Safety at Pride
Mike Doughty, June ‘25 Newsletter
It is officially Pride season! There will be Pride events taking place at many cities all over the place starting in June and that means an increase in travel, being outside, large groups, and fun! Each Pride will have their own set of events and timeframe, but I wanted to make to go over some reminders on how to stay safe and have the best time you can.
1) Pack smart
First up is to make sure you, or your group, have the essentials. Phone, battery packs/charging cables, water bottles, sunscreen, shades/hats. If you’re able, make sure it's all in a simple and lightweight bag so you aren’t burdened by carrying everything. If you need your ID or tickets to get into an event, try to keep them all together and in a secure pocket so you’re less likely to lose them.
2) Have a sober friend/designated driver
A lot of Pride events involve parties or after hour events for adults. If you are going in a group, discuss beforehand who is the designated driver or sober friend to help make sure everyone gets home safely. If the event you’re going to is multiple days, discuss with your group who is the designated person on each day, or if one person wants to volunteer for multiple nights. Also discuss what you are expecting to get into so that your friend knows what possible reactions to expect, and if needed, to bring some Narcan or other emergency supplies should the fun take a turn. If you have a friend who is the sober friend, also remember to show them some thanks since they are also helping watch over you.
If you aren’t going out with friends and prefer to fly solo, try to let someone else know where you plan on going and see if you can share your location with them, or make some kind of code that if you send it they know to come get you/send help. It can be very easy to get swept up in the fun that parties can offer, so it’s good to have some backup plans set up before you go out.
3) Dress smart
Just like how you should pack smart, you should also dress smart. It’s summer so most Pride events are 70 degrees or hotter. If you wear clothes like shorts or tank tops, remember to apply that sunscreen often! Also, if you are able to bring multiple pairs of shoes and leave some in your car or at a friend's place, that can make it much easier to go from walking shoes for a parade to flip flops for the beach, or party shoes for the dance floor. If you are a performer, remember to bring plenty of water or wear ice collars/cold packs where you can to help stay cool.
4) Keep neighbors safe
If you are at a parade or an event, keep an eye out while you’re enjoying yourself. Do a quick scan, know where you can go to get away from the crowd, where the bathrooms are, if there are security people clearly marked. Doing this will make it that much easier to help if someone starts to get dizzy from the heat, or suddenly feels ill, or if there is an emergency you can point out the people to help you.
It's also important that allies also do this work as well if you are at a Pride event. Do what you can to help keep your LGBTQ+ neighbors safe and supported, introduce yourself, make some new friends if you are able, and enjoy!
Those are just a few quick reminders of ways to be safe this Pride season. Pride is amazing and fun, but it can also be very exhausting and easy to make a decision that could become a problem if you don’t have a plan in place beforehand. Have fun, and enjoy yourself and I hope to see you at Cortland Pride on July 19th!