The City of Las Vegas has officially proclaimed October 10, 2025, as PRIDE Month, honoring the LGBTQ+ community’s contributions to the city’s vibrant culture. Signed by Mayor Shelley Berkley, the proclamation celebrates the ongoing efforts of PRIDE Las Vegas and its unwavering dedication to equality, inclusion, and love for all.

When filmmaker Michael Hyman set out to create Reflections, he wanted to push the boundaries of Andy Warhol’s iconic 1960s Screen Tests. Warhol asked his subjects to sit silently for three minutes before his lens. Hyman raised the stakes. “I thought it would be interesting to take it a step further and have the subjects look into a mirror at their own reflection,” he says.

This October, Las Vegas PRIDE is honored to welcome one of San Francisco’s most beloved icons and internationally recognized activists: Sister Roma, “The Most Photographed Nun in the World™.” For nearly four decades, Sister Roma has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ activism, community service, and spectacle with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Las Vegas PRIDE, PROUD & Kinky, and the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are about to unleash a night of unholy fun and irresistible indulgence with Absolution: Back in the Habit on October 11, 2025. At the center of it all will be acclaimed actor and comedian Alec Mapa, who steps into the role of cohost and personification of the sin of Pride.

Las Vegas has long been a stage where stars are made, but few have carved a career as colorful, resilient, and unforgettable as Jimmy Emerson, the Local Celebrity Grand Marshal of the 2025 Las Vegas PRIDE Night Parade. With decades of work as an actor, comedian, female impersonator, and producer, Emerson’s story is one of perseverance, talent, and the power of laughter.

Las Vegas PRIDE is rolling out the rainbow carpet for a very special guest this year. The 2025 PRIDE Night Parade will be led by none other than Lauren Weedman; actress, comedian, playwright, author, and now, our Celebrity Grand Marshal. Known for her razor-sharp wit, fearless honesty, and ability to turn personal mayhem into side-splitting comedy, Weedman is bringing her infectious energy to the streets of Downtown Las Vegas. And we couldn’t be more thrilled.

Las Vegas PRIDE weekend is turning up the volume this year with a celebration unlike any other. On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 8 p.m., PRIDE presents the Rainbow Rave at A-LOT @ AREA15, a high-energy, all-night dance party honoring National Coming Out Day. This 18+ event promises dazzling performances, unapologetic self-expression, and a stacked DJ lineup guaranteed to keep the beats pumping.

Originally, opening on the intersection of South Maryland Parkway and East Tropicana, the Red Barn opened as an antique store in 1958. However, the business was not sustainable, and went through some changes in the 1960s, becoming a bar. During the day, it catered primarily to a working-class clientele, but in the evening, it catered to Las Vegas’ LGBTQ+ community.

Las Vegas may be known for dazzling lights, bold personalities, and a “what-happens-here” spirit, but few local icons embody that energy with as much purpose and pride as the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Part spiritual satire, part community lifeline, the Sisters have served the Las Vegas LGBTQ+ community for over two decades, wielding compassion, drag, and activism like sacred tools.

It gives me immense pleasure to summon you to an evening filled with primal sin and seduction. An evening unlike any other you have ever experienced; I present and invite all to attend ABSOLUTION on the 11th day of the 10th month of October in the year 2025.

“Don’t be afraid to be who you truly are.” For Meliton, these are not just words of encouragement but a lived truth that defines his journey from a closeted teenager in Hungary to standing proudly today as Mr. Las Vegas PRIDE. His story is one of resilience, courage, and love; a reminder that embracing authenticity can transform not only your life but also the lives of those around you.

Some would say the drama, stress, and cohabitation of an Emperor, Empress, Drag Queen, and an old married couple would be enough to make anyone go crazy, but not for our Mr. and Mrs. Las Vegas PRIDE 2024-2025, Derek Guerrero and Norma Llyaman (Jim McCoy). These two were already crazy before they began their reign as community representatives! For them, it was a cake walk!

Las Vegas PRIDE is raising the bar for celebration and community connection with the 2025 PRIDE Community Festival, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 3–10 PM at the brand-new Desert Breeze Events Center. This year promises more entertainment, more heart, and more ways to connect, with hundreds of vendors and exhibitors and, best of all, a lower ticket price so more people can join in on the fun.

As I mentioned in my Spring 2023 article, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 1½. I spent a third of my childhood in the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, starting at age 3. We called it going to Rehab. The impact of arthritis on my education, both positive and negative, started in preschool.

When we last spoke with Angelo Gomez in 2023, the decorated police officer and proud gay Latino trailblazer shared his inspiring path of public service, advocacy, and resilience. Now, Angelo has added another powerful title to his résumé: author. With his debut children’s book, Hero Inside, Gomez turns his lifelong passion for service into a heartfelt and empowering story for the next generation, especially those who feel like they don’t quite fit in.

You’ve stood in front of the mirror and thought: “I have nothing to wear.” But here’s the truth: it’s rarely about the clothes. What you’re really saying is: “Nothing in this closet feels like me.” The closet is one of the most personal spaces we own, yet for so many, it’s also a battlefield.

Las Vegas PRIDE is set to shine even brighter this year with the addition of acclaimed comedian Roz Hernandez as a stage emcee and entertainer. Known for her sharp wit, paranormal curiosity, and unapologetically queer perspective, Roz is a force on the comedy scene; one who brings equal parts laughter and empowerment to every stage she graces.

Las Vegas’ most anticipated night of fashion, entertainment, and philanthropy is back. On Saturday, September 20, Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) hosts its 39th Annual Black & White Party at the iconic KAOS Nightclub inside Palms Casino Resort, promising a “Wild West” showdown like no other—all in the name of supporting Southern Nevadans living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Former American Idol finalist and acclaimed pop-soul vocalist David Hernandez has always worn his heart on his sleeve through his music, but his latest single, “feel it all” (out September 12, 2025), is his most vulnerable work yet; a deeply personal anthem of healing, sobriety, and shared connection.

The Las Vegas PRIDE team was invited to be special guests at the VIP Media / Influencers Kickoff for the Wizard of OZ Experience at the Venetian on August 2. The display is a promotional tie-in for the “Wizard of OZ Experience” at the Sphere, which opened on August 28.

As summer fades and autumn arrives, the cosmos brings balance, grounding, and transformation. September offers clarity around routines and relationships, while October’s eclipse season invites breakthroughs and bold shifts. It’s a time of harvest; reaping the lessons of the year so far and stepping into the next chapter of your queer journey with strength and authenticity.

As we start to wrap up Summer and head into the last quarter of 2025 (and into Las Vegas PRIDE season), we have so much to be thankful for, to look forward to, and so very much work ahead of us. While our community faces so much adversity, we also see so much help, love, and support. All marginalized groups know that we have more in common with our neighbors than our differences.

Cocktail Coalition Bars help to support Las Vegas PRIDE’s programs with financial contributions, event space and participation. Please join us in thanking them for their generous support of our community!