Last Sunday wasn’t hot enough to prevent what Pride organizers said was the biggest crowd ever for Philly Pride Presents’ 25th anniversary parade and festival. Franny Price, Philly Pride Presents executive director, said about 11,000 turned out for the June 9 event, and that was not the only aspect that was larger than normal. “We had more parade contingents,” Price said. “Traditionally, we have maybe 50-51 in the parade, but we had 67. We also ran out of vending space and had to create spaces on the spot. The crowds were unbelievable.” Price said she was grateful Monday’s flash floods held off a day, but said the event draws people no matter the weather. “It was a lousy beginning to the weekend and, considering [Monday], I just thank God,” she said. Pride weekend was supposed to kick off with a June 7 block party in the Gayborhood but, due to inclement weather, the party was moved indoors to the various bars. Price said she didn’t feel this had any negative impact on the weekend’s celebrations. “Last year was a first for the block party, so it wasn’t like it was a tradition,” she said. “If it was too hot, people would have went inside anyways.” Antigay protestors demonstrated at both the parade and festival. Price said at one point they were walking in front of the parade, a situation she plans to address with the police department’s Civil Affairs unit. Despite the protestors, Price said the parade was a success, noting there was record participation by allies this year. “We had Councilmen Mark Squilla and Jim Kenney and they spent the whole time in that heat watching the parade. It’s really important to know who our allies are.” The grand-prize Fruit Bowl award went to Pro Bar’s parade contingent. Once the parade arrived at the festival, there were a few minor incidents — one person suffered from heat exhaustion, a child had an allergic reaction and a dog nipped at someone — but no arrests. Price said one of the biggest surprises of the day came from headliner Omarosa, who is billed as a television villain. “She has got to be the best actress on TV because she is so wonderful,” Price said. Price said Omarosa originally planned to focus on the brutal realities of reality television. But, after spending the morning at The Attic, she centered her appearance on the agency and LGBT-youth issues. “At 8:30 in the morning she was at The Attic with all those kids and stayed there until 11-11:30,” Price said. “She went through every room in the center and practiced with them. When I got backstage, she told me, ‘I’m changing my set, and I want to bring the youth from The Attic up on stage.’ She talked with them and had them talk about their experiences and helped them sell T-shirts. They sold more T-shirts than at any other Pride.” Price said plans are already underway to make next year’s Pride even larger. “We know we have to expand at Penn’s Landing; we know where gates have to come off and create other areas. The reason we gate the event is so protestors cannot get in. But next year we have to expand the area so we can have more space for vendors and for people to move.” Other parade winners include: Best Bar: Woody’s/Voyeur; Best Business: PECO; Best Nonprofit: William Way LGBT Community Center; Best Float: ICandy; Best Vehicle: Kelly Ricci; Best Female Impersonator: Sandy Beach; Best Duet: Robin Vitale and Emily Sharp; Best Performance: Flaggots; Best Theme: The Attic Youth Center; Best Public Statement: Metropolitan Community Church; Best Marching with Music: Philadelphia Freedom Band; Best Marching without Music: Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League; Best Non-Gayborhood Nonprofit: Cheer New York; Best Non-Gayborhood Bar: Pro Bar; Best Non-Gayborhood Float: L.A. Pony and Critter Club; Spectator Favorite: Liberty City Drag Kings & Burlesque; and Gayest in the Parade: Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.
