Fort Wayne, Indiana
Pride Fest has been celebrated for decades in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It began in 1998 and has been hosted in various venues but is now celebrated in the heart of our city. Throughout the years, the crowds have grown from 100 to over 15,000 during the two day event.
From the early morning pride parade that kicked off this year’s two day event, to amazing musical artists and vendors participating in the resource fair, and coming together as a community, to the ultimate evening drag show that we all look forward to, Fort Wayne Pride has certainly grown over the years to show that we are all here to support each other and come together as a loving community.
New York City, New York
Pride officially began in New York City one year after the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The riots began because the queer community grew tired of constant harassment, arrests and violence from police because it was quite literally illegal to be gay. ‘Same-sex solicitation’ laws meant you could even be arrested for holding hands or kissing someone of the same sex in public.
It was on June 28th 1970 that the first parade took place in front of the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street, and groups like the Gay Liberation Front took to the streets to demand an end to brutality against queer people. Over the years Pride has morphed from a protest to a celebration of queer culture and the rights earned over the last 50 years.
A massive Pride parade took place in New York City on the last weekend of June, that ran from midtown Manhattan and ends on Christopher street. The parade was filled with music, dance performances, and floats from a variety of companies, radio stations and queer-led organizations from all over the city and country.
I remember how MASSIVE the parade was in 2019, which marked the 50 year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and was dubbed “World Pride”. The cast of FX’s Pose had their own float, queer pop icon Madonna headlined at the Pride Island celebration, and thousands upon thousands lined the streets for the giant celebration.
The other boroughs also had their own celebrations that are less corporate and more about fun, drinks, music and joy! Brooklyn had their Pride celebration last week in front of The Judy, a popular gay bar in Park Slope, with a block party that featured singing, dancing and drag queen performances and a dazzling twilight parade later in the evening.
As the birthplace of Pride, New York City ALWAYS knows how to have a good time!
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio has celebrated Pride since 1982 with picnics, but the city had its first parade in 1998. The city has grown so much and in 1998 the first parade in San Antonio was held. 2004 began the tradition of starting with a festival and a larger scale of a parade. Since then the parade and Festival in Travis Park has grown and become one the the best week long Festivals in June. This is with the exception of that one time when Fiesta was held in June because of the Pandemic. The festivities and parade have become larger and the community involved has evolved.
This year’s theme was ” Pride larger than Texas”. This year’s weeklong Festival and Pride parade along Main St. resumed after the Pandemic. In my opinion, this year’s the first river parade was the best bumping river parade in San Antonio and received with a large crowd. The Christmas, fiesta, and other river parades are really nice and beautiful but don’t compare to Pride. The fun, the excitement and the love on these boats was contagious.
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