Rochester MN Pride

10/08/2026

International Le***an Day, held on October 8, is a day for le****ns the world over to come together to celebrate le***an history, diversity and culture.

Recognised annually, the day gives an opportunity for people, families and friends to connect, celebrate and also raise awareness about the importance of community. Although the exact origin of the day remains uncertain, it almost certainly began in Australia/New Zealand. Some say the day began in 1980 when a Le***an Day March was held in New Zealand. The first Australian event was held at the Collingwood Town Hall in Melbourne on October 13, 1990.
~LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

10/05/2026

Leaves are falling, community is calling 🍂🏳️‍🌈
Whether you’re a regular or thinking about stopping by for the first time, there’s a seat for you!

Monday:
- The Non-Binary & Gender Non-Conforming Support Group was formed to foster community and provide support to our peers in Southeast Minnesota. We welcome any adults (18+) who are within the vast multitude of transgender and non-binary identities, as well as anyone who is questioning their gender identity. No sign-up required. We meet at Rochester Public Library at 6pm!

Tuesday:
- PRYSM LGBTQIA+ Teen Craft Night - Embroidery: Rochester Community Education partners with local organizations to provide opportunities for youth, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+. Events are open to all youth entering grades 6-12. Hosted at the Rochester Public Library from 5:30-7:30pm.

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

- Beers for Qu**rs at Little Thistle: An informal weekly gathering for LGBTQ+ friends and allies, with alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages! 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 a gym community!

Saturday:
- Come see True Self Studio at Bandshell Community Park in Austin, MN as part of Austin’s Pride Celebration from 11am-3pm! We will have a wide selection of free clothing, shoes, accessories, gender affirming supplies and community resources available. Everything is free. Everyone deserves access to what helps them feel like themselves. We ask that you only take what you need so there is enough to share with others.

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

10/01/2026

Happy LGBTQ+ History month from Rochester Pride! We encourage our community to take a moment to reflect on those who came before us - those who attended the Stonewall Riots in 1969, those who fought to allow for marriage equality before the U.S. Supreme court in 2015, and so many more events in history. There is still plenty of work to be done, but it is important to remember just how far our community has come. Thank you to those who have fought, and for those who continue to fight for our right to exist.

09/28/2026

We can’t believe September is nearly done. Thankfully, there will be plenty this month to keep the fall fun going! Beers for Qu**rs on Tuesday and Q***r Fitness Class on Wednesday to keep us hydrated and moving. Everyone is welcome! Jump in and say hello! (Or be responsible and stretch first.) 👋

Tuesday: 9/29
Beers for Qu**rs at Little Thistle from 6:30-9:00PM
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: 9/30
Q***r Fitness Class at Anytime Fitness from 6:30-7:30PM
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

09/24/2026

Looking for an opportunity to visit our True Self Studio and get FREE healthcare resources?

Come visit us at the Healthy Community, United for Health event this weekend at the Dodge Center Community Center from 10am - 2pm! 35 E Main St, Dodge Center, MN 55927

09/22/2026

We’ve had a touch of fall, and Cafe Steam has flavors to match! Bring your favorite game, or show up ready to play someone else’s! Join us for another Pride partnered Game Night at Cafe Steam St. Mary’s from 4:30-7:00pm on September 23rd.

NOTE: Parking can be tricky, but there is a flat lot behind Cafe Steam St. Mary’s and some residential parking if you don’t mind a short walk!

09/15/2026

Fall is almost here and we have lots of q***r events this week! We’ve only got 8 months until our next festival, but lots planned between here and now! Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to hang out, help us prepare for next year, and engage with the Rochester Q***r Community!

Tuesday:

- Beers for Qu**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!

- PRYSM LGBTQIA+ Teen Game 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 at 5:30 PM in the Northrup Community Education Center.

Wednesday:

- Q***r Coffee Meetup: Join Out Rochester & Cafe Steam (on S. Broadway!) for another Q***r Coffee Meetup 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.

- 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 a gym community!

Thursday:

- Q***r Book Club: This book group is open to all, and we will meet in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room at the Library from 6-7pm. Copies of the book will be available at the Reference desk on the 2nd floor starting September 3rd.

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

09/11/2026

Join us in volunteering at Austin MN Pride on Saturday, October 10 at Bandshell Community Park from 11:00am to 3:00pm!

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.