Most social movements start with a spark, a point in time and space from which the energy to make things right emanates. And so it is with Pride Week, the celebration of LGBT heritage and hopes.
Early morning June 28, 1969 a riot broke out in New York City in the wake of a police raid on a gay bar, the by now iconic Stonewall Inn. More protests followed the riot. So were sewn the seeds for gay pride, and a tradition of publicly demonstrating that pride in cities across the world.
This weekend, Pride Week wraps up in NYC Sunday June 24. Three events highlight the last full weekend of the month: PrideFest, Pride March and Dance on the Pier.
Pride Marchers gather at the corner of 36th Street and 5th Avenue at 11 a.m., and step out at noon. After winding its way through Manhattan, the march finishes up at the intersection of Christopher and Greenwich Streets. No coincidence here. It is at 53 Christopher Street that the Stonewall Inn is located, still operating, still a magnet for the community.
PrideFest is the movement’s annual LGBT street fair. Set to run from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. the locus of the celebration is between Abingdon Square and West 14th St. Expect thousands to descend on the area for entrainment, food, and community goings-on.
Dance on the Pier’s got a different venue this year. Pier 54 used to be home. Now it’s Pier 57. That gives folks easier access to bars, restrooms and places to socialize. Artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Eva Simmons are set to perform. DJs Eddie Baez and The Perry Twins open this year while DJ Boris closes out the big dance.
Pride Week attracts folks from beyond the LGBT community. The organizing group Heritage of Pride says it “welcomes the participation of all – regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national origin, physical, mental or developmental ability, race, religion or sexual origin.”
That’s pretty encompassing – but then so are the ramifications of what began at Stonewall Inn lo those 43 years ago.
Story by Jerry Chandler
