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Get Gay, Boston! Plenty of Pride to be proud of – Metro US

Get Gay, Boston! Plenty of Pride to be proud of

FRIDAY, JUNE 1

Pride Flag Raising, noon

The forecast is sunny and warm as Mayor Menino and members of the Boston City Council help kick off Boston’s 42nd annual Gay Pride Celebration. Join them as they raise the rainbow flag high atop City Hall Plaza.

Venus in RETRO-grade Pride Week Kick-Off ’70s party

10 p.m., House of Blues

Trip the light fantastic as DJ Maryalice spins the greatest hits of this solid gold era. Best ’70s costume prize includes tickets to Stevie Nicks.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

13th Annual Pride Day at Faneuil Hall, 10 a.m.

Faneuil Hall, one of the most popular tourist spots in America, once again joins the party with their very own Pride Day. The family-friendly event features music from the Mike Nolan Band, Steppers Heaven Band, Berklee student Sarah Walk and the Marshall’s Band. The South End Show Stopperz, an all-girl teenage dance troupe, will be doing some hip-hop and the cast of “Cupcake” will perform several numbers from their show. The host(ess) for the day’s festivities will be drag diva Raquel Blake, but don’t expect to see her much before noon. (It takes time to look that fabulous.)

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

AIDS Walk Boston, 7:30 a.m.

On June 1, 1986 4,000 people raised $325,000 at “From All Walks of Life” to support the work of AIDS Action Committee. Since then, nearly 300,000 people have raised more than $35 million but the epidemic continues. Join 15,000-plus people in AIDS Walk (&5k run) Boston. Festivities begin and end at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.

Tea Dance for LGBT Seniors & Friends, 3:30 p.m.

Brookline Holiday Inn

If it weren’t for LGBT Seniors, there’d be no Pride celebration. Party with the people who fought the fight you don’t have to.

MONDAY, JUNE 4

Drag Bingo: Pride Edition,

7:30 p.m., Club Café

Not just another game of drag bingo. The Pride edition features Constance Waverly, Roxy Pops, surprise guests and special prizes.

Pride Pageant

7 p.m., Club Machine

Good luck getting last year’s gender-bending sensation Rhonda Bout to give up her crown. She doesn’t go down easy. Hosted by Lakia Mondale and Raquel Blake, this battle for the tiara features kings, queens and some in-be-tweens. Special guest judge La-trice Royale of “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” will add some glitterati to the already fabulous event.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

Pridelights!

6:30 p.m., Club Café

The 19th annual celebration of community is hosted by the legendary Verna Turbulence and features many of the city’s hottest drag performers.

TEMPTATION Tuesday

9 p.m., Paradise, Cambridge

The weekly dance party is being “re-imagined” as it kicks off Pride festivities at Paradise. Join Fena Barbitall, Raquel Blake, the sexy Boys of Paradise and the badass Bitches of Destiny for a wild evening of dancing and drinking you’ll (hopefully) never forget. All proceeds benefit Boston Pride.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6

Pride Idol Finale, 6:30 p.m.

Revere Hotel

Hosted by Hedda Lettuce, the original Pride singing competiti-on offers one contestant a $500 cash prize and the chance to sing at the Boston Pride Festival at City Hall Plaza. Judged by Mix 104.1’s Fast Freddy and the Inside Track’s Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, this sing-off is sure to boast talents that would leave Randy, Steven and J-Lo speechless.

The Queen’s Voice Pride Week Finals

6 p.m., Club Café

And in the other corner…the newcomer to the competition circuit. Hosted by Fresh Fruit’s Michael Gaucher and Rodney Vanderwarker, this new kid on the block offers bigger cash prizes ($1,500 and $500) and the chance for lip-synchers to compete as well. Special celebrity judges Phi Phi O’Hara and Dida Ritz from (where else) “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Pride Memorial Candlelight Vigil

7 p.m., New England Holocaust Memorial, near Faneuil Hall

The 19th annual vigil is a tribute to all LGBT people who have been persecuted, oppressed or murdered, especially during the Holocaust. The interfaith service features readings, meditations, singing and a candlelight walk through the Memorial to the plaque honoring the homosexuals targeted by the Nazis.

Latin Pride Night

10 p.m., Rumor

Join DJ Adilson, the hottest Box Boy Dancers in town and NYC’s Lady Bunny for a wild start to your second Pride Weekend.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7

Macy’s Fashion Show

5 p.m., Downtown Crossing, Boston

Check out the summer’s must-have styles at a special fashion presentation featuring members of Boston Pride.

Get Ready for This! The Music of the ’90s

John Hancock Hall at the Back Bay Events Center

Through Sunday, June 10

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates the “REAL Gay ’90s” with the music of Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, the Backstreet Boys, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Boyz II Men and an over-the-top medley of 50 of the decade’s best.

Pam Ann, 8 p.m., Wilbur Theatre

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a raucously kitschy ride. The glamorous Pam Ann will take you for the flight of your life in this uproarious delight. Let’s hope you land in one piece.

Glamlife

9 p.m., Estate

Recent “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” fave Sharon Needles joins the fun.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8

Boston Dyke March

6 p.m., meets at the Boston Common Gazebo

According to organizers, “the Boston Dyke March is for everyone! Lesbians, dykes, queers, bi-women, boychicks, tomboys, grrrls, femmes, butches, transwomen, androgs, transmen, bois, womanists, sorority girls with pearls who are sleeping together, dykes on bikes, gender-queers, goddesses” and anyone else who wants to march for political change and social justice. Bring your drums, noisemakers, whistles, signs, scooters and bikes.

