While sunning my buns up at Sandy Hook last weekend, I overheard a conversation about Pride.
The speaker was bitching about how he thought all the fun went out of it years ago and now it’s only about corporate sponsorships. He just didn’t see what made Pride worth going to anymore.
I couldn’t disagree more. So here’s my annual sermon about how Pride will always be important.
Pride is a celebration of who we are and how far we’ve come — just look at all the progress we’ve made in the last year! Pride is a reminder of everyone who came before us and who sacrificed so much to get us where we are today.
There will always be people who want us to disappear, and there will always be people who want us to shut up. Screw them! It will always be important to remind them that we won’t, because frankly, my dear, we don’t care what they want.
I say it every year but it never gets old: We’re here, we’re queer, you know the rest, bitches… Now get out there and celebrate!
Pride Kick-Off Block Party
Start your Pride weekend with a bang at the official kick-off party from 6-11 p.m. June 7 on 12th Street between Walnut and Spruce. There will be carnival rides, an outdoor DJ and dancing in the streets! Hint: Buy your Pride festival wristbands tonight and avoid standing in that hellacious line outside the gate on Sunday!
Woody’s Block Party
Woody’s goes over the top with its own block party June 8 celebrating both Pride and Philly Beer Week (I keep reading that as “Bear” Week … wishful thinking, I know … ). It all starts with a pig roast at noon, a fabulous Summer of ’69 drag fashion show at 3 p.m. and the debut of the new Absolut Outrageous Masterpiece bottle with Mimi Imfurst at 5 p.m., with the party lasting all the way until 2 in the morning.
Dyke March
These boots are made for stompin’! Join the dyke rally at 3 p.m. June 8 in Kahn Park at 11th and Pine streets, then march around the Gayborhood at 4 p.m. and finally relax back in the shade of the park while you enjoy speakers and entertainers on the main stage. Plus there will be free water ice to help you cool down!
Homecoming 2013
Join William Way Community Center as they celebrate all the talent and fabulousness of our community from 6-10 p.m. June 8 at the center, 1315 Spruce St. Notorious OMG and Miss Mary Wanna will present an amazing group of local performers, plus special guest Manila Luzon, while you enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dinner buffet and open bar. Tickets are $50 and are available online at www.waygay.org.
AROUSE: Stimulus Pride Edition
Stimulus is doing triple duty at 10 p.m. June 8 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. This one party is their pre-Pride bash, the Dyke March after-party and the Homecoming 2013 after party all rolled into one! Your Dyke March T-shirt or your Homecoming ticket stub will get you in for only $5, which I think was the cover charge when Voyeur was known as the DCA back in 1984. (Remind me to tell you about the truck cab they had on the second floor sometime.)
Pre-Pride Gear Party
Philadelphians MC invites you to gear up and get out 9 p.m. on June 8 on the third floor of The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. New York City DJ Dave Huge will keep you moving on a dance floor packed with sweaty men in uniforms, leather, sport kit, rubber, skinhead gear and more fetish wear than you can imagine (or identify). Cover charge is only $5 and dress code will be strictly enforced (jeans and a white T or shirtless at a minimum). See www.philadelphiansmc.org for more information.
Pride March and Festival
Don’t miss the 25th anniversary of Philly Pride! The march steps off promptly at noon June 9 from 13th and Locust streets, then winds its way through the Gayborhood to Penn’s Landing, where the gates to the festival open at noon.
The festival will feature a very eclectic mix of local and national speakers and entertainers, a dance area with live DJ, food and drinks, craft vendors, the famous Sisters dunk tank, plus lots more! Festival admission is still only $10, and don’t forget your sunscreen.
After the festival, spend the evening bar hopping from one after- party to another in the ’hood — they’ll all be jam-packed!
Triumphant Pride
After the parade and the festival, check out Bruce Yelk’s Triumphant Pride from 2-8 p.m. June 9 at Encore, 112 Chestnut St., right by Penn’s Landing! You can enjoy this year’s Mr. Gay Philadelphia contest as well as DJ Jimmy DePre and superstar DJ/Producer Susan Morabito. If you haven’t heard her live, you don’t know what it means to dance. Get your tickets now at www.nightlifegay.com.
Questions, comments, home remedies for sunburn? Contact Jim at [email protected] or follow him on Facebook for links to back articles and totally bitchin’ music videos!