Valentine's Day is February 14th, but these events demonstrate that queer love is celebrated all month long, from San Francisco's Two-Spirit Powwow to the LGBTQ+ Match-making festival in Ireland, from Australia's WorldPride, and a snowy bash for leathermen in P-town, to thousands of lesbians reveling on the sands of Turks and Caicos — this month is going to be romantic and HOT!
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images
February 4, 2023, San Francisco
The Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirit (BAAITS) organization sponsors an annual powwow for LGBTQ+ Native Americans that is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Unlike many traditional powwows that separate dancers along binary gender categories and heterosexual couplings, the San Francisco events are open to all genders, and same-gender couples are welcome.
Courtesy Inn at Dromoland
February 10-12, Dromoland, Ireland
Ireland celebrates its rich tradition of matchmaking with festivals devoted to love — but for the longest time, queer singles were left out. That is until Eddie McGuinness founded the Outing Festival devoted to LGBTQ+ love. This year the event is being held at The Inn at Dromoland in the romantic setting of Dromoland Castle Estate. Touted as The World’s Only Music, Matchmaking & Queer Arts Festival, it features music, comedy, queer arts, performers, and drag artists. (theouting.ie)
SAEED KHAN/GETTY IMAGES
February 12-March 5, Sydney, Australia
Sydney’s Mardi Gras is one of the largest Pride events in the world. But this year’s is going to be on steroids as the Australian city plays host to WorldPride as well. Some of the stand-out events will be Live & Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, Mardi Gras Fair Day, the three-day LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Conference, and Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait LGBTQIA+ artists performing at the iconic Sydney Opera House. (sydneyworldpride.com)
GEORGE RUDY/SHUTTERSTOCK
February 24-26, Provincetown, Massachusetts
Leathermen and aficionados of rubber and uniforms flock to P-town in winter to brunch, drink beer, dance, and strip down to chaps and jockstraps. The debauchery is all in the name of charity. The crown of Mr. Snowbound 2023 goes not to the man with the biggest package, but the guy who raises the most money for the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod. Mates’ Snowbound Leather Weekend XV
DEJAN/GETTY IMAGES
February 19 - 26, the Caribbean
Olivia, founded as a women’s music company before transforming into the largest vacation company for queer women, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023. The celebratory cruise makes stops in Turks and Caicos, St. Thomas/St. John, Puerto Rico, and the private island of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. The onboard entertainment promises to thrill older and new fans alike.
