‘Philadelphia’s Annual Walk Of Gay Pride’
LGBT Parade and Festival Atmosphere and Experience
The LGBT Pride Parade and Festival begins in the heart of the Gayborhood at 13th and Locust starting at 11 am and proceeds along a 1.5 mile route through Center City and Philadelphia’s historic district. The judging stand is at Independence Mall, 6th and Market Street.
Along the route, paraders will stop and perform for audiences and judges.
Held every year in June during National Gay Pride Month, the LGBT Pride Parade and Festival brings more than 25,000 participators to Philadelphia for a march down Broad Street. The 2019 celebration takes place June 7-9, 2019.
The parade culminates at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, where guests of all ages will find areas for dancing, vendors and much more. Food trucks and cold beverages will be available for purchase as well.
Local Philly Pride History
Philadelphia was one of the first cities with a gay pride parade that took place in 1972. They continued until 1976 at which time the parades stopped but other gatherings continued. From 1977 to 1987, there were no gay parades in Philadelphia. In 1988, there was a spontaneous parade from the Gayborhood to a rally sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Task Force in Love Park. This parade was so successful that community leaders got together to establish an organization that would coordinate a gay pride parade and festival in Philadelphia every June. That organization is Philly Pride Presents, and last year (2018) they celebrated their 30th PrideDay.
Gay Pride Parade History
The first gay pride parade took place in New York City, June 28, 1970, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots (June 28, 1969), considered to be the beginning of the LGBT civil rights movement. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and they are presenting a thumbnail history of them. By 1972, many cities, including Philadelphia, were staging gay pride parades and festivals.
Location
Parade starts in the Gayborhood at Locust Street between 12th and 13th streets & proceeds along a 1.5 mile route through Center City and Philadelphia’s historic district.
Date
June 9, 2019
Time
11:00 am Parade Kicks Off – Parades reaches festival around 1:00 pm | Noon Festival Gates Open at The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
Cost
FREE – Pay-As-You-Go
Web Site
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Belonger for MyPhillyAlive
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