Side with Pride: Gay Pride events in New York City

From hard bodies to festivals, it’s an all-out party in the streets of Manhattan come Pride Week (June 16-24). Credit: See-Ming.

By Markus Boeker

Why do I celebrate Gay Pride?

Because I live it. I’m a gay male in my 40s living in New York City, which just happens to burst with gay pride year-round, and not just during the March on Sunday, June 24. And for the record: Even if I was a 30-something straight man, I would still celebrate gay pride.

Commemorating the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, when locals rioted after police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village, the first Gay Pride parades were held the weekend of June 27 and 28 in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The symbol that we wave proudly — the LGBT flag — made its rainbow debutat the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in 1978 after former Mayor Harvey Milk asked his friend Gilbert Baker to design a symbol that rallied lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. And recently, President Obama took the bold step of becoming the first U.S. president to support same-sex marriage.

There’s certainly a lot to celebrate, and I’ll personally join the nation in my own backyard at The New York City Gay Pride March on June 24. With gay icons Cindy Lauper, Chris Salgrado, Phyllis Siegel and Connie Kopelov as grand marshalls, the event is a float-filled, eye candy-colored dance party that electrifies Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan and beyond.

Know before you go

1. Diversity
   This should go without saying, but the carnival is open to all people — regardless of your sexual orientation. I’ve been joining the fun for a decade now, and each year, I’m astounded by the colorful crowd attending the event — parents with kids, senior citizens, high-ranking politicians, including the Mayor of New York City.
2. Is it all one wild party?
   No. While full-volume playlists — including gay anthem “I Will Survive” — and shirtless boys are to be expected along the streets of the West Village (which, incidentally, has the best views), you’ll find smaller gatherings anywhere along 5^th Avenue. Feast on butterfly costumes, flowers and the infamous motorcyclecade called the “Dykes on Bikes” (and yes, it’s OK to call them that).
3. Hotels
   Pretty much every hotel in New York City is gay-friendly, and frankly, that should go without saying. But if you’d like to take a deeper dive, check out the properties and user reviews on GayOrbitz.com. And now, my personal faves, in no particular order:

• Dream Downtown: It’s Meatpacking District-meets-Miami in this trendy space, complete with a hidden courtyard pool and a bustling party vibe.
• Hotel Gansevoort: This hotel changed the face of this area in Manhattan forever. Grab a classic New York Cosmopolitan at the Roof Top Bar, hit nearby Village restaurants and bars, or do all in one night. This city doesn’t sleep, so neither should you.
• Mondrian SoHo: If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon a celebrity or two.
• The Room Mate Grace:  This gay-owned Times Square stay dispels the myth that Mexican resorts hold the monopoly on swim-up bars. And unlike the ones in Cancun, this bar lives indoors. Score.

In my next installment: my hit list of NYC bars and restaurants

Related resources

• Cheap New York flights
• GayOrbitz.com
• New York hotels
• New York vacations

Markus Boeker, who manages hotel contracting for New York City for Orbitz Worldwide, simply believes that a day without laughter is a day wasted.

Tagged: Hotels, New York