The Innovation Driving Virtual Pride Events
In June 2020, approximately 500 Pride events were cancelled and replaced with livestreamed celebrations. At the time, it was assumed that this would be a unique occurrence due to the pandemic. However, those virtual Pride events – and the innovation they displayed – have actually become quite popular in the last few years.
Virtual Pride Events
Those who are already invested in the online space shouldn’t be too surprised by this popularity. Across multiple industries, especially gaming, the mobile experience has been playing a big role. Cutting-edge technology has been morphing these industries into immersive, social, on-the-go experiences that blend the digital world with community.
Pride has followed a similar path, bolstered by the rise of new technologies and the growing demand for inclusive, accessible spaces that extend way beyond physical limitations. In other words, those early virtual Pride events were innovative, empowering, and community-driven, and that innovation has kept going. It has now grown to a point where virtual Pride isn’t a necessity; it’s a choice, and it’s a powerful, intentional one that allows for deeper global connection and year-round engagement. What types of innovation have made this possible?
The Innovation Driving Virtual Pride Events
Back in 2020 and 2021, the innovation on show was simple yet effective, with the use of platforms like Twitch, YouTube Live, and Hopin offering tools for multi-stream events, including live chats, donations, and breakout sessions.
For example, the Seattle Pride 2021 virtual fest used Hopin to offer multiple "rooms" for performances and workshops, along with a main stage and drag queen emcees guiding attendees between events. This helped to recreate the dynamic, “choose-your-own show” feel of an in-person Pride festival, and it even helped Pride members of an older generation engage with events without getting lost.
Technology moves quickly, however, and in just a few years, virtual Pride has become groundbreaking. Pride XR, for example, was the first to feature immersive club nights and panel discussions, all of which took place in a completely VR-enabled environment. Participants could enter via their mobile phones or desktops, create avatars, and walk through digital dance floors, listen to DJs, sit in on talks about 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and identity, and experience Pride as a fully interactive, 360-degree celebration.
Innovation in the Future
Virtual Pride has been breaking the boundaries of time and space to connect people worldwide in a shared, vibrant community, but it’s not going to end there. VR and AR technology are only getting bigger, and with online events increasingly offering hybrid accessibility tools such as closed captioning, ASL interpretation, and screen reader compatibility, the Pride events of the future are going to be even more inclusive, immersive, and personalized. Imagine attending a Pride parade where you can not only customize your experience in real-time but adjust settings to suit your sensory needs or language preferences.
AI-driven tech will also help with this, offering translation and moderation tools to make panels smoother and safer, while also introducing haptic feedback and multisensory tech to bring the physical energy of Pride more fully into the virtual space. There’s no doubt that the Pride events still to come will get better every year, and while there’s some way to go before they completely replicate the physical experience, it’s clear that plenty of people are still interested.
As long as the innovation stays focused on accessibility and authenticity, virtual Pride will always have a place, and it will continue to serve as a vital complement to traditional celebrations, ensuring that no matter where you are or who you are, Pride can still be celebrated together.
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