This is a milestone weekend for the Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ community.
Fifty years ago, 50 members marched from Market Square to Schenley Park in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
The date was June 17, 1973.
It will always be remembered as Pittsburgh’s first Pride Parade, according to QBurgh, a source for LGBTQ news and community resources in Western Pennsylvania. It was not like modern parades — there were no floats, no dancing in the streets, no elected officials walking as allies, and no rainbow Pride flags.
It was a protest.
Over the past five decades, Pride has become a celebration and has grown, though discrimination does still exist.
This year’s Pittsburgh Pride Revolution: NO FEAR is a four-day event. It kicked off with Too Hot for July, a collaboration with AIDS Free Pittsburgh and True T Pgh for a street party from 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday outside KLVN Coffee Lab on Hamilton Avenue in Larimer. Dreamdoll will perform. There will be a dance battle and a twerk-off as well as food and drink vendors and free HIV testing.
Most of the events are free.
It’s the first time that the Pirates, Penguins and Steelers have all contributed funds, according to organizers.
“We could not do this without the support of so many sponsors,” said Dalen Michael, co-founder of Pittsburgh Pride Revolution along with Dena Stanley. PPR is an LGBTQIA+ community event across Pittsburgh’s Downtown, North Side, and Bloomfield neighborhoods.
Details: qburgh.com
History
According to QBurgh, Pittsburgh Pride has been planned by different organizations over the years — Gay Alternatives Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Pride Committee, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, and currently the Pittsburgh Pride Group, a consortium of Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ non-profits and community groups lead by TransYouniting, a non-profit providing resources to Pittsburgh’s trans community.
Alternative Prides have popped up along the way. Local activists formed Roots Pride Pittsburgh in 2015, organized by The Garden of Peace Project, as an alternative to the Delta Foundation Pride events. Roots Pride Pittsburgh was pitched as more inclusive of queer and trans people of color.
This year’s events are focused on an emphasis on community, diversity and accessibility.
Courtesy of Dan Costa
Pittsburgh’s Billy Porter at last year’s Pittsburgh Pride Revolution.
March and parade
The Pittsburgh Pride Revolution March and Parade begins at noon Saturday.
It will take a new route, starting at 11th Street and Liberty Avenue, Downtown. Participants will proceed down Liberty Avenue towards 7th Street, continue across the Andy Warhol Bridge and onto Sandusky Street. From there they will make a left on to South Commons and proceed to Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side for the second day of the Pittsburgh Pride Revolution Festival.
Courtesy of Dan Costa
Motorcycle riders are part of the Pittsburgh Pride Revolution March and Parade, which is scheduled will take a different route from Downtown to the North Side on June 2.
The parade will include floats and motorcycles as well as other vehicles, such as a rainbow decorated Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus for seniors or those who might not be able to walk the route. Line-up begins at 10 a.m.
“We want to include everyone,” Stanley said. “Everyone needs to experience this.”
Pittsburgh is such a welcoming city, Michael said, and one of the safest spaces when it comes to the festival. “Pittsburgh is becoming more diverse,” he said.
Speakers will welcome everyone at 11:30 a.m.
The best viewing locations will be along Liberty Avenue, Fort Duquesne Boulevard at the Andy Warhol Bridge, and along the bridge. Community partners have organized festivities along the route.
Registration is required for parade participation.
Details: lgbtqpittsburgh.com
Courtesy of Pittsburgh Pride Revolution
Pittsburgh Pride Revolution Map
Festival
The two-day festival in Allegheny Commons Park is from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, which will be where the parade and march will finish. An opening ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. There will be vendors, food and entertainment. More than 80 artists will perform over the two days. Frenchie Davis and Madison Rose are the headliners on Saturday. Recording artist MKX is the headliner on Friday.
Details: https://lgbtqpittsburgh.com/schedule
Courtesy of QBurgh/Jussy
Madison Rose will perform at Pittsburgh Pride Revolution.
Block party
On Sunday, it’s block party time from 1-9 p.m. at Trace Brewing in Bloomfield. The idea was to have the festival reach various neighborhoods to create a sense of community.
Princess Jafar and Rian Louis, host of the RianOutLoud podcast, will emcee. Sevndeep is the headliner at 7:30 p.m. There will be face painting, food trucks and dancing.
The event is free.
Details: https://lgbtqpittsburgh.com/schedule/
Jordy
Pride on the Shore featuring Ava Max & Fletcher with Betty Who and Jordy, a rising pop artist, is happening on Saturday at StageAE on the North Side. Doors open at 3 p.m.
Jordy, who takes the stage at 5 p.m., was nominated for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist, and the Queerty Awards for best music video for his 2021 single “i get high.”
The video for his song “Story of a Boy” also features a guest cameo from John Hampson, the front man of Nine Days and writer of the original song.
There are a limited amount of tickets available at $69.50.
Details: promowestlive.com
Courtesy of Dante Velasquez
Jordy will perform June 3 at StageAE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Categories:Bloomfield | Downtown Pittsburgh | Lifestyles | Northside | Pittsburgh | Top Stories
