Here’s How You Can Host A Pride Cocktail Party That’s Actually Inclusive
Queer history – the collective sum of which encapsulates the spirit of pride month, is one that is worth commemorating for a number of reasons. Making space – in a physical and metaphorical manner for members of the LGBTQIA+ community doesn’t always have to be an extravagant affair as long as it is planned thoughtfully and respectfully to all spectrums of gender. Hosting a cocktail party during this time means that it leaves plenty of scope for the host to display their skills while also creating a sense of inclusiveness that isn’t too cloying.
While not centred around drinking, cocktails elevate food pairings as well as make scope for guests to tweak drinks according to their preferences.. Whether you choose to set-up DIY stations, make batch drinks, create conscious pairings with a variety of delicacies or even decide to flex your mixology skills for the occasion, a pride cocktail party is special and surely vibrant than any standard gathering might feel like. For hosts, these parties are an avenue to not only mingle with people of various orientations, but also to educate themselves and extend allyship to the queer community by creating a safe space.
Create Thoughtful Guest Lists
While deciding upon who to invite, ensure that guests across the spectrum are invited in order to encourage social interactions. For occasions such as these, it is also ideal to collaborate with queer groups to extend the invitation to a larger number of people – if your space has the capacity to hold more than a few – without making it seem like it has been done as a gesture of tokenism. No one, queers included, wants to feel like an accessory in a setting that is meant to celebrate unique identities!
Focus On Details
If your guest list includes people you only know as acquaintances, have name tags at the entrance to your party – on which they can write down their name and the pronouns they wish to be identified by. Reach out to the invitees beforehand for RSVPs in order to get a sense of how many people you will need to arrange refreshments for, along with having miniature paper flags for each identity that guests can attach to their plates or cups while mingling with the others.
Inclusive Drinks Menu
No cocktail party is complete without….you guessed it – the cocktails! Take into account allergens and dietary restrictions while planning the menu. It wouldn’t be a long shot to assume that not every single attendee would be interested in a cocktail, so having non-alcoholic options that are equally delicious and crafted with care can be handy. Customise your drinks menu by giving it a pride spin and naming drinks after icons from queer history – think Marsha’s Mule, RuPaul’s Rum Swizzle and the likes.
Curate A Playlist
No party – especially pride parties – are complete without a playlist that has a mix of dance-y tunes as well as avant-garde themes by queer artists, allies and LGBTQIA+ anthems from over the years. Ensure that the playlist curation taps into artists across the queer spectrum, which will involve digging deeper into queer history and not simply including mainstream hits. Under-represented or disabled artists are also a great way to create inclusivity that isn’t on the nose – making the medium a great avenue to induce fun and celebration into the gathering.
Beyond Rainbows
Pride isn’t just about taking the colours of the rainbow and splashing it across a setting. Using flags that belong to specific orientations (bisexual, trans, nonbinary, asexual being a few), quotes from pioneers of the movement as decorative pieces and reclaiming performative symbols are some ways to infuse ‘pride’ into the setting. Invite drag performers to showcase their talents while guests take a break to grab a bite as well as to upkeep the tempo of the party at a certain energy level.
Encourage Respectful Interactions
Since hosting a variety of guests from various orientations can be tricky at times, ensure that you mingle with all your guests and introduce them to each other. Find out a little bit about each of their backgrounds which make for great conversation starters and avoid touching upon subjects that might be too sensitive or bring down the morale of the celebration. It is also wise to have a few people share their personal stories, if consented, as a way to inspire and create a sense of emotional bonding amongst the guests.
Also Read: How To Set Up A Colourful Cocktail Party At Home: Festive Tips For Hosts
*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
