Gay Pride season (yes, it's pretty much become a "season," which peaks in June but continues with a number of events well into July, August, and September) kicks off this weekend as two major destinations hold their festivals and parades - Fort Lauderdale presents its Pride Under the Sun celebration, an event that's meant to unite all of South Florida. (Don't confuse this with Fort Lauderdale Stonewall Festival, which takes place in late June.) Across the country in Arizona, you can attend Phoenix Pride this weekend, which also pulls in GLBT attendees from a large region that includes not Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, and even Tucson.

Here's my preview of Fort Lauderdale's Pride Under the Sun, and a preview of Phoenix Pride. Also, be sure to check out my article on gay nightlife in Phoenix. I'll be previewing plenty of additional Pride events over the coming weeks, including May festivals in Northampton, Brussels, Long Beach, New Hope, and Pensacola, to name a few.