Fun: A Weekend Full of Pride Festivals
Originating in New York in 1969, the first Pride March was a commemoration of the riots at the Stonewall Inn. Many cities will be celebrating the event this weekend.
New York City's streets never lack color, but visitors and residents can expect the thoroughfares of Manhattan to get even brighter this Sunday at noon, when the 42nd annual NYC Pride March sashays down Fifth Avenue to the West Village, celebrating the LGBT community in zany, sequined spectacle. Originated in New York City in 1969, the first Pride March was a commemoration of the riots at the Stonewall Inn -- considered a threshold moment of gay and lesbian life in America. The vibrant parade, which has seen turnouts of more than 500,000 people in the past, is an enthusiastic display of sassy costumes, floats pumping disco music, drag queens and rainbow everything.
This year's parade grand marshals include Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, who together initiated the "It Gets Better" project to support LGBT youths around the world. When the parade ends, the parties begin. Everyone's invited to Pridefest, the boisterous post-parade street fair on Hudson Street, for a night of cocktails, flirtation and, no doubt, more than a few impromptu Broadway show tunes.
San Francisco Dyke March
The emerging social acceptance of LGBT Americans allows them to live their lives openly and freely, in the process, it's made that experience something more than a lifestyle; even in politically aware San Francisco, it's close to becoming a commodity as more and more corporations attach themselves to gays and lesbians as consumers.
On Saturday, at 3 p.m., the city's residents will be reminded how that fight goes on. For the 18th year, the San Francisco Dyke March will be held to celebrate the lives of lesbian women, their supporters. This year's march continues a policy of keeping corporate floats and signs out, while welcoming grassroots jubilation and celebration. Although the march is open to women only, allies of either gender are welcome at the rally in Dolores Park before the march, and to cheer as dykes head to the Castro district. It's a lively, welcoming alternative to those Pride festivities in danger of getting blander and slicker each year, victims of the movement's own successes.
Originating in New York in 1969, the first Pride March was a commemoration of the riots at the Stonewall Inn. Many cities will be celebrating the event this weekend.
A Weekend of Great Pride
New York City's streets never lack color, but visitors and residents can expect the thoroughfares of Manhattan to get even brighter this Sunday at noon, when the 42nd annual NYC Pride March sashays down Fifth Avenue to the West Village, celebrating the LGBT community in zany, sequined spectacle. Originated in New York City in 1969, the first Pride March was a commemoration of the riots at the Stonewall Inn -- considered a threshold moment of gay and lesbian life in America. The vibrant parade, which has seen turnouts of more than 500,000 people in the past, is an enthusiastic display of sassy costumes, floats pumping disco music, drag queens and rainbow everything.
This year's parade grand marshals include Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, who together initiated the "It Gets Better" project to support LGBT youths around the world. When the parade ends, the parties begin. Everyone's invited to Pridefest, the boisterous post-parade street fair on Hudson Street, for a night of cocktails, flirtation and, no doubt, more than a few impromptu Broadway show tunes.
The emerging social acceptance of LGBT Americans allows them to live their lives openly and freely, in the process, it's made that experience something more than a lifestyle; even in politically aware San Francisco, it's close to becoming a commodity as more and more corporations attach themselves to gays and lesbians as consumers.
On Saturday, at 3 p.m., the city's residents will be reminded how that fight goes on. For the 18th year, the San Francisco Dyke March will be held to celebrate the lives of lesbian women, their supporters. This year's march continues a policy of keeping corporate floats and signs out, while welcoming grassroots jubilation and celebration. Although the march is open to women only, allies of either gender are welcome at the rally in Dolores Park before the march, and to cheer as dykes head to the Castro district. It's a lively, welcoming alternative to those Pride festivities in danger of getting blander and slicker each year, victims of the movement's own successes.
San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade
While the Dyke March is a gender-exclusive event, the San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade is a more wide-open affair. Taking place on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at San Francisco's capacious Civic Center Plaza, this year's model of SF Pride marks its 41st anniversary, and takes place amid a growing critical mass of awareness and acceptance of the LGBT experience (lawmakers in New York state are currently debating same-sex marriage). With 19 stages and hundreds of parade attractions, the San Francisco Pride Celebration is considered the biggest in the nation. This year, attractions will include actress, comedian and cultural flamethrower Sandra Bernhard; DJ/producer Paul Goodyear; and the cast of A.C.T.'s world-premiere production of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City," performing songs from the new musical. Events at the main stage will be sign language-interpreted. And the Pride Parade, on Sunday, brings a vibrant flamboyance to the cityscape as floats and dancers storm Market Street in joyous celebration.
While the Dyke March is a gender-exclusive event, the San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade is a more wide-open affair. Taking place on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at San Francisco's capacious Civic Center Plaza, this year's model of SF Pride marks its 41st anniversary, and takes place amid a growing critical mass of awareness and acceptance of the LGBT experience (lawmakers in New York state are currently debating same-sex marriage). With 19 stages and hundreds of parade attractions, the San Francisco Pride Celebration is considered the biggest in the nation. This year, attractions will include actress, comedian and cultural flamethrower Sandra Bernhard; DJ/producer Paul Goodyear; and the cast of A.C.T.'s world-premiere production of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City," performing songs from the new musical. Events at the main stage will be sign language-interpreted. And the Pride Parade, on Sunday, brings a vibrant flamboyance to the cityscape as floats and dancers storm Market Street in joyous celebration.
Seattle Pride Celebration and Parade
If you're in Seattle on Saturday, join the city's Capitol Hill community from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. to celebrate LGBT pride and diversity in an array of enticingly spirited activities. On three stages along Broadway (between John and Republican streets), feast your eyes and ears on drag revues featuring contestants from RuPaul's "Drag Race"; local performers and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; musicians, artists, fashion shows and doggies in drag. DJs will host a dance party you can expect to run deep into the evening.
Seattle's Pride Parade, which steps off Sunday at 11 a.m., may not be as outrageous or well-attended as those in cities with bigger populations, but there'll no better place to be in the Emerald City. Dykes on Bikes will lead participants from 4th and Union to Denny Ave., then head west down Denny Way, where the theme for the 2011 parade -- "Be You. Be Proud. Express Yourself!" -- should be on outrageous display.
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