Dyke March Afterparty

9 p.m., FELT

Party in style as women take over FELT for an evening that features DJ Maryalice, complimentary appetizers until 10 p.m. and an amazing performance by a silk-ribbon aerialist.

Gays for Patsy Pride Dance!

9 p.m., First Church of Jamaica Plain

Everyone’s welcome, and no partner is required to partake in country dancing. Enjoy two-stepping, line dancing and swing dancing in a friendly, smoke-free, alcohol-free environment.

Pre-Parade Pride Party

9 p.m., Machine

Hosted by everyone’s favorite off-color video parody vixen Sherry Vine, this party will definitely sell out early, so get your tickets in advance. Sean Paul Lockhart (or Brent Corrigan to those who prefer his nonmainstream films) will also be on hand as the duo promote their upcoming film “Welcome to New York.”

Queer Fridays Pride at Night

9 p.m., Guilt

Queer Fridays Pride celebration features “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum and DJ Nina Flowers.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

34th Annual Pride

Interfaith Service

9:30 a.m., Old South Church

Brothers and sisters from many faiths worship together with song, prayer and celebration. Special guest speaker is Rev. Catha-rine A. Cummings of Boston’s Union Methodist Church. All clergy are invited to vest and process.

Pre-Parade Pride Service

11 a.m., Arlington Street Church

Even if you’re just checking out the balloons that festively decorate the 150-year-old church, you won’t be disappointed. Following the service, all are invited to march under the ASC banner in the …

Boston Pride Parade, noon

The theme, “Celebrating 30 Years of Worldwide Pride Movement,” honors the annual InterPride conference which will be held in Boston this October. The parade’s Grand Marshals are Mix 104.1’s Fast Freddy and the Massachu-setts Transgender Political Coalition. The Honorary Marshal is the late Brendan Burke, a Canton native and hockey player who received national attention when he came out as a sophomore in college and advocated tolerance in professional sports. Despite rumors to the contrary, the parade will be winding its way through the South End to its big finish at City Hall Plaza — so there will be plenty of prime viewing spots along the parade route.

Boston Pride Festival

Noon, City Hall Plaza

The final stop on the parade route features food, vendors, artists, a beer and wine lounge and a family zone. Headlining entertainers include Alexis Jordan, Rye Rye and Kerli. Grand Marshal Fast Freddy and Kiss 108’s Gay Jim Clerkin host the event, which also features special performances by drag divas extraordinaire Sabrina Blaze and Kris Knievel. Rain or shine. Due to the large crowd, taking the T to Government Center is strongly advised.

Pride Day at Club Cafe, 1 p.m.

DJ Cliff spins the greatest gay anthems and dance hits. Susan Esthera takes over at 7 p.m. for the hottest dance party on the parade route.

Boston Gay Rights Fund Block Party, 1:30 p.m.

This is THE block party. The annual benefit for the AIDS Action Committee attracts 5,000 sweaty, scantily clad men (and those who love them) for drinking and dancing until dusk.

Esme Women’s Block Party

2 p.m.

DJ Linda Lowell provides the music for this hot, sweaty girl-on-girl gathering.

Lush Pride Party

7 p.m., Machine

Now in its fifth year, the wildly popular women’s pride party boasts four bars, two dance floors, go-go dancers and gravity-defying pole dancers. DJ Jodi (of Ogunquit Tea Dance fame) opens the night with a mix of top 40, hip hop, retro, rock and Latin music. DJs Dena and LeahV take over the music in Machine and the lounge at 10. Avoid long lines and the inevitable sell-out by getting your tickets in advance.

Pride Youth Dance

Superhero Edition

7 p.m., Quincy Market

Second Floor Rotunda

Pride’s official under-21 dance party kicks into high gear immediately following the Festival.

Boston Pride at Night Main Event

10:30 p.m., House of Blues

One of the hottest parties of the week, the Main Event has sold out in years past. DJ Hector Fonseca (official remixer of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Katy Perry) will be spinning the music. Don’t be left outside with your shirt on.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10

Back Bay Block Party, noon

St. James Avenue, between

Arlington and Berkeley Streets

Due to construction, the annual Stuart Street Block Party will move one block to St. James Avenue. Don’t worry: The shirtless, sweaty, dancing men and the people who party with them are moving as well. DJ Tracy Young provides the music for your final shot at a hot, wild time under the sun.

JP Block Party

Noon, Perkins Street between Centre and South Huntington

Break out the board shorts for this Hawaiian-inspired party that includes a Dogs and Drag Fashion Show and live music by Shelly Cullen, Double D, Super Squirrel, Magee and LeahV. It’s the one place you’re pretty much guaranteed to get lei’d.

Queen Size Hot Mess!

Pride Finale

10 p.m., Royale Boston

In case you haven’t had enough, you’ve got one final shot at celebrating Pride. Richie LaDue provides the music for this Pride edition of “Boston’s dirty little secret,” Hot Mess! Sundays.

LOCATIONS

Brookline Holiday Inn, 1200 Beacon Street, Brookline

Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston

Club Machine, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston

First Church of Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain

Guilt, 75 Warrenton Street, Boston

House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston

Old South Church, 645 Boylston Street at Dartmouth, Boston

Paradise, 180 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart Street, Boston

Royale Boston, 279 Tremont Street, Boston

Rumor, 100 Warrenton Street, Boston

Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street, Boston

HELPFUL WEB ADDRESSES

www.aidswalkboston.org

www.bostondykemarch.com

www.bostonpride.org

www.dykenight.com

www.gaysforpatsy.org