Rochester MN Pride

09/03/2026

Do you love Rochester MN Pride? Would you like to get more involved?

Rochester MN Pride is now accepting applications for community members that would like to support as Community Committee Members.

If you’re interested please complete this form: https://forms.gle/CLMGA5QZQ6o3JEda8 and one of our board members will reach out to follow up!

Here’s what to expect:
*A one year commitment to the committee(s) you join.
*This means participating in a 1-2 hour meeting monthly, typically virtually, on a weekday evening for each committee you join. *You’re welcome to join more than one committee if you’re passionate about more than one area and have the capacity!
*For some committees there are monthly assignments outside of meeting time.
*Committee members will begin attending meetings in October of 2026.
*Working closely with board members to prepare for and execute our annual festival, monthly events and True Self Studio.

Committees particularly in need of support for 2027:

*Promotions Committee:
*Dedicated folx interested in supporting Promotions with 3-5 hours a month available, year round.
*The more engaged members we have, the lower the time commitment will be!
*We’re especially looking for anyone with experience with:
*Video content creation
*Interest and experience with doing background research and preparing/organizing content calendars.
*Non-Profit promotions experience
*A communications background
*Graphic Design experience

Vendor Committee:
*Are you a Rochester MN Pride vendor? We’re looking for past, current or potential vendors of Rochester Pride to provide perspective and help our team best understand how to create the best possible experience for our vendors!
*This role will likely be a 1-2 hour monthly commitment contained to the vendor committee meeting with regular meetings from January-May.

We are also looking for community members interested in supporting these committees as well:
*Volunteer
*Community Outreach and Education
* True Self Studio

09/03/2026

Get to know BJ and Lori and more about True Self Studio, Rochester MN Pride's Gender Affirming Closet.

Midwest Talks True Self Studio Ep. 27 Part 1
Finding your purpose in life includes knowing who you are and showing that to the world. Rochester MN Pride is helping more people have access to free gender affirming clothing and a safe space to explore.
Saturday August 29th from 10AM-2PM at Amethyst Studios the public is invited to bring their donations as well as shop for items at no cost.

08/25/2026

School is starting up and the Q***r events just don’t stop! Join us for a couple of exciting Rochester PRIDE events this week, along with several other tried and true community gatherings!

Tuesday:

- Beers for Q***rs at Little Thistle: An informal weekly gathering for LGBTQ+ friends and allies, with alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, intended as a safe place for LGBTQ+ to just be their authentic selves! The group meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm! Bring food, snacks, board games, hobbies, or just yourself to enjoy and surround yourself with fellow qu**rs in our community. Come celebrate where you’re celebrated!

Wednesday:
- Rochester PRIDE Boardgame Night: Rochester Pride is partnering with Cafe Steam to bring you another Board Game Night! Join us from 4-7pm to play a variety of games and support a local business. ***This is for the 2nd street location, and parking can be tricky! They do have a lot or residential areas nearby for those who don't mind a summertime stroll. Hope to see you there!

- Q***r Fitness at Anytime Fitness 6:30-7:30 Free Class with Limited Spots: A welcoming space for q***r folks to come break a sweat, challenge themselves and build gym community!

Saturday:
- True Self Studio Donation Day 10am - 12pm: We are hosting a True Self Studio donation day at Amethyst Studios. Help us stock our gender affirming closet as we prepare for Austin Pride and other pop-up events! We appreciate your generosity in helping us build a free, safe space to explore gender expression and want to make this an easy and enjoyable donation experience for you! Please read all of the “preparing to donate" notes and the list of accepted & non-accepted items. We may not take all of your items and we want to stress that this doesn't mean your items don't have value, just that they are not needed at this time for our closet stock.

If you have an event you’d like us to feature please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/exArSRmD4kBRraSC6

08/17/2026

Thanks for visiting our True Self Studio last Saturday at the ARTERY! We are only halfway through August, and the Q***r fun continues! Check out these incredible gatherings this week to connect with our community!

Tuesday:
- Teen Boardgame Night: Ready to play Unstable Unicorns, Uno, Sparkle Kitty, and other fun games? Join us for this welcoming meetup led by PRYSM, a social group for LGBTQ+ teens hosted by Community Education’s Youth Enrichment department. This program meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM in the Library Auditorium

- Beers for Q***rs at Little Thistle: An informal weekly gathering for LGBTQ+ friends and allies, with alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, intended as a safe place for LGBTQ+ to just be their authentic selves! The group meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm! Bring food, snacks, board games, hobbies, or just yourself to enjoy and surround yourself with fellow qu**rs in our community. Come celebrate where you’re celebrated!

Wednesday:
- Q***r Fitness at Anytime Fitness 6:30-7:30 Free Class with Limited Spots: A welcoming space for q***r folks to come break a sweat, challenge themselves and build gym community!

- Q***r Coffee Meetup: Join Out Rochester & Cafe Steam for another Q***r Coffee Meetup on the third Wednesday of every month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm! 🏳️‍🌈☕️
Enjoy local coffee, tea, and pastries while meeting fellow LGBTQ+ people and allies! This event is free, all ages, and alcohol-free.
Get 15% off food and drinks during the event when you show the barista your name tag.

