Carnegie Museum of Natural History announced today that its Celebrate Pride After Dark event on June 21 will be free to the public, thanks to a generous contribution from board member Dr. Richard Moriarty. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is for adults 21 and over.
The museum encourages attendees to register in advance at afterdark.carnegiemnh.org, as After Dark events often sell out. Attendees are invited to make pay-what-they-can contributions at the event in lieu of entrance fees. The museum will offer refunds to customers who already purchased advance tickets, unless those customers wish their payments to be applied as donations.
“We are grateful to Dr. Moriarty for helping us make this event free for the LGBTQ-plus community and its allies,” said Dr. Eric Dorfman, Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “Our goal is to be more than merely welcoming to this community. We hope they view us as relevant to their lives, as actively supportive, and as their museum.”
“After Dark is one of the best parties in town,” said Dr. Richard Moriarty, “What an excellent continuation of Pride Month celebrations. I am honored and pleased to be able to make this event more accessible to the community.”
Featuring cocktails and science, Celebrate Pride After Dark will put diversity, inclusion, and learning centerstage. Assistant Curator of Birds Dr. Chase Mendenhall will offer a “Sex Ed” discussion focusing on the surprising roles that sex, gender, and identity play in nature. Pittsburgh favorite OUTrageous Bingo will present its trademark hilarious games. The museum will also host representatives from PERSAD, Allies for Health and Wellbeing, REELQ, and other organizations to engage the public. Attendees can participate in a scavenger hunt through the galleries and contribute suggestions for a drag name for “Dippy,” the museum’s celebrated Diplodocus fossil, statue, and mascot.
Launched in 2014, After Dark is the museum’s popular adults-only series that offers audiences 21 and over the chance to explore the museum after hours and to take part in pop culture-themed activities that highlight specific topics of the museum’s science, research, and collections. After Dark events frequently sell out with crowds of more than 2,000.
Free tickets for the June 21 Celebrate Pride After Dark are available at afterdark.carnegiemnh.org on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-up tickets will be available at the event, pending availability. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s After Dark series is sponsored by Dollar Bank, Green Mountain Energy, Microsoft, MINI of Pittsburgh, Sundance Vacations, and Wilson-McGinley, Inc.
