Philadelphia Pride went off without any major hitches, said Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price.
Held just hours after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, at a gay club in Florida, police presence was significantly ramped up, Price said.
“There was every branch of law enforcement there,” Price said, noting there were uniformed and plainclothes Philadelphia police, along with Homeland Security and SWAT Team members. “I can’t thank law enforcement enough for keeping us safe.”
Though there were references to the Orlando events throughout Pride — including a moment of silence at the start of the parade, at the judges’ reviewing stand and on stage at Penn’s Landing — the incident did not dampen the spirit of the crowds, Price said.
“It was the best parade ever; the route was packed all along. It was record numbers and everybody had a great time,” Price said, estimating that the parade and festival together drew about 25,000 people. “In spite of Orlando being in the back of everyone’s head, it was a wonderful day of celebration.”
Eleanor Burckhardt stood on Market Street near Sixth to catch the parade. It was the first Philly Pride for the Collingswood teen.
“I just want to be in a good community with everybody here,” she said. “A lot of people don’t accept gay Pride so I’m glad to be out here supporting it.”
Julia Rios, 17, also of Collingswood, came out last year, an experience that prompted her to attend her first Pride.
“I feel like I’m finally able to go to these events now,” she said. “I grew up in a very strict household and I feel like I can finally be a part of something that’s becoming more and more accepted.”
Julia Klukoff, 17, of Cherry Hill, N.J., who drew a rainbow on Rios’ face while they awaited the start of the parade, said the atmosphere at the event promoted peace and acceptance.
“It’s such a positive area to be. Everybody’s so excited to be here,” she said. “It’s good coming together as a community.”
Community events were held throughout the weekend, though an underground transformer fire near 12th and Locust streets Saturday led to widespread power outages on what was expected to be a very busy night in the Gayborhood.
Twelfth from Spruce to Locust was shut down and Tavern on Camac had to close. ICandy had partial power, with candles supplementing the dim light.
Price took the stage on Sunday to brief the crowd on the situation and encouraged Pride-goers to patronize both establishments after the festival.
A steady stream of entertainers took the stage at the festival, including headliner Deborah Cox, who performed her hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” to raucous applause. Mayor Jim Kenney officiated the wedding of Sherrie Cohen and Virginia Gutierrez on the stage, marking the first time he married a lesbian couple as mayor.
Both women delivered their vows before large crowds, whom Gutierrez thanked after the ceremony, calling for a moment of silence for the Orlando shooting.
Pride organizers handed out the customary Liberty Bell award to the grand marshal, a collection of LGBT city employees. Nellie Fitzpatrick, the director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, accepted the award. There was no mention on stage of the dustup over the Greater Philadelphia Gay Officers Action League, whose members stepped down as co-grand marshal after a petition called for the group to be stripped of the title.
A number of parade contingents also took home awards.
More than 80 contingents participated in the parade, the largest number in the event’s 28-year history. Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus received the coveted top Fruit Bowl Award.
Other award winners included: Best Float: Urban Outfitters; Best Nonprofit: William Way LGBT Community Center; Best Business: Comcast; Best Vehicle: SugarHouse Casino; Best Bar: BoxersPHL; Best Female Impersonator: Oneal’s Lucky Charm; Best Small Group: P.U.R.E. Philadelphia; Best Individual: Miss Gay New Jersey; Best Animal Group: Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society; Best Theme: TD Bank; Best Performance: Flaggots; Best Public Statement: Whosoever Metropolitan Community Church; Best Marching with Music: Philadelphia Freedom Band; Best Marching without Music: PECO; Gayest in Parade: Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus; Spectators’ Favorite: Philadelphians M.C.; Best Visiting Nonprofit: Penn Jersey Roller Derby; Best Visitng Business: Mary McGrath’s/Blaze’s 2nd Story; and Best Visiting Float: Congreso de Latinos Unidos’ Brothers United.