Saturday:
- PRYSM Great Rainbow Bakeoff 1-4pm : Participate in a light-hearted baking competition inspired by popular TV shows The Great British Bake Off and Nailed It! Your team will be judged on flavor and design with the chance to win prizes. No prior baking experience is required. Many adult volunteers are needed to make this event possible. We welcome your help, especially if you are already a star baker!

If you have an event you’d like us to feature please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/exArSRmD4kBRraSC6

08/09/2026

Met up with our friends with Rochester MN Pride at Thesis Beer Project to share the love for some flyers for NUR-D

We’re only 45 minutes from Rochester and welcoming Nur-D for the very first time! Let’s sell out this show at our historic paramount theater. It was important to us to sponsor him to come to our community because he advocates for all 🏳️‍🌈⚡️

🎟️ https://www.austinareaarts.org/paramount-events

08/08/2026

Come see True Self Studio at the Artery Mutual Aid Market on Saturday, August 15. This first time market will take place between Garden Party Books and Amethyst Studios (608 7th St NW) from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

We will have a wide selection of free clothing, shoes, accessories, gender affirming supplies and community resources available. Everything is free because everyone deserves access to what helps them feel like themselves. We simply ask that you only take what you need so there is enough to share with others.

Stop by the True Self Studio pop up, connect with community, and check out everything the market has to offer. We can’t wait to see you there!

08/07/2026

We are hosting a True Self Studio donation day at Amethyst Studios on Saturday, August 29th from 10:00am-2:00pm. Help us stock our gender affirming closet as we prepare for Austin Pride and other pop-up events!

We appreciate your generosity in helping us build a free, safe space to explore gender expression and want to make this an easy and enjoyable donation experience for you! Please read all of the “preparing to donate" notes and the list of accepted & non-accepted items. We may not take all of your items and we want to stress that this doesn't mean your items don't have value, just that they are not needed at this time for our closet stock.

Thank you so much to Rachel at Amethyst Studios for welcoming us in her brand new studio space. If you have not gotten a chance to check it out yet, this is a great opportunity.

Amethyst Studios is located at 608 7th St NW Rochester, Minnesota 55901

08/04/2026

There are still plenty of fun things to do if you’re looking for time this week to meet people, spend time out and about, and get active. If you’re wanting to beat the heat, Rochester REP has “Stix and Stones: A Drag Odyssey” playing this weekend. 🌞

Tuesday:
- PRYSM Teen Crafternoon: Rochester Community Education partners with local organizations to provide opportunities for youth, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+, to have fun, be healthy, and envision possibilities for their future. Events are open to all youth entering grades 6-12, including LGBTQ+ youth and allies. Hosted at the Rochester Public Library at 3:00-4:00pm.

- Beers for Q***rs at Little Thistle: An informal weekly gathering for LGBTQ+ friends and allies, with alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, intended as a safe place for LGBTQ+ to just be their authentic selves! The group meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm! Bring food, snacks, board games, hobbies, or just yourself to enjoy and surround yourself with fellow qu**rs in our community. Come celebrate where you’re celebrated!

- Transparenting at Rochester Public Library 6:00-7:30pm Rochester Public Library 2nd Floor Meeting Room Parents and caregivers of transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive individuals get together to share resources, joys, and concerns. Trans Parenting Rochester meets on the first Tuesday of every month 6-7:30PM in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room.

Wednesday:
- Q***r Fitness at Anytime Fitness 6:30-7:30 Free Class with Limited Spots: A welcoming space for q***r folks to come break a sweat, challenge themselves and build gym community!

Friday:
- Stix and Stones: A Drag Odyssey (Fully-Realized Production)
By Philip Wayne-Davis; Directed by Julee Mead
August 7th and 8th, 2026 at 7pm; August 9th, 2026 at 2pm
All Tickets $20
“From shattered silence to screaming spotlight, Stix and Stones is the fierce, unapologetic origin story of Bundula Stix, a rock-punk goddess born of glitter, grit, and pure defiance. Blending drag and theatre, this solo spectacle tears through blistering anthems and soul-baring truths. Follow Bundula’s transformation from ember to flame, and meet the soul behind the eyeliner in a show that leaves nothing behind but rhinestones, rage, and revelation.”

If you have an event you’d like us to feature please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/exArSRmD4kBRraSC6

07/27/2026

Need a break from the heat and humidity? Come join us at one of these wonderful q***r events happening this week! Know of a q***r hangout not mentioned here? Let us know!

Tuesday:
- PRYSM Teen Crafternoon: Rochester Community Education partners with local organizations to provide opportunities for youth, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+, to have fun, be healthy, and envision possibilities for their future. Events are open to all youth entering grades 6-12, including LGBTQ+ youth and allies. Hosted at the Rochester Public Library at 3:00-4:00pm.

- Beers for Q***rs at Little Thistle: An informal weekly gathering for LGBTQ+ friends and allies, with alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, intended as a safe place for LGBTQ+ to just be their authentic selves! The group meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm! Bring food, snacks, board games, hobbies, or just yourself to enjoy and surround yourself with fellow qu**rs in our community. Come celebrate where you’re celebrated!

Wednesday:
- Q***r Fitness at Anytime Fitness 6:30-7:30 Free Class with Limited Spots: A welcoming space for q***r folks to come break a sweat, challenge themselves and build gym community!

If you have an event you’d like us to feature please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/exArSRmD4kBRraSC6