Gay Pride Month celebrated in Washington and around the world
Each June, LGBT groups worldwide stage parades, festivals and marches to celebrate LGBT Pride month. As Baltimore’s own pride celebration approaches (June 15-16), here’s a look at pride celebrations being held around the globe including this weekend’s celebrations in Washington, D.C.
- Participants carry rainbow banners during the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman on television, serves as the grand marshal for the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- A dancer hugs a man in the crowd during the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Motorcycle riders take part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- A drag queen dressed in red, white and blue takes part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Condoms, candy and beaded necklaces – thrown by parade participants to the crowd – line the street during the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- A parent of gay children holds a sign during the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- A man waves a rainbow flag on a truck sponsored by the Whitman-Walker Health Clinic, which specialize in HIV/AIDS care, as he takes part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- A man dressed as a cowboy rides a mechanical burrito on a float in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Dancers take part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Dancers take part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- Dancers take part in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, June 8, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)
- People participate in the Athens gay pride parade on June 8, 2013. Several thousand people marched in the center of Athens during the 8th edition of the local gay pride parade to “take back the city” in the face of a resurgence of homophobia and intolerance. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)
- A demonstrator holds up a sign reading “Phobia- Human Rights” during in a Gay Pride demonstration, on June 8, 2013 in Bucharest. Some 400 people took to the streets of Bucharest for a Gay Pride parade overshadowed by a controversial amendment to the Romanian constitution banning same-sex marriage. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images)
- An asylum seeker from Uganda covers his face with a paper bag in order to protect his identity as he marches with the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force during the Gay Pride Parade in Boston, June 8, 2013. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
- Kayshia Nicolas, right and her twin sister Katiana pose for a photo with NBA player Jason Collins before the start of the Gay Pride Parade in Boston, June 8, 2013. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
- Participants hold up banners and balloons as they take part in the Athens gay pride parade on June 8, 2013. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)
- People take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
- A dancer gestures to the crowd as he takes part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
- People take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
- People take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
- People take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
- Dancers chat as they take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv June 7, 2013. Thousands of revelers paraded on the streets of Israel’s free-wheeling city of Tel Aviv, which has become a Mediterranean hotspot for gay tourism. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
- Revelers take part in the 17th annual Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 2, 2013. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)
- Revelers take part in the 17th annual Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 2, 2013. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)
- Revelers take part in the 17th annual Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 2, 2013. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)
- Stephanee Grosscup and Nicole Fielding cheer during the gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2, 2013. Both Mormons and members of the Boy Scouts marched with members of LGBT community and their supporters as part of the Utah Pride Festival. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)
- Retired soccer player David Testo, the first American professional soccer player to come out as gay, is the grand marshal in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)
- Mormon couple Michael Twede, left, and Spencer Smith hold hands as they march in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2, 2013. Both Mormons and members of the Boy Scouts marched with members of LGBT community and their supporters as part of the Utah Pride Festival. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)
- People take part in the 19th Gay Pride organised by LGPM (Lesbian and Gay Pride Montpellier) on June 1, 2013 in Montpellier, France. (Sylvain Thomas/AFP/Getty Images)
Margaret
Jul 10, 2013 @ 00:50:54
I am a Christian, and like David I do not believe God, our loving God, has put us on this earth to judge each other. That is His province, and His alone. As a Catholic I was taught to love the outcast, the ones who society rejected. I have had gay friends most of my life, and last year one of m sons came out to me. God has blessed me with this wonderful human being, and I WILL fight for him, as will his father, brothers, and extended family, so that he can live a peaceful life, free of hatred and abuse, with a spouse and children, if he so chooses. Those outlandish behaviors some of you complain about, are GLBT ways of saying “We are here. Deal with it!” If people were more open to letting others live a peaceful life, not harming anyone, then there would not be the need for the behavior others complain about. We need to see more of the outlandish behavior until all realize we are all equal under God’s eyes.
Jeremiah
Jun 19, 2013 @ 13:58:22
My reaction is that Bessie is a false apostle. Please consider Corinthians 2, 11:13 “for such are false apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose ends shall be according to their works.”
Let us examine Betsy’s actions in contrast to that of the “Nor’easters of Perversion”. If “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1–Then Betsy is hoping for a calamitous end rather than doing any work to improve it. In fact, her hateful words and speech are the type of uninformed religious rhetoric that inspires, educates, and incites others to the deleterious actions of violence and hatred that plague our country today.
For example, hate crimes in the United States against LGBTQ persons are on the rise–whereas, hate crimes are generally declining–according to the FBI and National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. A good summary and sources can be found at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-sexual-continuum/201306/are-violent-hate-crimes-against-lgbt-people-the-rise.
Ironically, the reported level of hate crimes in the U.S. has now reached a level nearly equal to hate crimes based on religion. Yet, religious groups are the principal pushers of hate against persons who are LGBTQ. The Klu Klux Klan, The Westboro Church, American Truth, and Abiding Truth Ministries are just a few examples. These organizations all claim to be Christian-based, but does not the bible admonisth “do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”–James 4:11-12.
