Central Park Pride

Central Park has a vast history of influence from gay culture that dates back to its very beginnings. This weekend it will again be a source of pride and joy for thousands of New Yorkers during Gay Pride. Since DOMA has been struck down, the festivities are expected to have an incredible boost, including the New York City Gay Pride March set to take place tomorrow.

While the route now starts at 36th Street and 5th Avenue and ends at Christopher and Greenwich Streets, the first march in U.S. history, dubbed “Liberation Day” took place in 1970 - marking the one-year anniversary of the riots at Stonewall. It began at Christopher Street and culminated with a “Gay Be-In” at Sheep Meadow in Central Park. Two thousand marchers began timidly, uncertain of the resistance they might encounter and whether they would even make it the 51 blocks. The parade permit was delivered only two hours before the march commenced. But confidence, enthusiasm and PRIDE grew as hundreds and eventually thousands of supporters joined in along the way and cheered on from sidewalks and out of windows. 

Forty-three years later, Central Park is still a significant part of Pride and serves as the location for the 5 mile LGBT Pride Run (see photo top), an annual event coordinated by Front Runners - a running club for lesbians, gay men and supportive others - along with the New York Road Runners and 6,000 others. The event is followed by a post-race raffle, prizes and an after party.

Central Park also has many queer secrets, a lot of which can be learned through the Secrets of Gay History in Central Park tour. Find out how The Ramble earned its reputation as a gay icon and learn more about the designer of the Angel of the Waters sculpture at Bethesda Fountain and the lesbian lover it was designed after.

Same sex weddings in Central Park are the newest addition to the Park's gay history, since June 2011. Couples like Julian & Andrew (see photo right) come from all over the world to tie the knot with our wedding planning partner, I Do New York, in this iconic New York landmark.

There is no doubt that Gay Pride will permeate the city this weekend. Take a break from the village and come up to Central Park to see what it's all about.