Decentraland Metaverse Pride Event Aims to Spur “Real Change, One Avatar at a Time”

Bringing Pride back into the metaverse, Decentraland today unveils plans for the 2023 event and parade designed to be even bigger than before.

Created with community studios Polygonal Mind and Vegas City, Decentraland’s Metaverse Pride 2023 will run from June 27 to June 29. The three-day event is designed to “celebrate the diversity of the global LGBTQIA+ community, create inclusion and add to the historic story of Pride Month,” according to an official description.

Building on the foundation laid by the 2022 event, Decentraland’s Metaverse Pride 2023 will be bigger than previous years with users able to experience it across a larger virtual area.

“Burning Man is a big inspiration for the event,” says Metaverse Prize director Iara Dias Decryptwith the iconic festival sharing a focus on community, art, self-expression and confidence in Decentraland in general.

The site for Pride 2023 will resemble an oasis in a desert, and the stage will change as more people take part to represent “how important support from other people is”. Users will also leave rainbow footprints in the virtual space and “constantly experience a different environment,” according to Dias.

In terms of the musical performance, The Decentraland Foundation wants to focus on artists from the existing LGBTQ+ Decentraland community, offering them not only a platform but also financial support. The foundation is in talks with a number of different artists at the moment, but even if deals are not arranged in time for Pride, they will be invited to perform throughout the year.

– It is important to give space to queer artists wherever and whenever, says Dias. “Pride is not just about fun and games. It’s about providing economic stability for community creators, who may find it difficult to get a place elsewhere.”

Users will also be able to participate in a virtual parade via player-created floats, plus the Decentraland Foundation is also organizing a Metaverse Pride wearable design competition to be held in the weeks leading up to the event.

The Advertising Council’s «Love has no labels” campaign will join Decentraland’s virtual Pride event to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the metaverse, with Pride 2023 also offering educational gaming experiences, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions to explore the history of the LGBTQ+ community alongside current issues and global issues.

“It’s so important because Decentraland has such a global audience, but we know that some of these educational materials may not be as accessible to everyone as they are to me in North America,” says Kim Currier, Decentraland Foundation’s Marketing Manager. “We wanted to make sure that if there is an opportunity to share content globally, that we do it in a way that is truly inclusive.”

Throughout the experience, there will be safe spaces where users can connect with each other and share their own experiences, which is a “fundamental” aspect of the event for Dias.

Participants must agree to a code of conduct before entering, with AI bots on hand to hand out bans if anyone makes another user feel unsafe. “It’s about love and respect,” Dias adds.

“There are so many places around the world where people can’t participate in Pride, either because it’s illegal or because some people may not feel ready to come out yet. Digital identity can also empower you in real life, continues Dias, explaining how users can experiment with clothing or interactions in a safe space free from judgment or real-world consequences.

“I believe that we can create real change, one avatar at a time,” says Dias.

Currier adds that the pseudonymity of the metaverse—with living and imaginative avatars providing a variety of presentation options—means there is “a lot less of the assumptions and questions that happen in a traditional world.”

“The digital space allows people to really express the full spectrum of who they are,” says Currier. “I think the ability to have the metaverse be a test and learning ground for everybody, whether it’s testing technology or whether it’s testing how you want to express yourself, is really beautiful.”

Every aspect of Decentraland’s 2023 Pride event is based on collaboration. In fact, the foundation is currently working on a playbook that will teach users how to organize similar events, with everything from contacts and marketing guidelines, technical specifications and project management suggestions included.

“It is so meaningful for us to share knowledge and strengthen the Decentraland community,” says Dias. “It’s strange to say that the dream is that we are without a job, but yes, that is the dream.”