your shit together before Pride month, when gay men turn the dial all the way up on nightlife, the city is swarmed by global gay tourists, as we honor those who came before us by losing ourselves (and often our clothes).
Of course, this is a gorgeous, boozy phenomenon happening across gay America, but New Yorkers do it best. So join us: We’ve compiled the best NYC Pride parties for June, the most blessed time of the year. Hurry, tickets sell out quicker than you can inhale another whiff of poppers.
Horse Meat Disco (June 28th)
Horse Meat Disco always delivers a shirtless good time (seriously, it’s not for nipples unwilling to depart with fabric), but during Pride, it kicks into overdrive at Knockdown Center. If you’re not familiar, Horse Meat Disco is a renowned circuit party hosted worldwide with a cult following. Deep house and electronic music reign supreme here. Typically, there’s a designated dark room for uninhibited sexual encounters. Every third person you encounter will likely be on Molly, and trust us; the dance floor can get so packed it’s like playing bumper cars. But for some, that’s the best part.
LadyLand Festival (June 28th & 29th)
God bless America, but may He bless LadyFag more (and fellow nightlife siren Susanne Bartsch while He’s at it!). LadyFag is again bringing the LadyLand Festival to its full rainbow glory, spanning two nights at Under the K Bridge Park. The party is also Horse Meat Disco’s main competitor. But the reality is that many gays typically decide which order to attend rather than which one. Ladyland, much like Battle Hymn, is more friendly for New York’s gay fashion crowd and drag queens, where they’re welcome to turn a look and still get lost in the shirtless sea.
Pride Ball (June 15th)
Speaking of Susanne Bartsch, in addition to hosting some of the best club parties during Pride, she throws—dare we say—the most elegant one. This year, Pride Ball will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe, and Bartsch is giving away $1,000 cash to the best-dressed guest. If our fashion queen has taught us anything, it’s that a simple suit and tie won’t even grant you entry, queers. And don’t forget to pay your respects to the legend Amanda Lepore.
Folsom Street East Street Festival XXII (June 16th)
Okay, this right here is gay culture and history at its finest: Folsom Street Fair is an annual BDSM and leather subculture street fair that has been happening in San Francisco since 1984. Consider Folsom Street East Street Festival XXII like its New York Pride cousin, which will take over 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue. The event even has a hotel block for out-of-town visitors (INNSiDE New York NoMad). Get your harnesses, jockstraps, and, for some, puppy gear ready, boys! Woof!
Planet Pride (June 29th)
Another NYC nightlife maven, Ty Sunderland, is bringing Planet Pride to Avant Gardner in Brooklyn for another large-scale unhinged gay party. The promoter promises three stages, cutting-edge art, and immersive experiences. And get ready for a DJ lineup echoing a gay Coachella. A younger crowd parties here, but that doesn’t mean daddies aren’t welcome.
Masterbeat (June 24th)
If you love Offer Nissim and Deborah Cox, you’re about to lose your wig at Masterbeat, where you’ll be watching them party together for the first time at Terminal 5. For Pride? Now, that’s truly groundbreaking. It’s also Nissim’s first appearance in New York City in over ten years, so perhaps it will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event since she’s 60. But then again, like all of nightlife’s beloved gay icons, she’s been sipping from the queer fountain of youth.
Torture Garden New York (June 29th)
You can count on So.Gay to end on a kinky note, so without further ado, Torture Garden New York is Pride’s fetish playground, taking place at The Chocolate Factory. No, you disgusting horndog, that’s not a euphemism, but the name of the venue in Brooklyn. But we’re not judging. Production is bringing together a cast of world-class provocateurs for unabashed hedonism, burlesque, aerial performances, and kink showcases. Now’s not the time to be shy, kittens.
