Gay pride comes alive with a parade and festival that brings this community's heritage to the forefront of public attention. As the three-year anniversary of marriage equality approaches in New York State, there's even more reason for locals to celebrate. Thus the theme for this year's Parade: "We have won when we're one."
The March
The streets of New York City are never so festive, outrageous and energized as they are during the annual Pride March. Outlandish floats and spontaneous dance parties blend perfectly with the political components of this civil rights march, which begins in Midtown at noon (at Fifth Avenue and 36th Street) and makes its way downtown, to the West Village. This event is free and open to the public (though individuals must affiliate themselves with an officially registered group to march; a list of groups accepting individuals will be posted on the NYC Pride website in June).
PrideFest
The streets spill over with a vibrant mixture of food and craft vendors, musicians, entertainers and local residents at the annual Pride Week street fair, now in its 20th year. The PrideFest smorgasbord runs along Hudson Street, from 14th Street to Abingdon Square, just a few blocks away from the end of the march route, and also just a few blocks from the Hudson River piers, an excellent place to watch the sunset after a day of celebration. This event is free and open to the public and takes place from 11am to 6pm.
Dance on the Pier
Capping off the excitement of Pride Week, Dance on the Pier is an invigorating montage of bodies, lights and music. World-class talents like DJ Grind and DJ Pagano will be manning the turntables and keeping the crowds grooving into the night. The dance reaches its climax with the annual LGBT fireworks display. Proceeds will benefit NYC's LGBT Pride Week events and community organizations.
Does celebrating Pride once a year have unintended consequences? http://slate.me/1qnWoXN pic.twitter.com/eoYupZLQDo