To celebrate Pride Month, the Pride Bar Association of the Inland Empire (PBAIE) proudly supported local arts and LGBTQ+ storytelling by gathering for an unforgettable evening at Ophelia’s Jump Productions in Upland. The occasion? A special Pride Night performance of The Slow Drag—a powerful jazz musical that moved and inspired all who attended.

Before the show, members of the PBAIE Board came together for a community dinner, an opportunity to connect, laugh, and deepen relationships outside the board meetings. For some of us, it was our first time meeting in person; for others, it was a much-needed chance to recharge and re-engage in shared purpose. The night reminded us that building an inclusive legal community starts with showing up for each other—in solidarity, in celebration, and sometimes, over good food (a beautiful cake!) and great theater.

The featured show, The Slow Drag by Carson Kreitzer and directed by Sheila Malone, tells the haunting and beautiful story of Johnny Christmas, a jazz musician who spends a lifetime concealing his gender identity to pursue the music he loves. Alongside him are June Wedding, his fierce and fiery torch-singer wife, and Chester Kent, their best friend and a biracial musician navigating his own secret to survive in a racially segregated world. The story, inspired by the real life of jazz performer Billy Tipton, is a moving exploration of identity, sacrifice, and the lies people are forced to live to do what they love.

It was a night of emotional resonance, artistry, and reflection—one that reaffirmed the power of storytelling to elevate unheard voices and challenge societal norms. We’re proud to support Ophelia’s Jump, a small but mighty theater company amplifying queer and diverse narratives in the Inland Empire.

If you haven’t yet seen The Slow Drag, you still have time! Performances run through the end of June—don’t miss this extraordinary production.

Happy Pride.  ️‍