Parties planned to celebrate LGBT pride across the world

Staff

9 years ago

Two supporters of the LGBT community are pictured waving a rainbow flag. (Courtesy)

Lesbian couples at the Gay Pride Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. (Courtesy)

Same sex male couples at the Gay Pride Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. (Courtesy)

Protestors and supporters outside the Supreme Court ahead of the arguments on same-sex marriage. (Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

A crowd waits outside the Supreme Court as key decisions regarding same-sex marriage are issued. (Courtesy)

On November 27, 2013, Ewert and Vernita Gray, her partner of five years and one of Chicago’s most steadfast gay rights activists, were granted an expedited marriage license by a federal judge. It was the state’s first legally recognized same-sex marriage, and there was a purpose to the haste: Gray’s breast cancer had metastasized in her sternum and eventually, her brain.

Same-sex couples started at the Milwaukee County Courthouse for marriage licenses. (Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

Same-sex couples, friends, family and supporters gather outside Greenville Co. County Square. (Courtesy)

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, and there’s a lot to celebrate.

Bruce Jenner transitioned to Caitlyn Jenner, more same-sex couples than ever can get married (hello Alabama and Utah), and the U.S. military took steps to ensure equal treatment for everyone in the armed forces.

And parties are being planned for the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, which LGBT advocates hope will go their way.

With so many pride celebrations this weekend, check out how cities across the country are marking the occasion.

New York

The site of the 1969 Stonewall riots and an iconic bar in the LGBT community, the Stonewall Inn was granted landmark status by a unanimous vote of New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday.

The announcement, which marks the first time a New York City site has been designated as a landmark primarily for its significance to LGBT history, came just days before the city’s famed annual pride celebration, according to the commission.

“This is such a win for LGBT New Yorkers and the community around the world,” said Stacy Lentz, a co-owner of the Stonewall Inn. “It’s a symbol of fighting against repression, and we are thrilled the building will be preserved for generations to come.”

Seattle

The city of Seattle picked 11 spots to feature rainbow crosswalks in the neighborhood of Capitol Hill this week, a few days ahead of the city’s Sunday pride parade, the Seattle Times reported. The locations were spots where people had been assaulted because of their sexual orientation.

San Francisco

Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts, whose team won the NBA championship this month, will be the celebrity grand marshal of Sunday’s mega-parade on Market Street.

Looking for something more focused? San Francisco has many layers of pride, including the June 26th Trans March at Dolores Park that is likely to be its biggest yet. The annual Dyke March will take place the next day right next to Dolores Park. Can’t make it? The fabulous “Drag, Theatre, Music and Love of Life!” exhibition at the Harvey Milk Photo Center runs through July 18.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Prefer to go abroad for your pride celebrations? Try Amsterdam, which has events July 25 through August 2. Make sure to visit the Homomonument, the world’s first gay monument. It’s located on the Westermarkt in the center of the city.

Atlanta

If you can’t make it to any celebrations in June, head to Atlanta in October, when organizers wisely schedule pride celebrations around National Coming Out Day — when it’s not sweltering hot.

Want to visit Atlanta for Black Gay Pride? That’s scheduled around Labor Day weekend, September 3-7.

And don’t forget to visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which marks its first year in June.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas’ Pride Night parade and outdoor festival are scheduled at the end of Pride season to maximize LGBT tourism to the Las Vegas Valley.

This year’s main events are scheduled for September 18 and 19.

Las Vegas Review-Journal contributed to this report.