Seattle Pride Parade

Good energy, friendly people, it was just too too long. We got bored and bailed after three hours. But it was worth going to… and on the weekend of nationwide marriage equality, the vibe was right.
Not up to par with LA, SF, or San Diego… but better than Phoenix, Baltimore, or Central Pennsylvania (clearly).

Seattle Pride Parade is the most loving/​happy/​accepting parade I’ve ever attended.
The costumes were elaborate, the music was fun, the scene was amazing, there were churches, banks, clubs, children, animals, and more!
It’s a LONG parade (it started at 11 and ended around 4) but I’ll be sure to go back every year.

This was my first year at the Pride Parade and what a sight it was! As I’m sure you all recall (but maybe years from now, someone will read this and didn’t remember this year!), DOMA was overturned right before Pride Weekend– what a historic moment and victory for the gay rights movement!
I was very touched by some of the groups that came by. For example, there was a group of newlyweds, the first gay couple to be married in Washington, some representatives and other public policy ppl, a boy scouts for gay rights group, some WW2 vets, Mormons supporting gays and lots of companies out to support gay rights.
Some of the groups, like the Starbucks lady, were funny. I also enjoyed checking out everyone’s costumes.
The ones involving leashes, chains, whips, nudity and other more risqué things were a little much for me, but hey, I respect people’s different interests!
Logistics:
We went all the way down to Belltown to Wall St. It gets crowded fast but it makes sense if you’re going to Pride Fest after. We walked all the way from Capitol Hill but it was worth it rather than try to park anywhere nearby!
Also, I find it odd this is still listed under Capitol Hill because we all know its DT now. I know they have it in DT and Belltown because of the PrideFest in Queen Anne thing, but I’m not the only one who thinks this is a little odd right? The heart of the Seattle gay community IS in Capitol Hill, after all.
All in all, this was really cool and I’m so happy to have witnessed so many historic moments in the gay rights movement and to see it celebrated in this way!

On the eve of a historic vote to legalize gay marriage in this state, what better to review than the Seattle Pride Parade, which happens every June?
I love the parade, which is a true celebration of love in all shapes, sizes, and forms. There are the businesses that support their employees and customers, there are the families who understand that love trumps gender, and yes, there are leashes, chains, whips, body paint, glitter, drag queens, drag kings, and girls (and guys!) wrestling in pools of lube. And yet, the parade stays family friendly with lots of treats for the little ones such as candies and stickers, and even some treats for the big ones such as condoms.
You do need to pack your patience and/​or plan a strategic break or two, as the parade is quite long and, true to form, never starts on time. I find it works best to scout out a spot near the start of the parade route, if you don’t plan to attend PrideFest at the Center afterwards. You likely won’t be able to cross 4^th once the parade starts, so choose your spot accordingly. Expect crowds, don’t expect parking, and get there early for the best view. I like to think of it as a family outing/​picnic sort of event. Pack a blanket and some snacks and come to be entertained and show your PRIDE!

This was my first Seattle Pride Parade and it didn’t disappoint. The parade participants were festive and entertaining. I will admit that after awhile, the parade did get boring at around 2 hours. My attention span doesn’t last that long, so hopefully it was almost over before we bailed to the Pride Fest!

Wow! There’s so much energy at this parade. It’s a blast! I was part of the parade for work, and loved seeing everyone all costumed out! It was bright and colorful. It never rains on pride parade as I was told by my friend. He was right even though it didn’t look as promising in the morning. Who wouldn’t wanna go to the pride parade? I proudly support the LGBT community. And, you get lots of free stuff! It’s a sight to see people decked out in rainbow colors. I’d like to check out pride fest next year the Seattle Center where the parade ends. I wasn’t able to this year because of the traffic. I parked at the convention center for about $ 15 for 6 hours. Looking forward to next year’s!

How could you not enjoy a parade that is all about love?

This was our first year attending — decided to take the kiddos and go despite the fact I’m not gay.
This, by far, is the best parade in Seattle.
Yes, I said it.
This title was held by the Fremont Solstice Parade, but no, now it goes to the Pride Parade.
Hands down the most fun (and longest) parade we have been to. We hardly noticed we’d been sitting there for three hours as it was entertaining the whole way through. Kids got lots of goodies (candies, juice, chips) and the people handing out the adult items (condoms, etc) made sure they didn’t get those.
Very well done, I’m very impressed, and intend on returning for years to come.

Now as a queer individual, I am all about Pride rallies and the like, afterall, many of us have to tone down who we are in the workplace, or in public (be it in our home towns, or travelling in other places). And what better way to let us be «US»…be it that we are status quo, «green» and environmentally aware, kinky, motorcycle afficianados, or what have you.
Kudos for another great year
And by the way… Space Needle peeps… BRAVO on the Pride flag over Seattle!!! Hopefully that won’t be the last time Seattle, sees a huge Pride flag over our fine city.

