Why PRIDEfest Was Canceled

I guess its a sign. I'm not into the whole pride circuit thing. I've never been to one and never had the desire to go to one. I've gone to ones to participate in the different forums that talked about important issues but never did the whole parade/festivity thing. I was gonna go this year because I figured well...I'll do it while I'm 29 cuz I really don't plan on doin that mess post 30. But, its been canceled. So...I guess its a sign.

What sign are you referring to? Are you referring to their refusal to do it because it isn't accessible to all LGBT people? Because that's a great sign in the movement that they're concerned about LGBT people of differing ages, physical abilities and LGBT parents with children. If you're referring to the denial of the permit, then I would say that's a not so encouraging sign from the city of New York.

Well I was being facetious but if you MUST know what "sign" I was referring to it was moreso the sign that after all these years I was gonna go and now the damn thing has been canceled. So, I was saying its a sign that perhaps I wasn't meant to go. Surely I know its bigger than little ole me. Again, was being facetious.

It would seem the festival is the only one of the five events being canceled. There are still 4 events for you.

I only know the parade down 5th Avenue and the dance on the pier. What is (or was) PrideFEST anyway?

Yes, my friend just informed me that I'm not getting out that easy. So...oh joy...now I have something to live for.

The above link shows details of what would have been included in the festival (scroll down). Besides the parade and dance on Sunday 6/24, there's a rally at Bryant Park on 6/17 and a women's dance on 6/23.

Yes, and being your first time, I'm sure you've heard about the 'first timers club'. We've all had to go through this. Now it's your turn.
You must strut around all day in either a lime green or neon orange thong for every event. Then provide pics to the Outsports family to prove you were actually there.
And no cheating. We'll know.

Thanks, Joe. I still don't see where it gives too much detail about exactly what Pridefest is, but re-reading I did see the one part about normal street vendors taking over and their problem with the location. So I gather that they're talking about the little street fair that's at the end of the Pride Parade each year. Could this be true?

I gotta say, if they are talking about that little street fair, I'm kinda surprised. I didn't know anyone even much cared about those booths. Sure, I guess it was nice to roam around them after the Parade, but they've always been in that location - crammed way over on the west side of lower Manhattan. It really doesn't seem to me like having to stay there is being pushed into a "deep, dark closet." Most people I know watch the parade until they can't stand it anymore (it's at least 4 hours long!) and then either go off with friends or head over to the dance.

The page itself admits there was a problem with lack of interest in Pridefest, including that very odd paragraph about the overworked volunteer who died of a heart attack. What was the point of bringing that up anyway? I mean, it's horribly sad, but it seemed like they were trying to use the story to play up the grand tragedy of canceling Pridefest. And that's kinda gross.

If it's something you work on each year and are close to, I understand disappointment in having to cancel the event. Yet in naming the fair Pridefest (which is kinda grand, considering what I've seen of it) and all the melodrama on that page about dying, overworked volunteers and the horrid Mayor's Office that wants to keep Pridefest pushed in the closet, I really think they are making way too big a deal out of this.

Edit to add: I'm googling to try and find out what events this supposed entailed. And all I ever come across is that it's a street fair. I've got to be missing something here.

As for 'terp, there will be plenty of other fun things going on that Sunday. No worries!

Last night I went to the mayor's annual pride event and there were people outside protesting the fact that Mayor Bloomberg didn't allow the pridefest. They were asking people to sign a petition, and I was about to do so when I saw a little tidbit that went under-reported by the gay press. The whole reason it was rejected was because they wanted to move the Pridefest from a sidestreet in the West Village to 10 blocks of Eighth Avenue in Chelsea! Yep, they're pissed because the mayor won't let them close down 10 high-traffic blocks of Eighth Avenue for two days in June. The protestors confirmed that that was the plan (though they weren't telling anyone who was blindly signing their petition that). Heck, I can't even support that, especially given the mayor's proposals to cut down congestion in Midtown.

So for those of you pissed at the mayor for saying no, you can thank the organizers for wanting it moved to 10 blocks of Eighth Avenue.

10 blocks?? They're up in arms for 10 blocks?? Ugh! They should have planned this MONTHS in advanced!

10 blocks of 8th Ave. Are they outta their minds?

Exactly Cyd. Eighth Ave is a main thoroughfare in Manhattan while the area where Pridefest has always been is not a high traffic area. Closing 5th Avenue for the parade and then that big a section of 8th Ave would just be beyond ridiculous. Plus the original Pridefest location is at the end of the parade route thereby ensuring a huge crowd for the vendors. Seems ridiculous to want to move it to Chelsea.