By contrast, the Gay Rights movement seeks to allow persons who love one another to fully benefit from the full protection of the American state. It adovocates for people to have the ability to obtain their God-given right to choose whom they will love. It demands that we live up to the ideal of equal protection under the law!
Who’s work is more exemplary of the example set by Christ? The path of hatred and violence or the path of love, unification, and peace. My only real reaction to Bessie and those like her can best be summed up by the prophet for whom I am named “listen not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the Mouth of the Lord!”–Jeremiah 23:16
David
Jun 19, 2013 @ 10:43:11
I have multiple family members who are LBGT. I love them dearly, and I accept them for who they are, great people. I am also one of those “born-again” types. But, kind of like the rainbow spectrum that is LBGT, so is the spectrum of the born-again’s. You see, I am not a perfect person, if I were, I might try to change everyone to be more like me. I just want to trust my creator, God, to make me the best me that I can be. And, I hope that my creator will help me to effect this world in positive, loving ways that build people up, and help them see that my creator just wants to help them be the best them too. I can’t change people’s hearts, that’s God’s area of expertise. I won’t even claim to know what he will change in my own heart, let alone someone else’s. I just try to remember that I am imperfect, and that keeps me a little bit humble. Humble, loving, compassionate people don’t hate other people. I hope that I don’t hate anyone, and if I figure out that I do, I hope I have the humilty to make that right. I guess what I am trying to say is God loves every one of his creation, whether they are LBGT, straight, black, white, tan, or some other color along the spectrum. So, I hope we will all stop hating each other. Peace!!!
Henry John Ceslewski Jr
Jun 18, 2013 @ 17:47:07
I’m fearful that “Stonewall” & “Pride” are now more of a.marketing tool for GLBT organization’s cash flow than anything else. Oh, we have.much to be proud of. We survived a plague, perhaps even genocide. We remembered and mourned the dead. We came out … to GOD & everyone else. But now too many are enslaved to addiction (s ) and. Worse. Why is anyone becoming infected with HIV in2013 ? Where is the RAGE ?
Bessie
Jun 11, 2013 @ 22:42:26
(I would like to share something that I ran into on the web. Any reactions anyone?)
USA – from Puritans to Impure-itans
Is there a connection between beautiful New England and entire American cities turned into smoking rubble? There is.
Take same-sex marriage. I would have guessed that a “sin” city (San Francisco? Las Vegas?) would have been the first to legalize it.
Oddly it’s been the place where America started that’s wanted to be the first place to help bring about the end of America and its values! It’s been a Nor’easter of Perversion (helping to fulfill the end time “days of Lot” predicted in Luke 17) that began in (you guessed it) Boston in 2004.
New England has gone from the Mayflower Compact to the Gay Power Impact, from Providence to decadence, from Bible thumpers to God dumpers, from university to diversity to perversity, and from the land of the Great Awakening to God’s Future Shakening that will make the Boston bombings look like Walden Pond ripples by comparison!
The same Nor’easter has been spreading south and as far west as Washington State where, after swelling up with pride, Mt. Rainier may wish to celebrate shame-sex marriage by having a blast that Seaddlepated folks can share in lava-land!
The same Luke 17 prediction is tied to the Book of Revelation which speaks of the cities that God will flatten because of same-sexism – including American cities – a scenario I’ll have to accept since I can’t create my own universe and decree rules for it.
I’ve just been analyzing the world’s terminal “religion” that has its “god,” its accessories, its “rites,” and even a flag. It’s an obsession that the infected converts are willing to live for, fight for – and even die for!
Want more facts? Google “God to Same-Sexers: Hurry Up,” “Government-Approved Illegals,” “FOR GAYS ONLY: Jesus predicted” and “The Background Obama Can’t Cover Up.”
Billy Wingartenson
Jun 11, 2013 @ 03:45:22
tks BSun, for the pix. the 7th one – “I have 2 gay sons” I know them, they belong to Pflag in Columbia and also have one str8 daughter.
Billy Wingartenson
Jun 11, 2013 @ 03:38:31
I was at DC sat. Unfortunately the religious nutjobs showed up. They believe BTW that the only people who go to heaven (vs hell ) are they alone – the “born agains”. That means that they condemn 99% of the worlds population to hell. Nice People
Fortunately we had a screaming session and some guy had a different kind of cross that made a fool of them. Prob 500 younger people, gay and str8, laughed their head off re that “cross” and wont ever believe in that kind of religious bull droppings
It was a job well done by the guy. And we also had lots of same sex kissing. The old adage re the anti gay EXTREMIST (anti christ ) xtians applies – the religious fools rushed in where angels fear to tread
Come to balt – we have more surprises for the religious nutters. If you don’t like gays marrying go to the places where it wont happen for a thousand years. Afghanistan etc, and commie Russia.