The state's education center, with the main campus of the University of Kentucky as well as esteemed Transylvania University, Lexington is also a fast-growing city with nearly 300,000 residents. It's also one of the largest cities in the country with an openly gay mayor, Jim Gray (who is issuing a special proclamation during the festival), who took office in fall 2010. For visitors to the region, it's a good base for exploring the lush and beautiful Kentucky Bluegrass thoroughbred country and the state's most prominent bourbon distilleries. The city is also host to the Lexington Gay Pride Festival in late June - the date this year is June 29, 2013.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Lexington during Gay Pride.
More on 2013 Lexington Pride will be posted here as info becomes available. Here's a glimpse of last year's celebration:
The festival takes place at Robert F. Stephens Plaza, right in the heart of downtown, at 120-150 N. Limestone Street - the festival runs from 11 am until 11 pm. At this year's event, Reel World String Band, Beth Burden, Domino, and Robbie Bartlett are performing, as is drag diva Chelsea Pearl.
Lexington Gay Pride takes place two weeks after the largest such celebration in the state, Kentuckiana Pride Festival in Louisville.
Additionally, numerous bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Weekend. Check the The Word, a GLBT newspaper serving Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, for details. You can also find more about the area, including suggestions on dining, lodging, and gay nightlife, in my article on Lexington and Louisville. Also take a look at the excellent visitor site produced by the city's official tourism organization, the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau.
