In June, members of the LGBT community march for equality all over the world. Many of the marches commemorate the resistance against routine police raids at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969. We picked five of the best Gay Pride Parade cities for visitors, marchers, and everyone in between, from family-friendly to off-season.
1. Boston Pride Parade - Boston, MA
When: June 13
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Boston Pride, and the celebratory week kicks off with the parade's first-ever gala event. The celebration will also include an AIDS walk, two block parties, a youth dance, and a diplomatic reception, with the Boston Pride Parade itself taking place on June 13. With a free nightly wine hour and Boston Common across the street, the Nine Zero Hotel is a great choice for attendees and visitors. The Parade finishes at City Hall, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel.
2. LA Pride - West Hollywood, CA
When: June 14
West Hollywood has long been recognized as the center of Southern California's gay community. This year's LA Pride celebration has an impressive lineup of entertainers like Ke$ha, Wilson Phillips, and Tamar Braxton performing through the weekend. LA Pride is family friendly, with kids even marching in the parade. Last year's event drew over 400,000 people, so if crowds are a concern for the kids, be sure to find one of the designated child-friendly areas. For out of towners, The Palihouse Hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard is close to both the parade and the city's incredible shopping district.
3. NYC Pride - The March - New York, NY
When: June 28
The Stonewall riots of 1969 took place in New York and helped catapult the acceptance of the gay community across the country. The first Pride Parade took place in 1970, and The March at New York City Pride has been going strong ever since. This year, The March will have Grand Marshals including legendary actors Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian McKellen, along with Kasha Nabagsera, founder of the Ugandan LGBT rights organization Freedom & Roam Uganda, Christopher Neal, and visual artist and founder of the upstart organization FluidBiDesign. The Out Hotel, a gay-centric boutique hotel near Times Square, is centrally located and a quick walk from many of the events going on during Pride Week.
4. SF Pride - San Francisco, CA
When: June 28th
One of the most recognizable Gay Pride celebrations around the world, SF Pride is by far the biggest LGBT gathering in the country. The parade starts on Market Street and ends by City Hall, where Harvey Milk's delivered his famous Hope Speech almost four decades ago. Hotel Vitale is a partner of SF Pride and is located one block from the start of the Parade. Attendees should now that public nudity is legal in San Francisco, with many at SF Pride taking advantage of this law, so this may not be the most kid-friendly of parades.
5. Atlanta Pride - Atlanta, GA
When: October 11
Unlike most other Pride events around the country, Atlanta Pride takes place in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day. Atlanta has made The Advocate's list of Queerest Cities in America 2015, and its Pride celebration celebrates all facets of the LGBT community. There are three parades: the Pride Parade, Trans March, and Dyke March, all of which take place in Midtown. The W Atlanta Midtown is not only an official Atlanta Pride sponsor, but is also located only a few steps from PIedmont Park, where the parade officially ends. With plenty of live entertainment, and perfect Southern fall weather, Atlanta Pride is one of the best Southeastern US Pride events around.