At some point during every Pride parade, I tell my friends that I’m going to wonder off alone for a little bit. I reassure them that I’ll meet up with them later, and every time, they roll their eyes and respond, “Zach, seriously?”

Yes, seriously. 

Now I know I’m unique in that I love going out to clubs, bars, and parties alone, but especially at Pride, I love venturing out by myself. Pride, for queer folk, is by far the best time to be out alone. Everyone present is either queer or an ally. Everyone's in a fabulous mood, so it’s not like many gay bars, where bitchy queens give you looks if you try to talk to them. People are out to celebrate, make friends, and (if we’re being honest) get laid. Because of this, you should have some time to yourself and fly solo during Pride. And here are 5 reasons why.

1. You’re easier to talk to when you’re by yourself

When you’re chatting with a bunch of friends, it’s more difficult for people to engage with you. You close yourself off by being exclusive. When you’re by yourself, it’s easier for others to strike up conversation with you.

2. You’ll get invited to private parties

There are always tons of parties going on during Pride. Of course, their goal isn’t to be exclusive, but you can’t fit hundreds of people into a tiny apartment. When you’re by yourself, people are more likely to invite you to parties because you’re not rolling deep with a crew. This relates to free things too. You’re more likely to get free drinks and Pride paraphernalia because they only have to give it to one person (you).  

3. You can do whatever you want to do

There’s always that one friend who wants to go somewhere you don’t want to go. He’s loud, drunk, and aggressive. For the sake of the group, you don’t disagree with him. When you’re alone, you don’t have to wait for anyone who doesn’t want to leave, and you don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to go. You’re free as a bird. You’re liberated and can be spontaneous!

4. It’s easier to get laid

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I know, I know! That’s not the main purpose of Pride, but hey, there’s nothing wrong with having some additional fun while you’re there. You may think that having a wingman makes it easier to score, but at Pride, that opposite holds true. Since you’re meeting new people when you’re by yourself, it’s easier to meet someone to sleep with.

5. You’ll make new friends

All of these reasons can be summarized with this one statement. You will meet new people, and make new connections. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what the Pride celebration is about? Celebrating how far we’ve come with LGBTQ+ rights and connecting with others in the LGBTQ+ community.

What are your plans for Pride? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!