By Kyle Smelter

“I take a lot of pride in being myself. I’m comfortable with who I am.” Actor James McAvoy may not be the most well known person on the planet, but his quote about taking pride in everything you are is the foundation for what Pride Twin Cities is built upon, and is a lesson we can all learn from.

Every June, Pride Twin Cities takes over a weekend in the month to celebrate all things GLBT, and blankets Minneapolis and St. Paul in a myriad of activities that have as much range as a rainbow has color. While officially taking place June 24-25, activities can be found sprinkled around the metro throughout the entire month. Here is a list of a few you won’t want to miss:

Image by Brooke Ross Photography

Equality March for Unity & Pride: June 11 | 11:00 a.m.

In an effort to inspire people of all shapes, sizes, genders and colors to fight for love, justice and equality, the Twin Cities branch of this worldwide event will begin at Dale Street and University Avenue in St. Paul before participants march their way to the State Capitol. We all deserve to have our rights and safety protected, and the Equality March is the perfect conduit for relaying that message.

Image by Brooke Ross Photography

Twin Cities Pride Festival: June 24-25 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Celebrating its 44th birthday this year, the annual celebration will take place at Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis. Each year nearly 400,000 people attend the two-day event to partake in the festival’s 400 exhibitors and vendors and four stages of music and entertainment, including headliners En Vogue, Rebel Queens, Brian Justin and Luciana Caporaso.

MiX: June 24 | noon–6 p.m.

The perfect pre- or post-game event depending on what you have planned for the day, MiX at Lurcat will be serving up food and drink specials all day long. DJs Shiek and Lenka Paris will be slinging the hottest tracks, so you get your groove on while mingling with old (and possibly new) friends while celebrating in the spirit of equality.

Image by Khalil Ross

Love on Top: Bey Dance Party and Rooftop Parade Viewing: June 25 | 9:00 a.m.–5 p.m.

JuJu, Bee, Sasha Fierce, Queen B, Queen Bey, whatever your chosen name for this lyrical icon, one thing is for certain: her music has become a staple in the GLBT community. To honor this, Union Restaurant will be hosting a dance party on the rooftop where DJ Miss Brit will be lighting up the one’s and two’s with a Beyonce inspired playlist.

GLBT Pride Parade: June 25 | 11:00 a.m.

A festival just isn’t a festival without a parade. Every year crowds of equality supporters line Third Street and Hennepin Avenue for a colorful and festive procession that features an almost endless amount of glitter, rainbow flags and positive vibes to commemorate our diverse heritage and achievements in equality.

These are just a handful of the events celebrations, a full list can be found at Pride Twin Cities’ events calendar. So get out and soak up the positivity, but remember: “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” -Oscar Wilde