Annual NYC LGBTQ Pride March Marks New Firsts

June Shines Brightly on Gay PrideJune’s finale shines brightly on Gay Pride. The final weekend of Gay Pride Month is filled with celebrations for everyone culminating in Sunday, June 25th’s predominately designated day for Pride Marches and Parades around the country and across the globe. This year’s theme is “We Are Proud.”

Leading the pack is NYC’s iconic LGBTQ Pride March on June 25th. The 48th annual March continues to make history as this is the first year the event will be televised and livestreamed on a major network thanks to WABC-TV 7 (ABC affiliate). Viewers in the tri-state area, and beyond can watch the march in real-time on www.abc7ny.com.

This year’s NYC march leaders are The American Civil Liberties Union, Brooke Guinan (trans woman, FDNY firefighter), Krishna Stone (Director of Community Relations, GMHC) and Geng Le (Founder, Blued). Details including the march route, which can be found at www.nycpride.com/

New Celebratory Events in NY Continue to Set Stage of All-Inclusiveness

A host of additional events will occur this year. Some of these include:

June's Finale Shines Brightly on Gay Pride

PRIDE ISLAND is a new 3-day cultural experience

PRIDE ISLAND: a new 3-day cultural experience. From legendary soul singers to indie pop bands, this new inclusive experience creates a central hub for the LGBT community to celebrate Pride.

YOUTH PRIDE: Saturday June 24th from noon – 6PM, 10th Ave & West Side Highway. YOUTH PRIDE offers a place for all ages to celebrate NYC Pride with their friends. This is an entirely new experience for LGBT teens and allies with fun interactive experiences, games, and entertainment. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here for registration.

PRIDE FEST: Sunday, June 25, 11AM – 6PM, Hudson St & 14th (btwn Abingdon Square & 14th) PRIDE FEST now in its 24th year, is the annual LGBT street fair that combines vendors, entertainers and activities for a day of fun and celebration in the name of equality. Pride Fest attracts thousands of out-of-state visitors and brings them together with local residents and families, corporate sponsors, community leaders, and local business owners. Multi-platinum selling artist, LeAnn Rimes, will headline this year’s LGBT street festival.

TEAZE: NYC Pride’s official Saturday event exclusively for women. Rooftop 95, Delancey St. 4PM – 10PM. After over a decade of “rocking women’s worlds,” there is a new rooftop location, celebrity performances, and lots more exciting new ways for ladies of all walks to come together and celebrate Pride! The all-star DJ line-up: DJ Taryn Manning (Netflix’s Orange is the New Black), Tatiana, and M.O.

June was chosen to remember the 1969 riot at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on famed Christopher Street in Manhattan. On June 28,1970, the first march commemorating the anniversary of the riot took place in NYC – the first of its kind in the United States. Many claim that the Stonewall Inn Riot marked the beginning of the gay liberation movement in the US.

Each city holds its own festivities and selects its own themes and dates to celebrate. You can find Pride parades, marches, picnics, parties, memorials for those lost from HIV and AIDS, and other group gathering events that attract countless thousands of individuals.

Three of the biggest cities — New York City, Chicago and San Francisco are all holding many events with parades and/or marches on June 25. Check your local community listings or the Pride Events website for LGBT Pride events happening near you. — Abbe is #SociallySparked. Tweet at @sosparkednews and @asparks01