Few things better encapsulate the resilience and creativity of Pride than the power of performance. With Teneessee’s drag ban recently being ruled unconstitutional, there was much to celebrate for Pride this year — and what better way to celebrate such an important win for civil liberties than to bask in the otherworldly performers of the queer community’s brightest stars and biggest icons alike?
From Los Angeles’ Pride in the Park event to New York City’s Pride Island concert and annual march, Pride Month events are fearlessly pushing forward across the country as the need for greater protection of LGBTQIA+ becomes more intense with each passing day.
With performers ranging from Houston-bred Hot 100 chart-topper Megan Thee Stallion and modern pop blueprint Grace Jones to RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 winner Symone and the Iconic House of Miyake-Mugler, this year’s Pride Month events featured lineups that attempted to capture the staggering breadth of queer art and creativity across mediums and eras.
L.A. Pride, in particular, touted a theme of “All Out With Pride,” a call to celebrate “the LGBTQIA+ community’s diversity, resilience, and joy.” As for NYC Pride, the East Coast opted for a theme of “Strength in Solidarity.” In the words of NYC Pride co-chair Sue Doster, “It was very important to us to emphasize the importance of solidarity and standing up for those who may not be able to stand up for themselves.”
See below for our gallery of Pride Month 2023 musical events and performances, which we’ll be updating all month.
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Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware performs during Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023 at West Hollywood Park on June 02, 2023 in West Hollywood, California.
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Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert performs during Pride Island at Brooklyn Army Terminal on June 25, 2023 in New York City.
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Julian King
Julian King performs during the 2023 New York City Youth Pride on June 24, 2023 in New York City.
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Shangela
Shangela performs onstage during Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023 at West Hollywood Park on June 02, 2023 in West Hollywood, California.
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Cassadee Pope
Cassadee Pope performs during Nashville Pride on June 25, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage at LA Pride in the Park held at Los Angeles State Historic Park on June 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey, the Elusive Chanteuse herself, graced LA Pride 2023 as one of the event’s headliners. The 19-time Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper tore through a medley of hits including “Vision of Love,” “Honey” and “It’s A Wrap.”
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King Princess
King Princess took the stage at LA Pride in the Park. The queer pop-rock artist ripped through selection from her recent Hold On Baby album and signature hits like “1950.”
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Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen, the gay icon behind such Hot 100 hits as “Call Me Maybe” and “I Really Like You,” rocked West Hollywood Park during Outloud At WeHo Pride 2023.
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Gottmik
Gottmik, the first openly trans man to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, entertained the crowd during LA Pride 2023 at Los Angeles State Historic Park.
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Hayley Kiyoko & FLETCHER
Hayley Kiyoko and FLETCHER, the sweet voices behind 2021’s “Cherry,” joined forces onstage during LA Pride 2023. Both Kiyoko (Expectations, No. 12) and FLETCHER (Girl Of My Dream, No. 15) have earned a top 20 album on the Billboard 200.
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Grace Jones
Grace Jones, the pop culture icon who featured on Beyoncé’s Renaissance album last year and appeared on Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure record this year, blessed the audience at Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023.
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Janelle Monáe
Grammy-nominated “Lipstick Lover” singer Janelle Monáe performed at the 2023 LA Pride on June 11, 2023. The non-binary pop-R&B powerhouse released her new album, The Age of Pleasure, just two days before her performance (June 9).
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Tinashe
Sporting wavy blonde tresses, “Bouncin'” singer Tinashe lit up the stage during Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023. Back in 2014, Tinashe achieved her highest ranking on the Hot 100 with the ScHoolboy Q-assisted “2 On.”
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Princess Nokia
New York-bred gender non-conforming rapper and singer Princess Nokia performed onstage during Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023.
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Orville Peck
South African-born and Canada-bred gay country star Orville Peck graced the stage during Outloud At WeHo Pride 2023. Last year, he earned his first entry on the Billboard 200 with his sophomore studio album Bronco (No. 80).
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Symone, Quinta Brunson & Gigi Goode
RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Symone and Gigi Goode pose with Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary multihyphenate Quinta Brunson backstage at LA Pride in the Park 2023. Both Symone and Gigi Goode performed at the event.
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Tove Lo & FLETCHER
In addition to linking with Hayley Kiyoko, FLETCHER also performed onstage with Tove Lo, the pop maestro behind hits such as “Habits” and “Cool Girl,” at LA Pride in the Park 2023.
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Idina Menzel
Tony Award-winning singer and actress Idina Menzel performed onstage during Outloud at WeHo Pride 2023. The originator of Elphaba in the wildly successful stage musical Wicked, Menzel has reached as high as No. 5 on the Hot 100 with “Let It Go” from the Frozen soundtrack.
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Dorian Electra
Genderfluid singer-songwriter Dorian Electra rocked the stage at LA Pride in the Park. In 2021, they remixed Lady Gaga’s “Replay” for the “Bad Romance” singer’s Dawn of Chromatica remix album.