Happy Pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Happy Pride to all LGBTQ/SGL* community members and allies.
This is the Pride Issue — a celebration of our visibility, our histories, our care for one another, and the allies who stand with us. Read, share, and be seen.
Cover StoryA historical feature on how Pride parades emerged from protest, visibility, and collective resistance — and why the parade remains a vital expression of memory, public presence, and community power.
By Cleo Manago
FeatureA youth-centered perspective on safety, leadership, identity, and belonging — and why the next generation is shaping what PCOM becomes next.
By Marcus Henry
Community / Culture & IdentityPCOM's growing engagement with Baltimore's Latine community includes Cafecito y Conversación, support at Salem Methodist Church, and the upcoming launch of Mujeres Empoderadas, a Spanish-language women's group focused on health, rights, mutual aid, and community trust.
By Editorial Team
WellnessA community wellness story on harm reduction, recovery, overdose prevention, and a new partnership with Maryland's Office of Overdose Response (MOOR)
By Chinedu Nwokeafor
The Pride Issue · Vol. I · June 2026
PCOM Perspectives begins with its Pride Issue: a first collection of editorials, community reporting, Pride coverage, wellness stories, youth perspectives, and featured initiatives from The Pride Center of Maryland.
In This Edition
Pride Desk
John Waters, photographed by Greg Gorman.
Special Tribute
Culture · Baltimore
The Pride Center of Maryland honors a filmmaker who turned the margins into the main stage — and taught generations that authenticity is transformative.
Community Elder
Baltimore · GLCCB
By Br. Merrick Moses, OSB
Baba Louis — Baltimore stalwart, Omega man, mentor to generations of queer youth, and an elder who refuses to let our history be erased.
Louis Hughes, Jr. holding his Good Neighbor Award, Baltimore, May 23, 2026. Photo by Mx. Nur.
Editor's Picks
Editor's Note
A founding note on why this publication exists, whose stories it centers, and why balanced representation matters in the cities we call home.
By Cleo Manago
Editorial
A call to wake up, tell truth to power, and claim our birthright to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
By Br. Moses, OSB
Special Section · Program
The full weekend bill, set as a three-day program — no surprises, no buried headliners.
Friday
June 12
Martha Wash · Marsha Warfield
M&T Bank Exchange
Saturday
June 13
Headliner · Kash Doll
Druid Hill Park
Sunday
June 14
Headliner · En Vogue
Druid Hill Park
Community
Community / Culture & Identity
PCOM's growing engagement with Baltimore's Latine community includes Cafecito y Conversación, support at Salem Methodist Church, and the upcoming launch of Mujeres Empoderadas, a Spanish-language women's group focused on health, rights, mutual aid, and community trust.
By Editorial Team
Health & Wellness
Promotion
Presented by PCOM’s Healthy Heart Initiative
A heart-health-centered cookbook featuring community chefs, recipes, nutrition guidance, and accessible wellness education from PCOM’s Healthy Heart Initiative.
Free Download →
Baltimore Pride 2026
An editorial guide to the official Baltimore Pride week — June 8–14, 2026.
Fri, Jun 12, 2026 · 7:00 PM – Late
M&T Bank Exchange
A signature Pride evening featuring dinner, performances, awards, and dancing.
Sat, Jun 13, 2026 · 12:00 PM
Charles Street & North Avenue
Floats, marching bands, community groups, and special guests march through Baltimore.
Sat, Jun 13, 2026 · 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Druid Hill Park
Live performances, DJs, wellness programming, vendors, food, and community activations.
Sun, Jun 14, 2026 · 12:00 – 8:00 PM
Druid Hill Park
Closing day of the festival with performances, workshops, and celebration.
Mon, Jun 8, 2026 · 3:00 – 7:00 PM
The Ynot Lot
Kick off Baltimore Pride with a press conference, mural unveiling, and awards ceremony featuring city leaders, community partners, and special guests.
Tue, Jun 9, 2026 · 5:00 – 9:00 PM
33 W North Ave
A casual evening of music, karaoke, and community to keep the celebration going.
Wed, Jun 10, 2026 · 12:00 – 6:00 PM
War Memorial Plaza
A community resource fair featuring job opportunities, resume workshops, headshots, DJs, and giveaways.
Wed, Jun 10, 2026 · 4:00 – 6:00 PM
War Memorial Plaza
A Pride fashion showcase staged on the plaza, celebrating local designers and community style.
Showing 8 of 17 events
View Full Baltimore Pride Schedule →Who / What / When
Open Call
PCOM Perspectives is seeking writers, journalists, commentators, artists, photographers, cartoonists, reviewers, and community voices covering culture, health, equity, public affairs, social justice, and Baltimore/Maryland affairs.
Events
What's happening at PCOM, across Baltimore, and around the greater DMV.
Featured EventPresented by PCOM
A Space for Community, Connection and Brotherhood
Contact: Merrick · merrick@pridecentermd.org · 443-966-3365
Community Care
Two PCOM programs devoted to caring for those who hold the community — our elders and our veterans.
PCOM & DMV Calendar
Submit an event →Wellness
Community
Culture
Culture
Books, films, shows, music, and culture worth your attention.
Books for the Month
Coming SoonFive new and recent reads — memoir, fiction, and essays — that map the textures of queer and SGL* life across generations.
Books · 5 titles
Watchlist
Coming SoonFrom limited series to indie features, the films and shows centering LGBTQ/SGL* lives that deserve a slot in your queue.
Film & TV · Curated monthly
On Rotation
Coming SoonA playlist and field notes from the city's clubs, churches, basements, and ballrooms — the artists shaping a new local sound.
Music · Playlist + notes
Spotlight
Coming SoonPainters, photographers, and printmakers from the DMV whose work is rewriting the visual vocabulary of the region.
Art · Featured artist
Cartoon of the Week
Coming SoonA weekly editorial cartoon from a rotating roster of Baltimore-based illustrators reflecting on culture, politics, and joy.
Local · Weekly
Appreciation
Community
The people who show up early, stay late, and make every program possible.
Youth
A new generation of leaders, artists, and advocates shaping the future.
Community
Every conversation, every welcome, every space held with intention matters.
New sections will be added after the The Pride Issue.
About
PCOM Perspectives is a publication of The Pride Center of Maryland — a place for balanced reporting, thoughtful essays, community wellness, advocacy, and the stories that shape queer life in Baltimore and beyond.
Read in This Edition
Community ElderThe Incredible Life of Louis Hughes, Jr.: The Community's Gay UncleBy Br. Merrick Moses, OSBFaith & BelongingThe Sankofa Gathering: Reflect, Revival, RenewalBy Dr. Melanie BryantCommunityBuilding Community, Connection, and Joy Through Elder ServicesBy Gregory CurtisCommunity / Culture & IdentityThe Latine ConnectionBy Editorial Team
