Pride month began as a protest and riot in New York City's West Village on June 28, 1969 when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular safe haven for LGBTQ people at the time. In those days, dressing up as a person of the opposite sex was a crime, and many LGBTQI people were forced to live in secret or risk arrest.
Gay bars at the time operated in secret, or at least kept their patronage fairly under wraps to protect the people that they served. Bars served as a safe space for LGBTQI people, offering a space of refuge in a society that didn't welcome or accept them for who they were.
The Stonewall Riots began when Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of color, sparked a riot outside of the Stonewall Inn to protest the police raid that happened there that day (though there is speculation that Johnson didn't arrive until later). The riots sparked what we now celebrate as Pride after the event triggered protests for LGBTQI liberation around the world.
Throughout history, raves and underground dance music events have been a safe space for LGBTQI youth to celebrate themselves and feel welcomed for who they are. Some of your favorite EDM genres have come from club and rave scenes that were started by LGBTQI artists and creators.
Believe it or not, each color in the Pride flag represents something different. The original rainbow pride flag has six colors which represent the following:
Red: Life
Orange: Healing
Yellow: Sun
Green: Nature
Blue: Harmony
Violet: Spirit
A new version of the Pride flag was unveiled in 2018 when graphic designer Daniel Quasar added a five color chevron to the left side of the flag to represent inclusion within the LGBTQI community. The colors in the chevron represent the following:
White, pink and blue: Transgender pride
Brown, Black: people of color within the LGBTQI community
Pride is about self expression and celebrating your own unique identity. So, when you attend a pride celebration, don't be afraid to celebrate yourself in the way that feels most authentic. Fun, colorful outfits both celebrate the colors associated with Pride while also allowing you to get creative with your look.
savormeditation Pride Collection
The pride collection at savormeditation celebrates the LGBTQI community and the diversity within the community as a whole. Create your pride 2023 look by thinking about what makes you feel the most confident and authentic, and go from there. Whether you're going to a morning parade or to an all night dance party, the pride collection is meant to help you feel like your best self as you celebrate LGBTQI history.
Rolita Couture x iHR Floral Frenzy Outfit
Get Down Girl Recycled Fabric Outfit
Rainbow Reflective Daisy Outfit
It's not required, but glitter does make everything better. You can add a dash of camp to any look by incorporating glitter or body jewels into your outfit or makeup. You can shop body glitter and face jewels at savormeditation.
You can add more color to your pride outfit by adding wigs and hair accessories to your look. This is a fun way to create an original look, and you can even go in drag if you want to experiment with gender. Shop wigs and hair accessories here.
Makeup is one of the most fun ways to experiment and show off your true self. Play around with textures and colors to create a fun makeup look for pride 2021. I love playing with bright colored eyeshadows and liners to create a cool eye look. Plus, now that mask mandates are being lifted you can finally experiment with cute lipstick colors again.
Just like at a festival, pride still comes with its own risks. Keep your things safe with something like a fanny pack or a small backpack that you can keep close to you. Keep an eye on your surroundings no matter where you are and check out our guide to avoiding theft at festivals for some ideas on how to avoid theft at pride.
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Rave culture would be nothing without the LGBTQ+ community. Its roots in underground clubs around the world have made rave culture the loving and accepting place that it is today, and the origins of PLUR come from the place of acceptance that underground raves and nightclubs gave to queer people before Stonewall ignited global change.
We've been following these LGBTQ+ influencers for a long time now and wanted to pass them onto you so that you can add some queer rave babes to your feed. Check out our list below and let us know who your favorite queer influencer is in the comments!
What pride month means to him: Pride, to me, means being loud and proud to live my truth and unapologetically be myself. It’s important to acknowledge that, though we celebrate pride month, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. There are many individuals fighting to live their truth, and there are even places in the world where people risk their lives to be themselves. My pronouns are He/Him/His, I am a PROUD cis-gender gay man and even more proud to be a part of the lgbtqia+ community.
His favorite festival style: My favorite festival style these days is eccentric and futuristic. I love anything that stands out with bright colors, reflective material, etc., and let’s not forget the shoes and the accessories! The final touches always bring the look together, I can’t wait to get back to it this summer!
What pride means to him: Pride to me is to be your genuine and authentic self, and to love others for being their genuine authentic self. Pride is something we celebrate to remind one another that we love differently, but we can all love together no matter what gender you may or may not identify as, and no matter what pronouns the one you love uses. 💛 Phoenix pride festival is one of my favorite festivals because it includes so many forms of queer entertainment from singers, DJ’s, to drag queens, and gogo boys. Being part of different pride celebrations in the past as a backup dancer, gogo boy, and patron it is always so much fun and so inclusive.
His favorite festival style: While attending I love to go for the glitter beard trend! If you know me I’m always wearing something gold and when it comes to festivals & pride I love to glitter my beard up! I’ll usually pair it with a golden harness which is another one of my favorite trends and complete it with a platform boot to add some extra flare. The best thing about pride is being able to express yourself through your attitude, connections, and of course outfit. ️
What pride means to him: To me, pride means being/living your true authentic self unapologetically. It’s a celebration of individuality and inclusivity. It’s an absolute freedom of expression.
