By the end of the 1960s many gay men and women had had enough with human rights violations, hiding in the closet whether they wanted to or not because of likely public humiliation, bullying and outright violence against them if they lived life authentically as themselves. Everything was on the line – jobs, families, friendships. But there is only so long you can shake a can of soda before it explodes and that’s exactly what happened on June 28, 1969 during what is now infamously known as the Stonewall uprising.

The Beginning of Change

After midnight on a muggy and hot Friday night in June 1969, the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village was packed when police officers entered the bar. As they began making arrests, officers were met with resistance and pushback.

At about 4 a.m. the mob of protestors outside the Stonewall had become so enormous and rebellious that the NYPD officers who first raided the bar retreated into the Stonewall itself, barricading themselves inside. Some rioters used a parking meter to break through the door; others threw beer bottles, trash and other objects, or made firebombs. No one died or was critically injured, although a few police officers reported minor injuries. That uprising that would launch a new era of resistance and revolution within the gay community.

The First Gay Pride Parade

It was only five months after those riots that gay activists proposed an annual march In New York City on the last Saturday of June to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the raid. There would be no dress or age regulations. They suggested the word, “pride” as a slogan. The official march chant became, “say it loud, gay is proud” and that first event was called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March in honor of the Stonewall Inn’s Greenwich Village location.

Pride parades have continued over the years becoming more organized and mainstream and parades are now held in many countries across the globe. One of the largest is still held in New York. In 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, about 150,000 people marched in a more than 12-hour-long parade while about five million people attended the city’s Pride event.

New York City Pride Parade 2022

The gay rights movement has come a long way since that fateful night. Although festivities are meant to be activist in nature, many people of all sexual orientations and ethnicities have embraced Pride parades as being events of acceptance and love.

This year, NYC’s Pride celebration promises to be a mix of both in-person and virtual events. After the rally and the street festival Pride Fest, the Pride parade will take place on Sunday, June 26 with rainbow-clad activists and allies taking to the streets supporting global LGBTQ rights.

What to Expect this Year in New York

The starting point of the Pride parade is in the heart of Chelsea, at 16th Street and Seventh Avenue; from there, the parade heads south on Seventh Avenue toward Christopher Street, veering east through the Village and over to Eighth Street, before turning north on Fifth Avenue, concluding at 29th Street.

This year, the second annual Pride Island (formerly known as the Dance on the Pier) will move uptown to a new location in Hell’s Kitchen – Pier 97, at 57th Street and the West Side Highway. It will have the same great Hudson River views, the same electric DJs and dancing all afternoon and into the night.

Sunday sees PRIDEfest – the annual LGBT street fair – held on Hudson Street between Abingdon Square and West 14th Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are several other parties like the rooftop VIP party.

Major parties and celebrations take place over one big weekend. Main events are the Rally (the earliest of the events, taking place on Friday); and PRIDEfest, the parade, and the Dance on the Pier all taking place on Sunday. Most events happen in the West Village, very close to the city’s other gay-popular neighborhoods like Chelsea and the East Village.

With about one million spectators and 500,000 participants in New York’s Pride parade, it might be wise to begin planning for the trip now if you’d like to attend. With everything to see and do during Pride, having comfortable as well as exceptionally luxurious accommodations is essential. Townhouse Neri is one of the most astounding New York luxury townhomes available. It’s close to all the action, including high-end retail shops and fine dining. This home presents the epitome of comfort between seven sumptuous bedrooms and three fireplaces across five floors. It has a private elevator, amazing outdoor dining and staff quarters.

London Pride Parade, 2022

London’s Pride parade attracts thousands of visitors from across the UK and beyond. This year, the parade takes place on Saturday, July 2. You will find gay bars and gay friendly restaurants dotted across the city. Many of the more famous venues are clustered around Soho and Vauxhall. London Pride features more than 30,000 people participating and up to one million spectators. The parade leaves from Baker Street to Whitehall with 200 community groups, companies, charities and organizations walking and dancing along the way.

What to Expect this Year in London

The main stage is at Trafalgar square where you’ll find British and international acts and DJs entertaining after the parade with the party lasting long into the night.

The following gay bars and clubs will also host events during London Pride:

• Heaven – Charing Cross
• VFD – Dalston
• Royal Vauxhall Tavern – Vauxhall
• G-A-Y Late – Soho
• The White Swan – Limehouse
• Dalston Superstore – Dalston Kingsland
• Two Brewers – Clapham North
• The Eagle – Vauxhall

When you’re in London for all the Pride festivities, Penthouse William is the place to stay for unparalleled style and luxury. In the prestigious London neighborhood of St. James, this lavish home is close to all the prestigious landmarks – the Shard, the London Eye, Green Park, the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. The amenities are amazing, some of which include a private elevator, massage room, gym, bar, cinema room and library.

Paris Pride Parade, 2022

The Paris Gay Pride Parade or Marche des Fiertés LGBTQ, is a major demonstration with about 700,000 spectators and participants taking part annually. The parade culminates with a huge party in Place de la République. The iconic event is the largest Pride parade in France, and brings together about 90 different organizations and associations fighting for equal rights for people from the LGBTQ community.

What to Expect this Year in Paris

The parade will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 from the church of Pantin (in the suburbs), toward Porte de Pantin (metro station) then Avenue Jean Jaurès (Paris 19th arrondissement), boulevard Magenta and end at Place de la République. Following the parade, plenty of local gay bars and clubs also host a series of different parties sure to keep you experiencing your pride in the City of Light well into the night. Organizers are still adding events to this year’s festivities, but some things you can expect: Exhibitions, concerts, roller skating, conferences, bingo, queer drinks, debates, film screenings, picnics, dance and sports demonstrations, voguing performances, seminars, festive evenings, and clubbing, among other things.

If you are a supporter of the Pride parades, celebrating in Paris is a wonderful idea. The Paris parade is not just a fun event; it’s important to anyone who wants an open, inclusive society. To fully participate, you’ll want to see the speeches at the start of the March. But when the marching is done, Pride continues in cafés and bars all over the city. Organizers say Pride isn’t just a party – it’s about LGBT equality, rights and visibility.

When you need some respite from the revelry, you will want somewhere totally amazing to wind down. Townhouse Amanda is definitely the place and one of the most stunning Paris luxury townhomes. It is incredibly private on Ile Saint Germain on the banks of the Seine. It is also incredibly chic, sleek and seductive with an outdoor pool, patio, bar, fireplace and a piano. Four sumptuous bedrooms accommodate up to eight discerning guests in utmost comfort, style, and discretion.

With thousands of people flocking to these major cities for Pride parades, if you would like to attend one of these events, we suggest starting to plan now. We invite you to reach out to an LVH client relations team member who will put everything into motion, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. In addition to elite accommodations with full services and around-the-clock support, we will also build a personal itinerary for you for whichever destination you choose. There are also VIP parties that go along with Pride celebrations and should you wish to attend, just leave it to us. Our only concern is that you have the most amazing time ever!