Skip to content
News
Link copied to clipboard

PrideDay celebrates a 30-year tradition in Philly

Philadelphia held its first pride parade in 1972, a celebration that lapsed in subsequent years until 1988, when a parade from the gayborhood to LOVE Park led to a commitment to hold a gay pride parade and festival every June.

Krystal Cirillo, of Bucks County, holds onto her rainbow umbrella as rain began to fall prior to the start of the parade celebrating Philadelphia's 30th annual PrideDay Sunday.
Krystal Cirillo, of Bucks County, holds onto her rainbow umbrella as rain began to fall prior to the start of the parade celebrating Philadelphia's 30th annual PrideDay Sunday.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT
    by Diane Mastrull
    Updated 
    Published 

Nearly 50 years ago, the first gay pride parade was held in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, demonstrations sparked by a police raid on a gay club that served as the first major protest on behalf of LGBT equal rights.

Philadelphia held its first pride parade in 1972, a celebration that lapsed in subsequent years until 1988, when a parade from the gayborhood to LOVE Park led to a commitment to hold a gay pride parade and festival every June.

>> READ MORE: At Philadelphia's first gay pride march, people were 'jeering at us and booing'

That tradition — PrideDay — celebrated its 30th year Sunday with a 1.5-mile parade from 13th and Locust Streets, past a judging stand at Independence Mall and down to Penn's Landing, where a festival of food, drink, music and dancing kicked off around 1:30 p.m. at the Great Plaza.

>> READ MORE: Philly has first march celebrating LGBT people of color

Similar celebrations filled streets and parks in cities across the country and world.

Next up by Philly Pride Presents: OutFest on Oct. 9.

>> READ MORE: Tackling racism in the Gayborhood