Dear friends of Pride,

Bells ringing, champagne bottles popping and happy tears—last week people across the Commonwealth celebrated the fifth anniversary of marriage equality in the Commonwealth. Five years of having the choice of whether or not to have our partnerships recognized as equal has solidified what happens when our community comes together. Five years since those first “I dos” were said, we’re reminded of the incredible progress being made toward equality across the country with Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa and now Maine recognizing marriage equality as well.

Come see what happens when community comes together. Come celebrate with us. Come show your Pride June 5-14, 2009.

The Boston Pride Committee

Boston Pride Block Parties are the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and two locations make it easy to get out and party! Come feel the heat on the street when Boston’s queer nation take over the streets of Boston's neighborhoods!

Boston Pride presents
the 9th Annual
Stuart Street Block Party

Sunday June 14th, 2009
12noon to 8pm

free before 2pm
$10 afterwards
all proceeds benefit Boston Pride

exceptional set by
DJ Joe Gauthreaux - NYC

www.djjoegauthreaux.com

opening sets by

DJ Ranny www.myspace.com/djranny

&

DJ Shpank www.shpank.com

open to all, but 21+ with valid picture ID to drink

5 full bars
hot drink specials
gorgeous dancers!

Recycling will be in effect, help us make Pride greener!

T: Arlington T stop on Green Line
Entrance at the corner of Stuart St and Berkeley St

June 14, 12 – 7 pm

Join the girls at Perkins Street in JP for the fourth annual Boston Pride Block Party.

This street party will feature body art, Boston Pride merchandise, giveaways, food, cocktails (even the non-alcoholic kind!) and more!

New this year, we'll be introducing two of the hottest women DJs! DJ Kristin Korpos and DJ Jodi.

DJ Kristin Korpos www.djkristinkorpos.com

DJ Jodi www.djjodi.com

They'll keep you on your feet all day long spinning hot dance music!

Our bartenders will serve up your summer refreshments and offer drink specials along with non-alcoholic beverage choices in our alcohol free area. And you can dine all day at our food carts serving hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, fruit and more!

What's HOTTER and more fun than a bunch of guys and gals sweating it up in spandex to smoking hot dance tunes?! Not much!

Come participate in the 1st ever "Cycle for Pride" Cycle-A-Thon on Saturday, June 13th from2 - 6pm at the Boston Pride Festival and help raise both awareness and much-needed revenue for Boston Pride.

CycleEssence is an indoor cycling studio located in northern RI near the MA border and this year they’re coming to Boston with fabulous, high quality indoor cycling bikes and a fundraising program for Boston Pride.

[more info]

Pride Season has begun! Boston Pride Committee members were happy to march in the Northampton Pride Parade on May 2. Couldn't be there? Here's what you missed:

Linda Eder Sings Judy Garland
with Keith Lockhart, conductor

Tuesday, June 9 – Reception 7 pm, Concert 8 pm

Spend a treasured evening with the versatile and beloved Judy Garland whose songs will be sung by the brilliant Linda Eder, one of the greatest solo voices of our time. In a program that showcases her extravagant vocal gifts, Eder will sing such Judy Garland favorites as "By Myself, "Me and My Shadow," "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," "Almost Like Being in Love," and "Over the Rainbow."

Don't forget – register your group for the Pride Parade today, and don't miss out on being a part of the greatest parade in Boston! Last year's Pride Parade boasted over 125 groups with over 10,000 marchers, including 46 floats and 120 motorcycles, plus over half a million people in attendance!

Register for the Parade today!

Do you own a business? Do you know someone who does? The Boston Pride Festival is where it all comes together. The Parade empties into the City Hall Plaza, and YOU could be one of the great vendors that get business from nearly 100,000 attendees! Talk about great exposure for your company!

Get your application in today!

Boston Pride Idol is back and better than ever!

Audition dates have been set!

May 13th - 7pm - Club Cafe
May 14th - 9:30pm - Midway Cafe
May 20th - 7pm - Club Cafe
May 21st - 9:30pm - Midway Cafe
May 27th - 7pm - Club Cafe
May 28th - 7pm - Randolph Country Club

The winner of Pride Idol will walk away with a great prize package and a chance to perform at the Pride Festival!

Due to the popularity of this awesome event, we recommend getting your audition form in early in order to secure an audition time.

Get ready to be the next Pride Idol! Send questions and completed audition forms to idol@bostonpride.org ASAP!

Show your support for Boston Pride 2009 and your community by becoming a Pride volunteer. As a volunteer you start making a difference and have fun while it happens! There are volunteer opportunities for people of almost all skills, backgrounds, and ability levels, so sign up today!

Want to find out more about Volunteering with Pride? The Boston Pride Committee will be hosting a few drop in volunteer gatherings during the month of May in the hopes of enlisting your service! So, come by, have some nosh, learn about what we do and what kind of help we need, and meet some cool folks. Find out more about dates, times, and places here.