Largest Boston Pride Parade in Event’s History
BOSTON, Mass. – Boston Pride announced on May 31st that this year’s Boston Pride Week 2013 (May 31 – June 9) will break barriers and make history through its status as the largest parade that the organization has hosted in its 40 year history. The theme for Boston Pride Week 2013 is “Moving Forward … Proud, Strong, United,” representing the hardships through which the LGBT community has persevered and the drive to move forward together.
Boston Pride’s annual parade on Saturday, June 8 will have a record number of groups registered to march in the parade. At 230 parade groups and counting, the number bests the previous record of 212 set in (YEAR?). Last year, city officials estimated that almost 1 million people participated in Pride Week events. Mayor Thomas M. Menino will lead the parade as the official Grand Marshal, which will be his last appearance in the Pride Parade under his official duties as Mayor. Jeanne Manford, the founder of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) who passed away in January 2013, will be the parade’s honorary marshal, an honor given posthumously to those individuals who have advanced the community’s cause. Boston Pride will also welcome NBA player Jason Collins, the first active player to come out in any of the four major sports, who recently revealed he was gay in a Sports Illustrated article. Collins will be marching alongside his friend and former Stanford University roommate, U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III.
“We are tremendously grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who work hard to give back to the LGBT community and beyond on behalf of Boston Pride,” said Linda DeMarco, President of Boston Pride. “The volunteers are the backbone of our organization and they deserve the accolades for the success of this year’s Pride Week. We also want to recognize Mayor Menino, who has been a staunch ally of the LGBT community from the beginning of his days in public service. It is fitting that the Mayor is the Grand Marshal for the 2013 parade, and he will always have an open invitation to join us in the future.” [pullquote]”We also want to recognize Mayor Menino, who has been a staunch ally of the LGBT community from the beginning of his days in public service,” said Linda DeMarco, President of Boston Pride. It is fitting that the Mayor is the Grand Marshal for the 2013 parade, and he will always have an open invitation to join us in the future.”[/pullquote]
Boston Pride Week is full of events and activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect and awareness in Greater Boston and beyond, from the kickoff Flag Raising ceremony, to family friendly Pride Day @Faneuil Hall, to nightly parties all week.
This year, there are two groundbreaking events that highlight Pride Week: Boston Pride’s Human Rights & Education Committee’s public panel discussion, “Out In Sports: Moving Forward- A Panel Discussion on LGBT People in Sports” on Wednesday June 5, and Pride Night @Fenway Park on June 6, which is the first time that a major league sports team has hosted a Pride Night.
Boston Pride Calendar of Events For Pride Week 2013
Friday, May 31st
12pm– Flag Raising-City Hall Plaza, Boston
Saturday, June 1st
10am-5pm– Pride Day @ Faneuil Hall-Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston
Sunday, June 2nd
3-7pm LGBT Senior Pride Tea Dance, Holiday Inn, 1200 Beacon Street, Brookline
Monday, June 3rd
6:30pm– Royal Pageant with Mimi Imfurst-Machine Nightclub, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston
Wednesday June 5th
6:15-8:15 pm– Out In Sports: Moving Forward- A Panel Discussion on LGBT People in Sports, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston, Commonwealth Room
Thursday June 6th
7:10pm– Pride Night @ Fenway Park, Fenway Park, Boston
9pm-2am– Pride Queeraoke, MIDWAY Café, 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain
10pm-2am-Pride @ Night: Glamlife, Estate Night Club, 1 Boylston Place, Boston
Friday, June 7th
9pm-2am– Official Dyke March After Party: Venus Rising, Foundation Room, 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston
10pm-2am-Pride @ Night: Queer Pride, Guilt Nightclub, 75 Warrenton St, Boston
Saturday, June 8th
12pm- Boston Pride Parade-Copley Square to City Hall Plaza, Boston
12-6pm– Boston Pride Festival-City Hall Plaza, Boston
2pm– Esme Women’s Block Party-1 Boylston Place, Boston
7pm-11pm– Boston Pride Youth Dance-City Hall Plaza, Boston
10pm– Pride@ Night: Epic Saturday- House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston
7pm-2am- Lush: Boston’s Largest Women’s Pride Party, Machine Nightclub, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston
10pm– Pride @ Night: Second Saturdays @ Machine-Machine Nightclub, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston
Sunday, June 9th
12-7pm– Boston Pride Block Party – JP Edition-Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain
12-8pm– Boston Pride Block Party – Back Bay Edition-St. James Avenue, Boston
10pm– Pride @ Night: Queen Size Hot Mess Sundays-Royale Nightclub, 275 Tremont Street
For more details on specific events during Pride Week 2013, Please visit our website www.bostonpride.org/prideweek/
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About Boston Pride
Boston Pride produces events and activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect, and awareness in Greater Boston and beyond. Fostering diversity, unity, visibility and dignity, we educate, communicate and advocate by building and strengthening community connections.
