Although Miami Beach has been home for some time to an increasingly popular Pride event geared toward African-Americans and Latinos in the GLBT community (Miami Beach Bruthaz, held in July), the city hasn't ever had an across-the-community, full-scale, city-supported Gay Pride Festival. This all changed in 2009, as on Saturday, April 18, the city celebrates the very first Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival. The one-day event is set along the city's fabled Ocean Drive and features a slew of high-profile performers, including Grand Marshall Patti Labelle.
Here's a brief preview of what you can expect at Miami Beach Gay Pride this year:
A handful of events related to the Gay Pride Festival are taking place throughout the city during the week, at a variety of venues - here's a schedule of activities, from film screenings to benefit parties.
On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the day of Miami Beach Gay Pride, activities commence at noon with the Inaugural Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade, which will have some 40 floats and run along Ocean Drive from 5th to 14th streets.
From noon until 6 pm on that same day, there will be a PROUD Festival and Expo held at
Lummus Park, at Ocean Drive between 12th and 14th streets. About 80 GLBT-friendly businesses, organizations, and social groups will have exhibits at the expo. At the north end of the park, at 14th Street, a Main Stage will offer live entertainment, including a Tea Dance, from 1 pm until 7 pm, with performances by an array of talents, including Fanny Lu, India, the Miami Gay Men's Chorus, and more.
Keep in mind that numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Miami Beach Bruthaz Weekend. Check local gay papers, such as South Florida Blade and the Wire for more information. You can also obtain gay-specific tourism information on Miami and Miami Beach from the excellent GLBT Travel Site produced by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Also note that Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival takes place a week before the increasingly prestigious and well-attended Miami and Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which in 2009 takes place April 24 through May 3 at venues throughout Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
