Skip to Content
Opinion

Let’s Talk About Pride on This Week’s Open Thread

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

11:50 AM CDT on June 26, 2026

TC Pride

It's Pride weekend here in Minnesota, and that means parties, parades, celebrations, events, and lotsa rainbows.

And it should! But it can also be a time for reflection on gender and sexuality, on the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, and on other more somber matters.

When Lavender Magazine closed up shop this week, the decision was oddly framed as though equality had been achieved and there were no more fights on the horizon. This morning, we ran a rebuttal with a more nuanced appraisal of the situation from leaders in the LGBTQ+ community.

As a common dishwater cis-straight, I'm hardly the one to say much on the subject. I obviously care about the future of my LGBTQ+ relatives and friends, but theirs are not my stories to tell.

So I'll quickly kick this question over to you at Open Thread. What does Pride mean to you? What are your plans for the weekend? How has your understanding of your gender and/or sexuality changed over time?

As always, feel free to ignore this prompt and talk about whatever you want. This is your Open Thread after all.

I'll be a little obvious with this week's outro song because Nile Rogers and Bernard Rogers were geniuses and goddamn listen to Tony Thompson's drums.

More Stories

What Craft Beer Bubble? New South Minneapolis Brewery Soft Opens This Weekend.

Plus MN man can't stop winning backyard ultras, a swanky new North Loop game club, and peeper returns to the streets in today's Flyover news roundup.

October 16, 2026

RacketCast, Ep. 63: Let’s Take a ‘Midwestern Death Trip’ Feat. Author Meaghan Garvey

A first-time Chicago author reports on her wild ride through the Upper Midwest.

October 16, 2026

For This Week’s Open Thread, Tell Us Where You Get Your Restaurant Recommendations

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

October 16, 2026

Your Favorite Movie Nerd’s Favorite Movie Label Sets Up Shop In Dinkytown

Vinegar Syndrome co-founder Ryan Emerson talks preserving lost films, his MN connections, and the 'renewed and growing enthusiasm' for owning movies in a physical form.

October 16, 2026

Freeloader Friday: 113 Free Things To Do This Weekend

Art-making sessions, spooky artist markets, dog Halloween, and the Saint Paul Art Crawl.

October 16, 2026

Summit Brewing Finds New Lender, Avoids Foreclosure

Plus a closer look at local gangs, a series of celeb sightings, and it's tunnel-cleaning time in today's Flyover news roundup.

October 15, 2026