Seattle Prepares for 2012 Pride

Seattle is a progressive city. There's no question about that. So it should come as no surprise that the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest throws the biggest Pride celebration in the region. With visitors flying in from around the country and the rain (finally) giving way to the sun, Seattle Pride blossoms as the party of the season.

Seattleites like to get the party started early, so things begin happening June 21 and culminate on Pride Sunday, June 24, with the Parade in Downtown Seattle and the PrideFest at Seattle Center, where the Space Needle sits.

With so much to see and do, it would be impossible to tell our out-of-town friends just one place to go. But Pride revelers can never go wrong if they seek out Seattle's gayborhood, Capitol Hill. With gay-owned and operated restaurants, bars and nightclubs the Hill (as locals refer to it) is the place to be.

Neighbours Seattle (1509 Broadway) has been helping crowds celebrate Pride for three decades. Purr Cocktail (1518 11th Avenue) is a great video bar with a hugely popular Pride outdoor block party you won't want to miss. R Place (619 East Pine St) is a Seattle gay staple with nightly dance parties and guest entertainers to help you celebrate Pride.

Seattle's only official lesbian bar, Wildrose (1021 East Pike) produces a giant block party where everyone is welcome -- but ladies come first. The newly opened The Social (1715 East Olive Way) is making a statement by throwing a Pride party that's sure to attract locals and visitors alike.

If bars and clubs aren't your forte, you could always check out Julia's on Broadway (300 Broadway East), a local restaurant that is all about the campier things in life. Julia's produces a weekly female impersonation show, Le Faux, which is the number one celebrity drag show in the region. Just down the street from Julia's you'll find The Grill on Broadway (314 Broadway East), which serves up cuisine and Pride fun all weekend.

Seattle Out & Proud (SO&P), the organization that's responsible for the annual Seattle Pride Parade, has been hard at work planning an amazing Pride season for everyone. SO&P is a non-profit organization; sponsorships and donations are used to offset expenses required to produce the year-round celebrations.

Each year, SO&P starts with Pride Idol, a singing competition that begins in March and continues through June. With nearly 100 participants, the final winner performs aboard the Pride Idol float during the Seattle Pride Parade.

The second big event is the Pride picnic. During June, SO&P produces a picnic held in Volunteer Park (1247 15th Avenue East). This is a family friendly event where they provide lunch, games and music!

Parade Celebrates "Many Faces of Pride"

The largest event is the Seattle Pride Parade. This parade is always a climax of the celebratory weekend on the last Sunday in June. It historically honors the Stonewall Rebellion, marking the start of the gay rights movement in 1969.

More than 120 parade entries from different organizations, employers, sponsors and movements participate in this event. This event brings public awareness to current issues while also providing and advertising resources that support diversity, equal rights and community.

On June 24, Seattle Pride will host its 38th annual Pride Parade kicking off at 11 a.m. from 4th Avenue & Union streets, and proceeding north down 4th Avenue to Denny Way. It will last approximately two and a half hours and will be held rain or shine.

The theme of this year's Pride Parade is "The Many Faces of Pride," celebrating the myriad ways in which diversity enhances and enlivens our collective experience as a cohesive community.

Parade Grand Marshals include Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, Ingersoll Gender Center Founder Marsha Botzer, activist Ben Crowther, and the organizations the Center for Spiritual Living, Entre Hermanos, Equal Rights Washington, The Trevor Project and the Youth Suicide Prevention Project.

The biggest Pride party is Seattle PrideFest, by One Degree events at Seattle Center. In 2011, more than 100,000 people -- a record number -- attended the festival. This year promises to be even bigger with four stages, a full weekend of events, a family and kids area, more than 100 artists, men's and women's parties and hundreds of vendors.

The festival is scheduled for June 24 from noon-8 p.m., immediately following the Downtown Pride Parade. This year's headlining acts include Cazwell, Debby Holiday, DJ Phil B, Peppermint, and Vockah Redu.

PrideFest is the biggest LGBT party in the Northwest, by a long shot!