New Orleans Pride will celebrate five years of supporting the Gulf Coast’s LGBT community this weekend in the French Quarter.
A registered 501(c)(3) organization, New Orleans Pride collects donations and holds fundraisers throughout the year to support education initiatives, anti-bullying and anti-discrimination efforts, and many other causes.
June is a popular month for Pride events across the country, many of which commemorate the Stonewall Riots of late June 1969 in New York.
New Orleans Pride pays special tribute to the infamous Upstairs Lounge Fire, which occurred on June 24, 1973, and claimed the lives of 32 patrons of the Upstairs Lounge in the French Quarter.
While Southern Decadence has become widely known as a prime party event each year, New Orleans Pride strives to have more of a positive impact, working each year to foster deeper understanding between the straight and homosexual communities and helping to eliminate discrimination.
But there will still be plenty of opportunities to have a good time.
The official Pride kickoff party on Friday, June 19, at the Harrah’s Hotel Ballroom will celebrate the city’s transgender community and will feature keynote speaker Ryan Sallans and entertainment by the Big Easy Buddies.
The AllWays Lounge will also host a Queer Com Pride Variety Show on June 19 at 10 p.m., with a $10 cover at the door. There will be a dance party after the show.
Saturday will be jam-packed with events, from a 10:30 a.m. All Faiths Prayer Service at Washington Square Park to a beard contest at 4 p.m. in the Frenchmen Street park.
The official New Orleans Pride parade will line up at 5:45 on the corner of Elysian Fields and Rampart and roll through the French Quarter starting at 7 p.m., ending at the corner of Bourbon Street and Esplanade at 8:30 p.m.
DJ Blacklow will take over the Oz nightclub for a dance party starting at 10 p.m.
The Official “Dance Bitch” Pride T-Dance with DJ Billy Francesca will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, at the Bourbon Pub.
For more information, visit prideneworleans.com.