His favorite festival style: My signature festival style definitely wouldn’t be complete without some sort of sequins or sparkles (whether it may be a holographic shiny fringe disco jacket or a pair of sparkly sequins bell bottoms). A crown (I own pretty much every color), and of course my rainbow YRU platforms to complete the whole look in true Pride fashion. 🥳
What pride means to her: For me, Pride means embracing the parts of yourself that our society has taught us to be ashamed of. It's about uniting with your community, uplifting each other and celebrating how far we have come, as well as fighting for the change yet to happen!
]]>To honor pride month, this article will be dedicated to several queer artists who are currently slaying in the industry. The following Dj/s & Producers are members of the LGBTQ+ community and they are definitely worth putting on your must-see list for your next festival. And don't forget, 10% of anything you purchase from the savormeditation Pride Month collection will go toward Outright Action International, a nonprofit dedicated to helping members of the LGBTQ+ community around the world.
REZZ is a Canadian Producer who has made waves all around the world. Since releasing her first EP in 2015 on OWSLA’s sub label, Nest HQ she was an instant hit. Her most recent album, Certain Kind of Magic catapulted her fame even more, and today she's collaborating with industry leaders like Grimes. REZZ has grown to be a name every raver should know, and her hypnotic, down-tempo beats will surely make you feel…relaxed.
Catch REZZ at HARD Summer 2021 as well as her own headlining show, Rezzrocks, at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. You will not be disappointed.
Coming right out of Michigan, you have our favorite funk producer: GRiZ! Griz is known for playing his saxophone on stage while he melts the crowd’s minds. He has made bangers with Grammatik and Subtronics, but also can get super vibey. Griz has embodied his phrase: “Show Love, Spread Love” with his team of Liberators. Liberators will help you out at shows and they also participate and lead community service projects.
GRiZ truly cares about the rave community and he kills it on stage. Be sure to support him at Dancefestopia or at Imagine Festival this year!
Ducky started their music career at the early age of 13. They were in middle school when a track took off on Myspace, and they hit the clubs shortly after. They found their unique sound of a hypnotic warehouse / experimental vibes, but then turn around and give you softcore that goes right intro hardcore. Recently, Ducky came out with a Pride merch shop: Play Nice. This shop provides sizes XS-4XL and it is all gender-neutral and nonbinary.
Make sure to check out Ducky at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco this June or in Washington, DC for Soundcheck.
Brandon Wisniski, aka Wreckno, is a queer badass musician from Michigan. He produces and raps his own music—and his flow is sick—not only in music, but in dance as well. I started following Wreckno when he was the only male hula-hoop flow artist I could find on Instagram. He was truly an inspiration and really inspired me to start flowing myself, and he didn't stop there. Soon, Wreckno picked up a set of CDJ’s and then blossomed into a very talented experimental bass DJ who raps without skipping a beat. He has really made a name for himself, working with artists like GRiZ, he continues to be a great representative of a queer man who isn't afraid to be who he wants to be. He truly radiates positivity and self-love and it shows.
Check out his first music video for his newest single, “Honey Drip” here and also at Asterya Music Festival in Florida.
Wreckno | Soundcloud
Last, but not least, we have Kendoll. Kendoll is originally from Seattle, WA, but is now a LA-based. She started getting people dancing when she was 16 and has not stopped since. She has released tracks on labels such as Night Bass, Insomniac Records, Bite This! and more. I can only describe her music as a bassline house mixed with a UK sound. Her newest track, “Acid Party" drops this week so be sure to stream it.
I got a chance to ask Kendoll if she had any advice for someone who was trying to figure out who they were, and she happily responded:
‘Always keep your heart and mind open. This day in age there are so many support systems for young people trying to figure out their sexuality and to not be afraid is the key, never be afraid of who you are. My pent up sexuality led to lots of insecurities and depression, you will never truly be happy unless you are open about who you are. Lastly, I would say throughout my lifetime exploring my sexuality, there is not a rush to put a label on how you identify. It can be confusing to try and slap a label on how you define love and there is never a time limit on your discovery of yourself throughout your life. No matter what, you are loved, and feeling like you can't be yourself can be harmful to your future relationships, just know there are so many people who will be there for you. Always do this on your own time of course, and when you feel comfortable to do so. But never ever be afraid to be who you are.”
]]>Whether you're celebrating Pride Month (or just pride!), LGBT History Month, or Human Rights Day, it's time to let your rainbow spirit shine with awesome pride 'fits. Stay colorful with all the rainbow clothing you need to add some fashionable flair to your fit. All of the items in this new collection are perfect for any festival or pride event/party!
No problem, savormeditation has you covered! Here are a few essentials:
Also, check out these 'fits for inspo about what to wear to pride!
Daisy Corsets Rainbow Spectacle Winged Harness, Daisy Corsets Rainbow Glitter Fringe Skirt
Rainbow Leopard One Shoulder Bodysuit
Ravin' Rainbow Stripped Bodysuit
In our efforts to show our love for the LGBTQ+ community we are also donating $5,000 to Live Out Loud. Live Out Loud is an organization that nurtures future LGBTQ+ leaders by providing them with mentors, resources, and opportunities to discover their voice and become agents of change in their community. By connecting LGBTQ+ youth to their shared history and a larger LGBTQ community, the Live Out Loud organization is able to bring awareness that can bridge the gap between human right and LGBTQ civil rights.
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