While Pride parades are meant to be fun celebrations, and big colorful parties open to everyone, it’s important to be reminded of their political and historical meaning. As we know, the end of the 60’s and beginning of the 70’s marked a time for change and revolution. It was on the 28th of June in 1969, when a group of New York City police officers raided a well known gay club called the Stonewall Inn, and caused what would become known as the Stonewall Riots. These events, as well as the prevailing attitude of shame towards the LGBTQ+ community, led to a march in Central Park the following year, which then adopted the theme of “Gay Pride”.
Since the historic event, Gay Pride parades have spread all around the world, most of them taking place in June to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and making June the International Pride Month. Pride parades are beautiful and positive manifestations, which aim to break free from the historic and systemic discrimination this community endures. It’s a celebration of love and acceptance; while also representing the need for revolution and change.
So, with all of that being said, here is a quick tour of the biggest Pride celebrations around the world.
Europe
All throughout Europe, Pride is celebrated with colorful parades, concerts, art exhibitions, and political events.
Let’s start our tour with Copenhagen, Denmark, which will host World Pride 2021: an international event, licensed by InterPride, that happens every two years, each time in a different city.
The first World Pride was held in Rome, Italy in 2000. It received a good amount of criticism from the Vatican, but since then the city has proudly hosted the biggest Pride celebration in Italy.
Other important European celebrations happen in Madrid, Spain, specifically in Chueca: Madrid’s famous gay neighborhood and the very center of the city. This year the city will host a colorful week-long party with an expected 2+ million attendees.
Heading over to Paris, France, we can’t forget about Marche des Fiertés LGBTQ (Paris Gay Pride Parade), which is a historic event born in the 80’s, celebrated in Le Marais, Paris’ gay district.
Our European tour doesn’t end here: there’s also Stockholm, Sweden, with the largest LGBTQIA events in Scandinavia; Amsterdam, Netherlands, with its unique parade along the famous city canals; Berlin, Germany, one of the biggest European Pride events of the year, celebrated since 1979; London, UK; Athens, Greece; Zurich, Switzerland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Dublin, Ireland; and so many others!
Africa
This year, Johannesburg, South Africa, will host the 31st Pride of Africa. Due to the pandemic, the celebrations this year will be held partially in person and partially virtual, combining the colorful celebrations in October to virtual conferences throughout the whole year. The team of organizers has created Pride of Africa as “a unified platform and voice for a diverse community”, in order to provide support to the African LGBTQ+ME Community.
Unfortunately, many regions across the continent are still extremely dangerous and discriminatory towards the community. Johannesburg Pride has carried over 30 years of advocacy, giving the African queer people the opportunity to to feel more safe and represented.
Asia
Tel Aviv, Israel, being recognized as the gay capital of the Middle East, usually organizes a huge parade along the beach, welcoming tourists from all around the world. This year, due to the pandemic, the organization of the event is still uncertain.
In Manila, Philippines, we can find the Metro Manila Pride celebrations. Metro Manila Pride is a “volunteer-managed, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating, equipping and empowering the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community to work towards a future that recognizes and respects the rights of persons to a dignified life without discrimination and prejudice.”
The programs run by this organization are spread throughout the whole year, from the annual Pride March and Festival, to various education projects, as well as events supporting the arts.
This year will be Shanghai, China’s 10th Pride. Since political demonstrations are banned in China, the organizers have to get creative every year. For 2021, they came up with a 10-day program featuring a Pride film festival, ‘pink picnic’, bike ride, run, dance party, barbecue, and photo exhibition.
Oceania
Sydney, Australia, honors Pride Month with a 30-day long festival made of various online and in-person events, such as art exhibitions, cinema, trivia, debates, sports, fundraising activities and club events across the city. What’s unique about Pride celebrations here is the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which will happen on the 18th and 19th of June.
Auckland, New Zealand, has also adopted a mixture of digital and in-person events by organizing a month-long program of festivals, parties, Drag competitions, poetry recitals, and art exhibitions.
North America
In North America we have, of course, New York City, the home of the first Pride and one of the biggest celebrations in the world. 30 days, 50+ events, 3 million people.
Other important events in this part of the globe are: Washington DC; San Francisco, CA; Montreal, Canada, with the largest Francophone Pride gathering in the world; Toronto, Canada; and Mexico City, Mexico, one of the biggest Pride parades in the Americas.
South America
Finally, we end with a bang: the biggest Pride Parade in the world can be found in São Paulo, Brazil, with over 3.5 million attendees. Other than being famous for its gay culture and clubs, the city is amazingly multicultural and diverse, making the parade itself a human rainbow, full of colors and people dancing.
Being a huge metropolis, São Paulo offers a big variety of LGBTQ+ friendly spots: from entire neighborhoods, such as the area just north of Praça da República; residential streets, like Rua Frei Caneca just north of Av Paulista; clubbing areas, like Rua Augusta; to restaurants and bars, such as Bella Paulista, Bar da Lôca, Club Jerome, Barouche and D-Edge.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this year the Pride celebration will be held online.
How to Participate
Each city has its own organization and itinerary, so it’s best to consult the website of each individual event. If you’d like to see the full international calendar of the celebrations, you can check out the International LGTBQ+ Travel Association, which facilitates the research.
There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Pride. Just make sure to respect the community, educate yourself, and go have fun! It’s a celebration of love, diversity, sex, and humanity; it’s beautiful, it’s intersectional, it’s colorful, it’s loud and it’s infinite. Embrace it and celebrate it however you want!
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Want to learn more?
The Biggest Pride Parades Around the World 2021 – seeker
International Gay Pride Calendar – IGLTA
WorldPride & EuroGames – Copenhagen 2021
The History Behind the Rainbow Flag & Its Inherent Intersectionality – ecomadic
