NYC Pride Parade

[Mia14]

This'll be my very first large pride event - my gf and I are going to the Pride Parade in NYC. We're going sightseeing tomorrow, then staying over for the big events. For information on the events themselves, you can go to www.hopinc.org

Then, next Wednesday, I'll be heading out for some training with SoulForce for a direct action planned this summer. I feel truly lucky to be able to work with such a great group of people. I'm excited about the parade and about next week's training. As you might've guessed, I might not be on the forum as much for a little bit, but I'll be back. I always am.

Anyone else ever been to the NYC pride events?

[Zerbie]

That sounds SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could go!!!!!!

I loved the parade in NYC. It was my first gay pride event, ever. I was so jazzed I was out of my mind hyper that day. Had the BEST time. I went with about 5 or 6 buddies from my local LGB community center, and all day long we kept saying to each other, "Oh my god, there are so many of us! Did you know there were so many gay people?" On the way home, one guy said, "Ya know what? Today I learned that everybody's gay."

Seriously, the Village gets really crowded after the parade, or at least it did 8 years ago when I went. That part was NOT fun - took us 45 minutes to cross the street at one point, just forcing our way through bodies. And that was when I started having a kind of anti-crowd panic. We got uncomfortable and left before any of the after-parties even got started.

My tips would be: wear sunblock, bring a bottle o' water, watch out for the weirdos, anti-gay protestors & crazy people, - and you will have the BEST time!

I would love to be able to do a Soulforce training. You'll have to come back and tell us about that later. I assume it's for the FOF thing in Colorado? Someday I would like to get out there on that action, too. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Z

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Mia

Anyone else ever been to the NYC pride events?

Yep. For many years. Hubby and I usually get to the parade after he gets done with church. We head down to 18-23 street and 5th Avenue. Zerbie is right, the parade get all jammed up in the Village as it turns West off of 5th Avenue towards Washington Aquare. The streets get narrow there. It starts way up town and it's always a head trip to be around St. Patricks Cathedral, just north of Rockefeller Center in the 50's, when the parade goes by there- one hears lots of hooping and hollaring- shouting of "shame, shame shame!" During the big Act-Up years there was a great deal of drama in front of that church during the 'March'. (If you've up that way- stop in St. Thomas church- a very beautiful place!)

There had always been a dance on the pier (which has changed considerably is recent years), though hubby and I weren't ever into that kind of crush of people (I'm not sure where it is this year). But I've always gone to the 6 PM service at St. Luke's in the Field's after the parade Sunday which is located on Hudson St. just south of Christopher (don't try to walk down Christopher to get there though- that would take you forever). We heard Bishop Robinson speak there last year. It was amazing. There's always a reception afterwards in the garden.

Of course, there are fireworks which always seem to start later than they are supposed to (9-10 PM)- but are great and not to be missed: just walk to the Hudson River.

It always amazes me to see the number of people in the parade, the huge amount of organizations as well as the increasing corporatization of the affair.

One handy item you might get: earplugs! The floats can be super loud- and I mean way way way too loud. (If you go out dancing you'll neet them) You don't want your ears to ring for days and days afterwards. Not healthy that. You want to party but not lose your hearing doing it!

Don't forget one other thing: good shoes.

Want to meet up? Let me know via PM- the service at St. Luke's would be a good time.

Have a blast!!!!!!!!

[schoolboi]

Mel will be in NYC this weekend. He is preaching at Unity New York for Pride.

[Mia14]

I had the same reaction as Zerbie - "Wow, there are a lot of us!!" The village WAS packed with people, but luckily we watched it from Midtown Manhattan. The floats were amazing and it wasn't as inappropriate as I've heard some parades can be.

Afterwards, we went to PrideFest and bought a few things here and there. We didn't see the fireworks because by the time we tried to head over, it was absolute mayhem in the streets. We're not the dancing (at least not in public, but all the time in the living room or bedroom) type, so we didn't go to the dance on the pier.

Next year we might want to march in the parade, although we're not sure with whom or what, or if just by ourselves. If we get a SoulForce local group going, maybe WE'D march in the parade?

HEY! Why wasn't there any SF representation at the big event? Maybe instead of just our local group, we'd try to get a lot of local SF groups together to make a bigger presence. It's definitely a place to introdue yourself if you're friendly to the GLBT community.

I'll post pictures soon!

Sorry I didn't meet up with you, Daniel. Things got kind of crazy and I didn't get a change to PM you. The service would've been a great idea, though....

[BruceChris]

Never been to NYC, but the parade in Minneapolis is every bit as HUGE, and
far more civilized. We had our 20th(?) this past Sunday. Hey, the last time Phred Phelps came to town in an election year, to protest at the local MCC church, all of the local candidates for -various- came to church to protest HIM. Security was provided by those so butch lady cops. This can be a cool town.

And, you can find a place to park w/in 5 minutes walk, and then drive home w/o hassle.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Mia14

I'll post pictures soon!

Sorry I didn't meet up with you, Daniel. Things got kind of crazy and I didn't get a change to PM you. The service would've been a great idea, though....

Mia- Hubby and I went to the parade at Christoper and Gay Street (I'm not kidding- that's the real name!) a block East of 7the Avenue and caught about 2 hours of the parade despite the rain that came and went: it didn't seem to dampen spirits in the slightest though.

I must confess to bailing at the last minute re the service. So everything worked out OK.

You know, I think there is a "Dyke March" the evening before the parade. That might be something to catch next year. And I think a SF presence in the March would be a great idea.