We are officially in Dallas Pride mode now, and there's a lot to celebrate after this past year: the Supreme Court rulings in favor of marriage equality (and Edith Windsor being adorable), the Boy Scouts of America's (admittedly half-assed) step toward inclusivity, George Takei being pretty much everywhere.
We want to be sure you do Pride 2013 right, so we've put together a list of things worth seeing this week. (Although in a pinch, any given gay event promises to be extra spectacular.)
See also: 11 Fabulous Photos From The 2012 Dallas Pride Parade
Mr. Bear Round-Up 2013 Wednesday, September 11 Round Up Saloon, Free
Jon Hamm has probably done more to bring chest hair back to popular culture than anyone else in recent decades, and God bless him for it. But nice as Don Draper's is, his chest is nubile compared to your average bear. Round-Up Saloon is celebrating chest hair and general beefiness in their yearly contest to see who is Dallas's top bear. It should be fun whether you're an ursine enthusiast, a fan of pageants or even if you just love drinking.
Gay Day at Six Flags Saturday, September 14 Six Flags Over Texas
Sunday is the parade, and presumably Friday was heavy on drinking. Probably Thursday was too. And honestly, Saturday night is looking like more of the same. Which means you have precious hours during the day on Saturday to reinvigorate, energize, and replenish electrolytes. Six Flags Over Texas has you covered: for the Saturday of Dallas Pride they're offering $35 tickets in lieu of their usual $65 ones. So you can take advantage of apocalyptic heat at special LGBT (and allies) rates.
Alternate Saturday plan that involves less driving and money: the Dallas Public Library's Rainbow Family Day from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. It's an afternoon of crafts and movies, so it's great for kids or anyone you know who's a fan of glitter. Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade Sunday, September 15 Cedar Springs Road, Wycliffe Ave to Lee Park
Because it legally isn't gay pride without a parade. This year will be the Freedom Parade's 30th march, and it ends in Lee Park where a festival kicks off from noon to 8 p.m. Time to see the most inventive and minimalist costumes Dallas can come up with, plus revel in communal love and support. If you've never made it to a pride parade before it is strongly recommended, at the very least to see what those conservative pundits are always bitching about.
See also: Eleven Dallas LGBT Movers and Shakers
The Madness of Lady Bright Sunday, September 15 Kalita Humphreys Theater, $10-$15
One of the earliest plays of the gay theater movement, Madness is a monologue delivered by the titular and faded drag queen, Lady Bright, as she recounts her life. There are shades of Tennessee Williams, and just a touch of Lady MacBeth, what with the madness and all. It's one of the first plays to present a gay character in a straightforward way, and this year it's part of the Dallas Pride Performing Arts Festival. This little piece of history starts 8:30 p.m., so keep eventual sobriety in mind during that parade.
