June is Gay Pride Month and LGBT’s and their admirers will soon be celebrating all over the New York Metropolitan area. Gay Pride celebrations are taking place throughout the month in locations throughout the tri-state area, culminating with the big show in New York City during the last week of June. Community organizations in Staten Island, Queens, Asbury Park, Brooklyn, Rockland and Long Island are all planning big celebrations for Pride 2012. Check out what’s coming up:
Staten Island Pride
The first pride celebration to get things started in 2012 happens in Staten Island, with their LGBT Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 2nd. The festivities begin at noon at Tompkinsville Park and the fun lasts all the way to 5 p.m. Later in the month, the pride continues at the Staten Island Community Center’s One Island One Pride Dinner Dance on Friday, June 22nd at 7 p.m. at the Old Bermuda Inn on Arthur Kill Rd. For more information on both events, please check out the Staten Island Community Center website right here.
Queens Pride
The Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival is one of the biggest such celebrations outside of Manhattan, with food, vendors, entertainment, lots of pride, and the fabulous Queenie Awards, given to participating groups in a variety of categories such as “The Rainbow Award,” “The Screaming Queens Award” and “The Toast of Queens Award.” Featured on stage that day will be none other than dance diva Martha Wash, performing such hits as “It’s Raining Men,” “Carry On,” and more.
This year’s event, dubbed “A Generation of Pride in Queens” takes place on Sunday, June 3rd with a parade beginning at noon on 37th Avenue and 84th Street in Jackson Heights, and the street festival carries on from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the end of the parade route at 75th Street and 37th Road. Check out the Queens Pride website here for more information.
Asbury Park
Asbury Park always celebrates gay pride in a big way and this year is no different. Sunday, June 3rd is the main event of a whole weekend of celebrations with Jersey Pride’s 21st Annual Parade, Rally and Festival. With exciting musical entertainment from the likes of Never the Bride, God-des and She, and dance superstar Deborah Cox, as well as the grand parade, food, games, vendors and more, this one is not to be missed. The whole thing gets underway at City hall, rain or shine, at noon and the revelry continues all the way until 7 p.m. Check out Jersey Pride’s website here for more.
Brooklyn Pride
The folks behind Brooklyn’s Pride events have cooked up a little something for everyone this year, with a Pride 5K Fun Run at 8 a.m., a Multicultural Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Prospect Park, and a unique Night Pride Parade beginning at 7:30 p.m. on 5th Avenue from 14th Street to Sterling Place. A special Kids Space will be open for the little ones from noon until 4 p.m., and a special Pride Happy Hour is served at participating restaurants along 5th Avenue in between the Festival and Parade. Brooklyn Pride takes place on Saturday, June 9th. For details and further information, please see Brooklyn Pride’s website right here.
Other local Pride Celebrations this June include those in Rockland County on Sunday, June 5th, on Long Island Saturday, June 9th, and the really big show in Manhattan the week of June 16th to the 24th. Get out and show your pride!
Sources:
NYC Up & Out
Comments