New York City celebrates gay pride this weekend with a series of special events (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Multiple locations
June 28-30, free – $45
www.nycpride.org
2012 gay pride parade slideshow
As more and more states pass same-sex marriage bills, especially now that DOMA has been defeated, there is more and more to celebrate at annual gay pride festivities, although there is of course still a long way to go until there is full equality nationwide. The party begins June 28 at 7:00 with the Rally (free) in Hudson River Park’s Pier 26, hosted by Pandora Boxx and Keith Price and featuring performances by Pam Ann, Nhoji, Vicci Martinez, Shawnee She King, Alexis Houston, JLine, Kit Yan, Jessica Halem, Sassfrass Lowrey, Ryan Amador, the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, Teresa Genecco & Her Little Big Band, and the Imperial Court of New York, with speeches by Rev. Mark Erson, Carl Siciliano, Jacob Rudolph, Danny Garvin, and Janice Thom. The next day, the VIP Rooftop Party ($35-$500) takes place on Hudson Terrace from 2:00 to 10:00, with DJs Serving Ovahness, Marco Da Silva, and Frankie Knuckles, running side by side with the tenth anniversary of the official women’s event Rapture on the River ($25-$1,000) on Pier 26, with DJs Dimples and Whitney Day. On Sunday at 12 noon, the March (free) gets under way, moving from Fifth Ave. & Thirty-Sixth St. down to Christopher & Greenwich Sts., led by grand marshals Edie Windsor, Earl Fowlkes, and Harry Belafonte; among the awards being given out are Best Use of Theme, Best Marching Contingent, Best Decorated Vehicle, Best Musical Contingent, and Most Original. Also on Sunday, the LGBT street fair PrideFest (free) runs from 11:00 to 6:00 on Hudson St., with live performances by Rhythm Locura, Victoria Chase, Lady M., Ladyboi, Tania Marissa, Kelly King, Christine Martucci, and others, while the sold-out Dance on the Pier ($45-$1,250) gets hot and heavy on Pier 26 and people cool off at the new event Pride {Poolside} ($35-$500) presented by Hed Kandi at Hotel Americano in Chelsea.