Organized by the legendary Heritage of Pride (HOP), this year’s theme will be “United for Equality,” with the world-famous annual march down Fifth Ave. starting at the steps at 52nd at Fifth Ave. at noon on June 24.
Then there’s the always sold-out “Dance on the Pier” during Heritage of Pride, with this year’s theme, “United for Equality” in New York City. It’s the 21st edition of the popular (and fabulous) outdoor dance party on June 24 that ends the week-long celebration, Manhattan-style, in observance of the continuing struggle for lesbian,gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This year, featured DJs will be Lawrence Needham and Jonathan Porter with lighting designed by Guy Smith. The event that will take place at Pier 54, 13th St. at West Side Highway at Hudson River Park, 4pm to 10:30pm, with the annual grand finale of a rainbow fireworks display (considered the “best of” in the Big Apple). For tickets to the dance, visit www.boxofficetickets.com For information about HOP, visit www.hopinc.org
But wait. There’s more. The parties never stop in New York City!
The Trevor Project will hold a benefit, “Trevor NY: Harmony, Heart & Humor,” in the Hudson Theater at the Millennium Hotel, 145 West 44th St., with honors to Nathan Lane and BRAVO. Headliners also sharing the dias include Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, Queer Eye’s Carson Kressley, recording artist Damen Hayes, comedian Rene Hicks and the Broadway Boys. For information, visit www.thetrevorproject.org
How about working that other muscle - the brain? If you’re ready to come out and play with creative genes, then attendance at The International Festival of Arts and Ideas is a must-do. The annual gay-friendly event will take place in New Haven, Connecicut, June 9-23, and brings together actors, dirctors, dancers, musicians, street performers and thinkers from around the world. The lead sponsor is Greater New Haven and the partner network is travelocity. For information, visit www.newhaven.com
Got film? They’ve got plenty at the 13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (PIGLFF), which takes place from July 12th through the 24th.
As it retains its position in the GLBT film festival circuit, the City of Brotherly Love outdoes itself every year by being the nation’s third largest film festival of its kind and the largest in the Northeast. Last year PIGLFF attracted more than 29,000 film lovers over 14-days screening more than 150 features, documentaries and shorts.
This year, festival organizers are granting awards to legendary Hollywood actor Farley Granger (Strangers on a Train, Rope) for Lifetime Achievement and for Artistic Achievement to screenwriter/director Craig Lucas (Longtime Companion, The Dying Gaul). Rising Star awards to Charlie David (here’s Dante’s Cove) and Daniela Sea (Showtime’s L Word) will also be presented at this year’s festival. Initiated for the first-time ever last year, the Philadelphia Film Society, producers of the festival, gave the new aware category to Darry Stevens (Logo’s Noah’s Arc and TLA Releasing’s Boy Culture).
This year’s festival adminstration also decided to give the first-ever Barbara Gittings Award, named in memory of the mother of GLBT civil rights, who was a longtime community member of the Greater Delaware Valley and a national figure to the movement.
Other special guests at this year’s festival will be RENT’s Anthony Rapp who will appear for a reading and book-signing. Scion First-Time Director Award will be granted, with a $1,000 cash prize, to an up and coming gay male filmmaker, for the first time, at PIGLFF.
PIGLFF will also participate in the IRIS Awards, recognizing excellence in short films made by GLBT filmmakers in the first of its kind International competition, with entries from GLBT festivals from around the world. And sex in films? PIGLFF hasn’t been dubbed “ the sexiest gay film festival in the country” for nothing! Every year there’s a gay male adult film program featuring the likes of everyone from Matthew Rush to Chi Chi LaRue to Dean Phoenix to Jerry Rutherford.
What’s a summer festival without outdoor events? PIGLFF will sponsor a special outdoor screening on the city’s riverfront at Penn’s Landing in cooperation with Universal Studio’s To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, complete with a drag queen look-alike-contest, prizes and an after-party.
Closing night film will be the premiere of here’s much-anticipated, Kiss the Bride, directed by Beeban Kidron (Bridget Jones, Edge of Reason). Hotel packages at Sofitel Hotel and Crowne Plaza Hotel will be available for festival guests and attendees. PIGLFF is produced by the Philadelphia Film Society and joined by this year’s sponsors, including Avis, TLA Entertainment Group, PA Film Office, Scion, here!, Bud Light, Parrot Bay Rum, WHERE Magazine, Tylenol PM and City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce. For information, visit www.phillyfests.com.