Being gay, I believe is a matter of personal preference. However, this issue can be quite contentious as most people have strong views about an individual’s choice to be gay. Even in my own family (which does happen to have gay members), this topic is hotly debated as some of my family members just cannot seem to accept it as a matter of individual choice.
Members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community can be found in almost every part of the world, but while some cities seem to accept this community easily, there are others that do not - due to religious and other beliefs. Members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community in several global cities organize and stage annual events, which celebrate the community and also highlight the various challenges that it faces. These annual events which are popularly known as ‘Gay Prides’ often feature theater, music, debate, art and entertainment events that are staged in order to raise awareness of the discrimination and the difficulties the members of the LGBT community face around the world.
Gay Prides in several cities like London, New York and Berlin take place in the last week of June. The origin of these prides can be traced back to an incident known as the Stonewall Riots which took place in June 1968 in the Greenwich Village area of New York. During this era, police personnel in New York City and in other parts of the US used to raid bars where members of the gay and lesbian community were known to hang out. The police used to raid these bars on the pretext of liquor law violations but their main targets were gays and lesbians who were often locked up on flimsy charges. The names of those who were arrested then used to be published in newspapers and they used to then be subsequently fired from their jobs or discriminated against.
On the night of 28th June 1969, when the police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village, the members of the gay community rose up and fought a pitched battle with the police. This incident has come to be known as the Stonewall Rebellion or the Stonewall Riots, which was the inspiration for these colorful, raucous pride celebrations which include parades, dances, walking tours and exhibitions all of which celebrate the LGBT liberation movement.
New York Pride March
New York’s annual pride march usually takes place over the last weekend in June and features a parade with floats, music, dancing and much glamor. This pride march is not simply a parade but a march, which highlights the issues facing the community which is still struggling to achieve equality in all aspects of life. The annual pride march usually kicks off at noon at 5th Avenue and 52nd street in Manhattan and heads down to 5th Avenue and Eighth Street before continuing on to Greenwich Village where it ends at Christopher and Greenwich streets, which is the location of the famous Stonewall inn. This march usually is the culminating event of a week that features several ‘gay ‘events.
Pride London
Pride London is London’s annual gay celebration which aims to promote equality and diversity through the various events of the Pride Festival. This Pride Festival is usually held from mid June until the first weekend in July. It aims to promote understanding and cooperation as it endeavors to educate the people about the discrimination faced by the LGBT community. London’s Pride festival also features a parade which takes place on the last weekend and it is witnessed by over 500,000 people as it passes through the streets of Central London. This parade usually kicks off at Baker Street at midday and travels down the tourist Mecca of Oxford Street before it moves onto Regent Street and Piccadilly to its final destination at Trafalgar square where a party atmosphere prevails with stalls and stage performers.
San Francisco Pride Celebrations
The Californian city of San Francisco hosts one of the largest gay festivals in USA. This event is usually held over the last weekend of June and is packed with a wide variety of exhibitors, famous artists, music performances, dance stages and much more. This festival is usually held in the Civic Center of downtown San Francisco.
Berlin – Christopher Street Day Parade
The German City of Berlin also has its “Gay Pride Week” at the end of June. This festival features gay football tournament, music concerts, dance parties and the Christopher Street Day Parade which travels through the city streets and culminates in a rally at the Siegessäule
Amsterdam Gay Pride
The Amsterdam Gay Pride is one of the most colorful and fun filled of all gay prides. It is usually held in late July and it features tons of fun events like street parties and parties at the biggest gay clubs. However, the highlight of the Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend is the Canal Parade which features 75 beautifully decorated boats that float in a parade formation on the Prinsengracht and Amstel rivers. The Amsterdam Gay Pride is typically watched by 350,000 spectators every year.
Buenos Aires Gay Pride
The port city of Buenos Aires hosts its Gay Pride in the first weekend in November every year. This Gay Pride commemorates the formation of the Gay community in Buenos Aires. This formation dates back to 1969. Buenos Aires’s first Gay Pride was held in 1992 and today it features a parade that features drag queens and elaborately decorated floats. This parade proceeds from the Plaza de Mayo to Plaza Congreso and highlights the challenges that face the Buenos Aires Gay community.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Sydney holds its two week long Gay Pride during the month of February and this event tends to coincide with the other Mardi Gras celebrations around the world. This festival usually features three main events - Fair Day, Parade and Party along with many other events like dance parties and music performances by local and international artists. Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is considered to be one of the most important events of its annual event calendar.
