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Well. We made it. The Big Queer Week is finally here.
The outfits are being assembled. The group chats are malfunctioning. The weather apps are getting refreshed every seven minutes. And somewhere in Pittsburgh, at this very moment, someone is trying to figure out how they’re supposed to attend three Pride events happening at the exact same time. As is tradition.
Because this weekend isn’t just another weekend. It’s the weekend. The one we’ve been building toward. The one organizers have been planning for months. The one performers have been rehearsing for. The one volunteers have been preparing for. The one where queer Pittsburgh shows up in all its joyful, messy, glitter-covered glory.
It’s kind of beautiful. Not because everything is perfect. Not because the world suddenly got easier. But because every year we choose to gather anyway. To celebrate anyway. To find each other anyway.
So whether you’re marching in the parade, dancing at the festival, volunteering behind the scenes, attending your first Pride, or simply cheering from the sidelines, welcome. You made it.
Happy Pride Month, Pittsburgh. Let’s have a weekend worth remembering.
SLAY OF THE WEEK: Donny Donovan
This week’s Slay of the Week goes to Donny Donovan, founder of Free Will Health and Wellness, personal trainer, public health advocate, and one of the people helping queer and trans Pittsburghers reconnect with their bodies on their own terms.
At a time when trans people are constantly being told what they can and cannot do with their bodies, Donny’s work is rooted in a radically different message: that your body belongs to you.
Through gender-affirming fitness, trauma-informed wellness, health coaching, and community advocacy, Donny has spent years creating spaces where queer and trans people can move, heal, build strength, and feel safe being themselves.
It’s about having the autonomy to live in your body without shame. To access care without fear. To find joy, strength, and confidence in who you are.
As Donny puts it, his goal is to create “space for liberation” and be a resource for people who need it.
This Pride Month, we’re celebrating someone who’s doing exactly that.
Now that’s a slay
READER JOY: David AND Devin
This week’s Reader Joy comes from two readers who are looking ahead to Pride with hope, excitement, and a sense of belonging.
David shared, “I just wanted to say I just came out as gay and I’m loving this week and next. First Pride Parade and Festival. I love the LGBTQ community. That is what makes me happy this week.”
And Devin shared, “I’m really hoping to march for my pansexuality.”
This is what Pride is all about. For David, it’s the excitement of attending his first Pride after coming out. For Devin, it’s the desire to show up, be visible, and celebrate an identity that deserves to be seen.
Whether you’re attending your first Pride, marching in your tenth parade, or simply finding your place in the community, these messages are a reminder that Pride belongs to all of us.
We’re so glad you’re here, David and Devin. Happy Pride Month.
SHARE YOUR JOY
Did something gay and glorious happen this week?
✨ You wore your first binder out in public
✨ You finally asked them out (and they said yes)
✨ You slayed at karaoke
✨ You felt cute at Giant Eagle
✨ You just felt seen
We wanna hear it! Send us your queer joy, big or small, and we might feature it in next week’s issue. Because your joy? That’s newsworthy too.
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QUEER JOY IN THE WORLD: Long May They Reign
What better way to kick off Pride Month than by crowning two new drag monarchs, the people whose job description is essentially professional joy creation.
Last week, Kara Sells captured the title of Mx P Town Pride 2026, proving once and for all that Pittsburgh’s self-proclaimed “Worst Drag Queen” might actually be one of its very best. With camp, humor, and a commitment to making people laugh through difficult times, Kara’s reign promises to be fueled by exactly the kind of joy our community needs right now.
Then, just days later, Kaydence McQueen was crowned Miss Glitzburgh Pride 2026 at 5801, stepping into her reign with a vision of expanding opportunities for performers across Pittsburgh’s drag scene. A hyper-femme trans goddess, mentor, host, and community builder, Kaydence has long used her platform to create more space for trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, AFAB, and king performers.
Both victories feel bigger than individual crowns.
Kara’s win marks another milestone for the House of Medical Malpractice’s growing drag dynasty, while Kaydence’s crowning came alongside a powerful final-two moment with her drag daughter, Phoebe R. McQueen.
As thousands of people prepare to gather for Pride this weekend, these new titleholders are a reminder that queer joy isn’t something we stumble across. We create it.
Congratulations, Kara and Kaydence. Long may they reign.
Read more about Kara Sells on QBurgh.com →
Read more about Kaydence on QBurgh.com →
Well, Pittsburgh. We made it.
After months of anticipation, planning, fundraising, rehearsing, organizing, volunteering, decorating, promoting, coordinating, and probably more than a few last-minute group chat emergencies… Pride Week is finally here.
And if there’s one thing we all need to remember, it’s that Pride isn’t just something that happens. It’s something people create.
It’s Donny Donovan building spaces where trans people can reconnect with their bodies. It’s Dreams of Hope helping queer youth find their voices. It’s drag performers spending dozens of hours rhinestoning costumes before stepping on stage. It’s newly out community members preparing for their first Pride. It’s volunteers setting up barricades, hanging banners, checking sound systems, and making sure thousands of people have a place to gather safely and joyfully.
That’s the real story of Pride. Not just the celebration. The community behind it.
So as we head into the biggest queer week of the year, take a moment to appreciate all the people who made it possible.
Then go have fun. Dance. March. Cheer. Flirt. Hydrate. Wear sunscreen. Tip your performers. Support the vendors. Take the photos. Make the memories.
And before we go, one more reminder. Keep an eye on QBurgh later this week for the official Pittsburgh Pride Festival maps and full stage schedules for Pride weekend. Whether you’re planning your route through Allegheny Commons Park West, figuring out which performances you absolutely can’t miss, or coordinating with friends, we’ve got you covered.
The countdown is over. The Big Queer Week is here.
Happy Pride, Pittsburgh. See you in the park.
Talk soon.
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