Long Island Pride 2015

Long Island Pride Parade – For the past three years, Long Island PrideFest has been the highlight of the year for Long Island’s LGBT community. From 1:00pm to 6:00pm, PrideFest rocks Heckscher Park with all-day live entertainment from top performers and local talent. PrideFest has something for all 15,000+ participants annually: enjoy a beer and wine garden, a VIP Lounge, a health pavilion, information booths, activities for children and families, delicious food, and much more.

Long Island Pride 2015

One of the Largest parades outside of New York City… 

The Long Island Pride Parade traces its origins to over twenty-five years ago when Long Island Lesbian and Gay Pride Freedom Committee founders approached the Town of Huntington to grant a permit to hold the first Pride Parade. The request was denied by the town on the grounds that only “traditional” parades were allowed on Huntington’s streets.  The committee was represented by the ACLU and the matter was heard in a federal court on May 28, 1991 by Judge Leonard D. Wexler who ruled in favor of the committee and granted the parade permit. The first Long Island Pride Parade was held on June 9, 1991.

Since that time, the Pride Parade has grown into one of the largest parades outside of New York City: community organizations, businesses, and school-based Gay-Straight Alliance clubs participate each year, out and proudly marching along Main Street to the cheers of thousands of spectators.

The 2015 Pride Parade on Saturday, June 13, 2015 will begin at 12:00pm, leading to Heckscher Park for PrideFest, a day-long music and entertainment festival.

This year’s event is bringing top-notch performances from clubland diva Amber (“This Is Your Night”), David Hernandez (“American Idol” Season 7 Finalist), and Anita (“The Voice” Season 3 Finalist), and more, as well as local performers.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Network operates Long Island’s three community centers for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community: in Nassau, The Center at Woodbury; in Suffolk, The Center at Bay Shore; and on the East End, The Hamptons LGBT Center, as well as the Queens LGBT Community Center (Q-Center) in Little Neck.

These community centers are a safe space and life-changing resource for the tens of thousands of LGBT and ally individuals who pass through the doors each year. In addition to regularly-scheduled programs and services each week, the centers offer public spaces for people of all ages to relax, hang out, study, work, or simply meet new people. Special events and gatherings help to unite Long Islanders of all different backgrounds and identities.

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