WE'VE NEVER FOLLOWED THE CROWD. PRIDE IS NO EXCEPTION.
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Q&A with local advocate Brian Bartlett on why Greater ROC celebrates pride in July.
Pride can’t be contained to just one month. At least not in Greater ROC, where the queer community goes big each July for the Rochester Pride Parade and Festival.
Brian Bartlett is one of the advocates behind it all and shared his perspective on the festival itself—and how strong our pride community is.
Q: Why does Greater ROC celebrate Pride in July?
A: The common thing that a lot of people assume is the reason why Rochester does it in July is so that we can enjoy June, as well. The reality is that it’s actually kind of historic. In the late ’60s/early ’70s, there used to be these sit-ins at Genesee Valley Park that were opportunities for queer folks in Rochester to come together in a public space. That turned into the Gay Pride Picnic, which is a thing that happens every year for Rochester Pride. From there, it just naturally became Rochester Pride Weekend whenever this picnic was organized.
Q: What’s something you would tell somebody who hasn’t attended Rochester Pride before?
A: I think one of the most important things when it comes to attending any Pride event or festival is to have an open mind and be willing to be surprised, be willing to have fun and feel whimsy. And feel silly, and excited, feel sexy, feel appreciated and valued outside of the context of family. Because family doesn’t have to have blood relation to you. You can find family in your friends and community. Be open-minded and willing to find fun in a very organic way.
Being silly is really healthy and good in this day and age. I think it’s good to find the joy and laugh at things. In the queer community, one of our biggest strengths is laughing in the face of adversity.
Q: What does the way we celebrate pride say about our community?
A: Rochester has a phenomenally large and strong queer community. Compared to other cities around the country, you really get the sense of it here. Also, the amount of support the city has for the queer community. We have a lot of friends, we have a lot of allies. This is a safe place for queer folks and it showcases very well when people see that every Pride weekend.
Once you’re immersed in these spaces, once you see how cool and fun and interesting and enjoyable and influential we are, you might as well just drop the hate and join in the fun.
Q: Why are you still here?
A: Big cities are nice, but when we use the term community, sometimes the image that comes to mind is something that’s homey or feels like family. Rochester has all these qualities and you certainly feel it in the queer community here. Everyone knows each other and in the best ways, and everyone is interested in making this town better and cooler for everyone coming in, to make it feel like home.
As someone who’s a DJ and a party organizer here in Rochester, I’m a firm believer in you have to invest in the place you live if you want it to be fun. And you have to be intentional and provide the value and excitement in a place. I think there are multiple people who are leaders in this community who are doing that. There’re just a lot of people who are movers and shakers here that really want this city to be elevated.
So many Rochester stories start with people building what they wish existed. Pride here is proof.