Pride comes to Philly
With New York Pride set to explode onto the East Coast at the end of the month, its tough talking cousin to the south, Philadelphia, refuses to be left in the shadows.
More than 25,000 people are expected to attend this annual street festival, which includes a massive parade, on Sunday, June 8. Philly Pride Events has organized it each year since the 1980s. And while its purpose is, of course, to strengthen LGBT identity and advance rights for local gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, Pride can also serve as an eye opener to the plethora of services, businesses and institutions available to LGBT Philadelphians.
The pre-celebration starts Saturday, June 7, with a special sing-along screening of The Wizard of Oz at Penn's Landing, where the festival will be held the following day. There will be special movie kits with bubbles, lollipops and straw available as well as an opportunity to avoid long lines by purchasing wristbands for the Pride festival. There will also be a $5 raffle for a Fort Lauderdale vacation.
Get your beauty rest and start Sunday off right by grabbing a seat and a mimosa as the parade passes through during the early afternoon hours. There are several gay friendly establishments with tables outside on the parade's route, including Knock (12th and Locust Streets) and Mixto ( 12th and Pine Street). The parade, starting at noon, will begin at 13th and Locust Streets. It will then proceed to 12th Street where it will then travel southward onto Pine before heading over to 11th Street and back north to Market. It will eventually wind its way to Penn's Landing along the Delaware River.
There will be a wonderfully colorful array of floats and participants to be found. Leather Daddys? Check. Fantastic drag queens? Check. Men strutting their stuff in nothing but Ginch Gonch. Check !!!
There will also be a number of local LGBT organizations to support. The Attic, a center for LGBT youth, and Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians & Gays [PFLAG] are among those scheduled to march. And a panel will judge the floats and performers in the parade at Fifth and Market Streets.
A sprawling all-day party will greet marchers and parade goers at Penn's Landing. It will resemble a big gay street fair with food, prizes and booths throughout the riverside venue. Valanni, Asian Grille and other local eateries will provide food while fitness, health, sports, family, pets and even home improvement tips can be found.
No gay Pride is complete without entertainment, and Philly Pride will certainly aim to please. Henry David, famous for his massive Halloween ball each year, will serve as emcee. Comedian Bruce Vilanch, who was recently seen on "Hairspray" and Celebrity Fit Club, will headline the event. Local queens Sandy Beach and Brittany Lynn will further entertain the crows while DJ Maria V. mans the turntables.
Log onto Philly Pride Presents for more information.