Celebrate Pride Month with movies to stream, books to read and fashion collections to wear from Nike, Adidas and more

June is Pride month and although the annual Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade will not be a large gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be a series of virtual and socially distanced, in-person events from June 12-20.

Outdoor screenings of new, LGBTQ+ films will take place June 16-17 at The Lot at Zidell Yards, near the Willamette River and the Ross Island Bridge. Reserve a furnished seating pod, order local food and beverages, and watch some of the 12 films making their Oregon debut.

One highlight is Todd Stephens’ “Swan Song,” in which a former hairstylist and performer leaves his nursing home to fulfill a former client’s dying hairdo wish.

See more LGBTQ+ themed films, TV shows and documentaries on Amazon Prime. The largest online retailer also has Pride clothing and rainbow shoes by Adidas, Aldo, Dr. Martens, Keen, Kenneth Cole and Vans.

Pride’s Rainbow flag, adorning posters to pants, typically has six stripes: Red (represents “life”), orange (“healing”), yellow (“sunlight”), green (“nature”), blue (“serenity”) and violet (“spirit”).

Nike and other companies include more stripes: Black and brown represent a person of color inclusivity, and pink and baby blue symbolize trans inclusivity.

What’s new to wear with Pride this year? Nike’s 2021 Be True collection has rainbow Swoosh logos on the Blazer Low, the Air Max Pre-Day, the React Infinity Run 2 and the All Out Utility Slide. Each pair comes with nine unique flag patches and will be released June 15 on Nike.com.

Most retailers let you order online and pick up at the store or offer reduced or free shipping.

Adidas has selected the words “Love Unites” to appear on face covers ($25 for three), tank tops ($28), shorts ($60), hoodies ($80) and windbreakers ($90). See Pride-inspired hats, totes, shoes and more.

Banana Republic has a 2021 Live With Pride collection of 100% cotton sweatshirts, tank tops, T-shirts and more. For four years, the company has donated to the UN Free & Equal campaign for LGBTI equality.

Calvin Klein has underwear, swimwear, archive-inspired clothes and accessories in its Pride 2021 collection. The 100% cotton tank top has the Calvin Klein logo repeated in rainbow colors ($36). Calvin Klein donates to Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth.

Crocs welcomes everyone to “come as you are” in its 2021 Pride collection. See comfortable clogs, flip flops and dressy sandals for kids and adults plus Jibbitz charms like rainbow peace signs. Crocs donates to GLAAD’s awareness campaigns.

Disney’s Rainbow Disney Collection showcases iconic characters — Mickey Mouse to Marvel — and donates to organizations around the world that support LGBTQ+ communities. Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more with the code SHIPMAGIC.

• Mickey Mouse Ringer T-shirt in the Rainbow Disney Collection is $19.99.
• Two cloth face masks in the Rainbow Disney Collection are $3 (were $11.99).
• Stitch enameled cloisonné pin and the Mickey Mouse Heart Hands Pin in rainbow colors are $9.99 each.

Dockers’ 2021 Pride collection is “united by love” as seen on khaki-colored shorts, tanks, shirts, T-shirts and bags, some printed with a pattern of California poppies.

Etsy’s crafters and LGBTQIA+ businesses have tunic tops, quilts, pillows, jewelry, art and stationary and stickers.

• LoveOutsideLines sells Cool Like My Moms T-shirts starting at $20.71 and an I Love My Trans Dad/Brother/Uncle/Parents T-shirt starting at $22.16.

Gap Factory has denim jackets, shorts and totes inspired by Pride rainbow colors on sale at 30% off.

Levi’s has tees, denim and accessories in its Pride 2021 collection, which emphasizes respecting pronouns.

Michael’s has Pride bling like felt flowers in a rainbow of colors ($3.49, save 20% with code 20MADEBYYOU) for dressing up clothes plus beads and bracelets. See how to make All for Love denim shorts.

Old Navy has camis, tank tops and other summer clothing adorned with rainbows.

Rue21′s exclusive Pride collection has screen tees that state “Love wins” and “Let’s get one thing straight, I’m not.” Rue21 supports the LGBTQ youth suicide prevention awareness efforts of the Trevor Project.

• The fashion retailer also offers gender-neutral Unity fragrance ($12.99), jewelry (like a $5.99 rainbow rhinestone butterfly necklace) and accessories with inclusive size options from XS-4X.
• Buy one, get one for $5 on selected clothing like the Ohana rainbow tie-dye tee ($19.99). Receive 15% off when you sign up for texts.

Amazon has countless books to read to celebrate Pride while wearing rainbow clothing, shoes and accessories.

Here are best-selling classic and new LGBTQ+ books:

“A Single Man” by Christopher Isherwood in which a professor at a California university in the 1960s must deal with loneliness after the death of his longtime partner. The classic was made into a movie by fashion designer and director Tom Ford and starring Colin Firth, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

“Call Me by Your Name” by André Aciman, about a romantic relationship in Italy, was made into a movie by director Luca Guadagnino with an Oscar-winning best adapted screenplay by James Ivory and starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet.

“In at the Deep End” by Kate Davies about a woman in her 20s looking for love was a finalist for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic fiction.

“She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders” by Jennifer Finney Boylan is considered seminal work of trans literature.

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker about a resilient woman who finds her self-worth through the help of two strong female companions received the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. The movie directed by Steven Spielberg starred Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey.

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

[email protected] | @janeteastman