LGBT Pride Across The United States

San Francisco Pride: sfpride.org

The world-renowned pride festival originated from the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a flashpoint in the LGBT rights movement. This was the first gay pride march in history, making way for rights groups across America. The parade is made up of hundreds of contingents like Dykes on Bikes, and PFLAG for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Capital Pride: capitalpride.org

One of the biggest in the country, the parade and festival can bring in more than 200,000 people. Washington D.C’s Capital Pride is a nine-day festival celebrating the diversity and achievement of the LGBT community. Last year, a United States Armed Forces color guard participated in the parade, the first time an officially sanctioned guard marched in a pride event.

OutFest: outfest.org

The popular Los Angeles event has been a staple of the community for more than 30 years. OutFest is home to the Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival, showcasing hundreds of films highlighting the LGBT experience. There are also parties, discussion panels and family programs, making this a unique pride festival that has something for everyone.

Houston Gay Pride: pridehouston.org

Texas might be one of the most conservative states in the country, but Houston’s LGBT community is also one of the largest and most vocal. Like everything else in the state, Houston’s festival is big, drawing more than 300,000 a year. Annise Parker helped arrange the parade at sunset in 1997, and she has since gone on to become the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. city.

NYC Pride: nycpride.org

Considered to be one of the world’s top LGBT celebrations, NYC Pride is a weeklong festival celebrating the freedom and struggle of the gay community. The party culminates with a march by the Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall Riots that launched the modern gay rights movement. The parade proceeds with millions of spectators down Fifth Avenue and finishes in Greenwich Village.