New York City's most populous borough (with more than 2.5 million residents), Brooklyn was established as a separate city, and it remains very much its own entity. Several neighborhoods have become popular with gays, especially Park Slope, which has one of the nation's highest concentrations of lesbian residents. Park Slope is the site each year of Brooklyn Gay Pride, which is held in mid-June on the edge of the neighborhood's leafy Prospect Park. In 2009, Brooklyn Gay Pride takes place on Saturday, June 13, a week after Queens Gay Pride, and two weeks before Manhattan's official New York City Gay Pride.
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Brooklyn during Gay Pride
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in New York City during Gay Pride
Here's a quick preview of the Brooklyn Pride celebration this year:
In addition to the main festival and parade, a few related events include an Interfaith Service held June 10, a Pride Reception at Borough Hall held June 11, a 5K Pride Run (June 13), and an Official After Party, also June 13. Check the Brooklyn Pride website for details on these events.
The main events of Brooklyn Pride include a festival and night-time parade (the only Pride parade in the Northeast held at night), both of which take place on Saturday, June 13.
From 11 am until 6 pm on Saturday, June 13, there's also a Multicultural Pride Festival held at the southwest corner of Prospect Park, at Bartel Pritchard Square. The festival includes a street fair with community businesses and organizations, food and shopping, a play area for kids and families, and a main stage with live music. If you're arriving by Subway, take the F train to the 15th Street/Prospect Park stop.
The Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade takes place following the festival on June 13, at 7:30 pm. It begins at 15th Street and Prospect Park West, and then continues down 15th Street to 7th Avenue, where it turns north and ends at Lincoln Place.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Gay Pride. Check local gay papers, such as Next Magazine and the New York Blade for details. And be sure to check out the helpful GLBT website produced by the city's official tourism organization, NYC & Compancy.
