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.
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 Pride Pittsburgh, which takes place in mid-June. In 2009, the festivities take place from June 8 through June 14, culminating in a final weekend that includes a parade and festival.
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Pittsburgh during Gay Pride
Here's a preview of Pittsburgh Gay Pride in 2009 (note that you can also download the official Pride Magazine for Pittsburgh Pride 2009):
During the week leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related events and activities, including a Pride White Party on June 6, the Boob Tube Follies at the Hard Rock Cafe on June 8, a Pride Bowling Extravaganza on June 8 (this is especially fun in a city that loves its bowling!), a Community Pride Ecumenical Service on June 9, an Evening with Me'Shell Ndegeocello on June 11, a Splash! party atop Mt. Washington on June 11, a Garden Party at the famed Mattress Factory Museum on June 12, and a Black Pride Film Festival on Saturday, June 13 - and that's just a few of the many gatherings. 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, June 12, with a Gay Pub Crawl, taking place at more than a dozen gay and gay-friendly bars around the city, from 5801 to Images to the Pittsburgh Eagle.
On Saturday, June 13, the big event is Pride in the Street, a wild and rollicking party that begins at 7 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 features music by L Word talents God des and She, and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Holliday.
The following day, Sunday, June 14, you can start off the celebrating by attending the Pride Brunch from 9 until 2 pm at trendy Palate Bistro.
Sunday's Gay Pride Parade, known officially as the Pride Awareness Brunch, promises to be a huge procession in 2009. The parade runs from noon until 1 pm, beginning at Grant Street and Boulevard of Allies, then moving west and turning right onto Stanwix Street, where it continues north to Liberty Street, and then proceeds east along Liberty to the Pride Festival grounds at Liberty and 7th Street. Here's a map of the Pittsburgh Pride parade route.
The excitement on Sunday, June 14, continues after the parade with a huge PrideFest celebration, held from 1 pm until 6 pm at Liberty Avenue and 7th Street. The festival includes dozens of vendors representing gay-friendly businesses and organizations throughout greater Pittsburgh, plenty of food and a beer garden, and two stages of live entertainment, featuring the likes of the Renaissance City Choir, Andy Moore, Dreams of Hope, Brad Yoder, Coyote Grace, Phat Man Dee, Zafira Dance Co., Vida, Levi Kreis, Nancy Hammond, Katie Costello, Kyle Abraham, Eric Himan & the Adams, and Thea Austin.
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 Out Newspaper for details. And be sure to check out the helpful site of the Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Association for trip-planning advice.
