With its roots as a gritty, steel-manufacturing city with a less liberal and artsy reputation than Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia, the riverfront city of Pittsburgh has been occasionally overlooked by GLBT travelers who assume there's not much of a scene there. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Pittsburgh has long cultivated a vibrant, politically active, and fun-loving gay scene - it finally earned some of its due when the U.S. version of the show Queer As Folk used Pittsburgh as the setting for its chronicle of urban gay culture (granted, the show was actually filmed in Toronto). The hometown of gay artist Andy Warhol also has a stellar arts scene, and several neighborhoods around the city are popular with Pittsburgh's many gay and lesbian residents.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Pittsburgh during Gay Pride.
Pittsburgh has enjoyed a great civic and economic comeback of late, and a perfect time to experience all that the region has to offer is during Pittsburgh Pride, which takes place in early to mid-June. This year the festivities take place a week later than last year, from June 7 through June 16, 2013, culminating in a final weekend that includes a parade and festival.
More on Pittsburgh Gay Pride will be posted here as information becomes available; here's a look at last year's event:
During the week leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related events and activities, a variety of workshops, a Pride Advocacy Rally, a TransPride Meet and Greet, a seminar on legal and financial planning for LGBT couples, and plenty more. Check here for a full list of Pride-related events, along with information on venues and times.
Fans of nightlife can kick off their Pride Weekend on Friday with a Gay Pub Crawl, taking place at more than a dozen gay and gay-friendly bars and restaurants around the city, from 5801 to Images to Real Luck Cafe to Cruze, a hot new gay dance club in the Strip District.
On Saturday, the big event is Pride in the Street, a wild and rollicking party that begins at 6 pm and takes place in the heart of downtown's gay bar strip, Liberty Avenue, from 9th to 10th streets. The party lasts well into the evening and this year features what will no doubt be an incredible concert by Melissa Etheridge, who's expected to perform at around 8:45, for a full 90 minutes. DJ Tracy Young keeps the party going late into the night, following the concert.
The following day, Sunday, is the Pittsburgh Gay Pride Parade, officially known as the Pride Awareness March, which takes runs from noon until 1 pm, beginning at Boulevard of the Allies and Grant streets, then moving east and turning left onto Grant Street, where it continues north to 5th Avenue, and then to the Pride Festival grounds along Liberty between 6th and 10th streets.
The excitement on Sunday continues after the parade with a huge and free PrideFest celebration, held from 1 pm until 6:30 pm at Liberty Avenue and 6th and 10th streets. The festival includes dozens of vendors representing gay-friendly businesses (including some major corporations) and organizations throughout greater Pittsburgh, plenty of food and a beer garden, and two stages of live entertainment, featuring dozens of performers.
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 Out Newspaper for details. And be sure to check out the helpful site of the Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Association for trip-planning advice.
