Bisexuality is just a layover to gay, its like stopping in Salt Lake City on your way to Vegas...

The 37th Annual Twin Cities Pride Festival and Parade were held this weekend attracting approximately 475,000 people total making it the 3rd largest GLBT celebration in the United States after San Francisco and New York City. I say thats pretty good for being only the 16th largest metropolitan area in the country.  I am proud of the gay community in Minneapolis-St. Paul and I think its really cool to host such an event. Minneapolis is the 2nd or 4th (according to who you ask) gayest city in the country so its only fitting that this city puts on a damn good show. If it wasn't for the weather on Saturday, Minneapolis could have broken its attendance over half a million. Since 2000, the festivities have nearly doubled in attendance... sweeeeeeeeeet!

Anywho, I went to the Parade and it was actually pretty fun and cool. My greatest fear was that the event would be overly sexual, and in some cases it was but its actually remarkably family friendly and I saw a very large number of children at the parade (and even walking it). The parade takes place on Hennepin Avenue which in conjunction with First Avenue is the main entertainment district for downtown Minneapolis including a number of gay and gay friendly establishments. The Parade started at 11 oclock which seemed far friendlier than the 8 or 9 AM which apparently it used to start at. I sat between 10th and 11th street on Hennepin Avenue and had an absolutely awesome view of the parade. The atmosphere was very accepting and I saw quite a few people there that I knew. I was extremely pleased with the experience and I suggest that straight, gay, bi or whatever, that everyone take the time when possible to go to a pride parade. I was apprehensive about going but in the end I had a great time. 

After the Parade, most of the 125,000 people piled into Loring Park and enjoyed live music, food and a little bit of frivolty. It was a great festival and the drag show was more than hilarious (especially when the wigs come off). Again, a very family friendly event that I encourage everyone to attend. I saw people from all over the world and the US there. Apparently Minneapolis' Parade and Festival is gaining a lot of attention from across the World (which is how the festivities have nearly doubled in just 10 years). As much as many people think pride parades are nothing more than overt sexual expression, its really more political and individual expression. You saw churches, libertarians, local politicians and world wide corporations all in support of the GLBT community. 

Naturally the party afterwords on Hennepin that went well into the night is the highlight for the Adult GLBT community, but there's not much to share thats either appropriate for this blog or really different from any alcohol infused celebration. Although I did see Jodie Watley, not that I knew much about her before yesterday, and she provided decent entertainment. 

Anyway, here are some pics of the parade and of Minneapolis. 

Now Thumbnailed for your convenience... or inconvenience, slideshow above, thumbnails below...