2.5 stars at best. After the dykes on bikes and pflag passed by I was pretty much done. That was what I really wanted to see. I was not going to go to the parade since I have not gone for 3 or so years now but one of my hags wanted to go real bad and asked me to take her. SO being a good gay I took her to the parade. I guess she liked it but for me it was still too fucking long (about 3 hrs) and hardly any floats. Come on people! Some of you are large corp marchers! I know you bitch’s got the money! It is nice though that it is not dt which provides a lot more space for those who like to attend the parade. Will I be back next year? Meh prob not, not unless the dykes let me ride my scoot :)

Full Disclosure: I am friends with the festival organizer and a few members of his team, but I wouldn’t review it if I couldn’t be unbiased.
I had a great time at the parade and festival this year after missing it last year due to the conflict with the Seafair marathon. Not only did we have great weather, but the parade was fantastic, enthusiastic and fun. The one thing I didn’t like about the parade was how many groups weren’t well identified if you missed the banner out front. The police Segways and the fire engine were a nice touch.
If they took all the political supporters of various candidates and bunched them together instead of letting them intersperse amongst other groups, my life would be complete. The candidates who had no special signs for Pride and did nothing special for the parade kinda made me go «meh.» I’m glad that they’re all for supporting us in the legislature, but I wish they would have some respect for the fact that this is a huge celebration, not their «get out the vote» campaign. If they really wanted to have some fun with it and put supporters in t-​shirts, they would leave their hands free to play with beach balls or wave flags or do something that’s not carrying a sign that says something «Joe Blow for City Council.»
The festival definitely showed a lot of corporate sponsorship, which I have to say is awesome, in spite of other reviewers’ dismissals of it. Yes, it’s corporate presence at Pride, but in a recession like ours, to have that corporate sponsorship to help pay for the event is pretty darn great.
Egan Orion puts on a world-​class show and knows how to make it happen in a way that’s great for everyone. He even sees to the little things like free water for attendees and cologne in the bathrooms at Neumo’s. Thanks SmartWater! After last year’s heat-​stroke-​bonanza, that’s pretty essential.
I was very impressed that even with the corporate presence and come-​one-​come-​all-​bring-​the-​kids invite to the event, the Mistress of Ceremonies still paid tribute to all those Prop 8 haters with Lilly Allen’s «F*ck You» in all its glory. Nothing seemed compromised by the sponsorships at all.
Thanks for another great year of Pride!!!

One star for moving it downtown. Seriously, how many years does the Capitol Hill choir need to be preached to? And the business on Broadway have hardly suffered for it. Pride WEEK people — they get theirs.
One star for the celebration of diversity in all it’s forms and the acceptance displayed by our community. I always get a little misty when the Catholics That Love Their Gay Kids precession marches by.
A final star for the floats that are actually cool; for 20 something gay boys dancing around in Underoos atop the Neighbours float, for Bears in giant moving bubble baths, and let us not forget — HOT, fabulous Latino trannies.
Less a star for the myriad of political candidates out to get the gay vote — you bore me. I want fabulous, fabulous, and more fabulous. Please go back to the grassroots canvas — you have no place here.
Less the final star for moving it downtown — I know, I contradict. But I sort of miss my Rock Star seating in front of Vivace and the family affair that was.
So, if my math is right — that leaves four? I suck at math.

The Gay Pride Parade is one event I love to visit. It is like a carnival with food, souvenirs, a parade but, most of everyone is LGBT. Straight people are welcome because it is about diversity. I think it’s cool that straight people are willing to learn about our culture.
My favorite thing is just being out. I can just be assumed a the lesbian I am rather than people always thinking I am straight (it does get annoying after awhile) It’s fun to be in the majority for a change.
Another fun thing is they throw mardi gras beads. (you don’t need to flash) All kinds of free stuff is handed out by gay-​friendly companies. Parts of it is like a street fair where you can buy jewelry and other items. You can even find S&M stuff on occasion.
The parade is colorful and fun. There are dancers, jugglers and many musicians. (And adorable butch lesbians, let’s not get me started) There are the lesbian firefighters, if you are lucky you will be the mock victim. There are new people on it every year.
I have yet to see any anti-​gay protesters. If you do see them, do not yell or make gestures at them, they have enough problems dealing with their own hate. It’s best to leave them alone. You wouldn’t want to be thrown out of this fun event over a fight would you?

Every year, I look forward to the last weekend in June. The Seattle Pride Parade, and in past years the Festival, are a fun and important part of summer. Seriously, the Parade is a major highlight of my summer. And while many people have their opinions about whether or not the organization made a mistake by moving the Parade downtown away from Capitol Hill, the point is they are out there and making a difference in people’s lives and raising awareness in our city. Every year since it’s inception, the Parade has grown, hence the need to move to a location where more people would be able to comfortably be able to attend and watch the festivities. Many argued that the organization was alienating the neighborhood in which they thought the Parade belonged, but the point of awareness is to go outside the «norm» and the get out there for all the see and be a part of. It is definitely in the best interest of Seattle Pride to keep the Parade in it’s new home along 4^th Ave downtown. In it’s new home last year, there were over 200,000 people that attended the festivities. I’m so proud that I live in a city that cares so much for it’s Parade. We almost didn’t have one this year, and while that would have been very sad, it would have been devastating to the organization. Seattle’s Parade is one of the largest in the nation-​what a shame it would have been if the residents of Seattle hadn’t rallied round and raised enough money to help the organization make it’s way out of bankruptcy and get back on track to keep planning an event for this year. I’m sad we won’t have a corresponding Festival over the duration of the weekend, but I am thrilled we won’t be losing our Parade. Though things are looking up for the organization, they aren’t completely out of trouble yet. They still need your help in order to put on a fabulous Parade. You can go here
and make a monetary donation, or offer your time and volunteer during the Parade. It’s going to be a good time and I can’t wait to see how awesome it is this year.