Your Gay Agenda: Philadelphia

Originally published in the May 2009 issue of The Advocate.

Equality Forum

April 27-May 3

One of the best gay cultural events in the United States, Equality Forum is billed as the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights conference -- and a weeklong party. If you read this in time, get yourself to the SundayOUT! bash May 3. If you miss this year?s events, start planning for next year.

EqualityForum.com

21st Annual Pride Day

June 14

This year?s 21st annual Pride Day coincides with International Gay and Lesbian Pride Month -- which means a double serving of live beats, drag shows, and revelry.

PhillyPride.org

11th Annual Sportsweek

June 5-14

Sportsweek brings together athletes from Philadelphia and the entire East Coast, packing the city with jocks of every persuasion just in time for Pride weekend. Team Philadelphia offers spirited events like last year?s ?ReGAYtta? dragon boat race.

TeamPhiladelphia.org

Let Freedom Ring at the Liberty Bell Center

July 4

There?s nowhere better to spend Independence Day than the place it all started, and this event sets off a nationwide ringing ceremony, as descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence give the Liberty Bell a symbolic ?tap? (no earplugs required).

Let-Freedom-Ring.org

Philadelphia QFest

July 9-19

Formerly the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the rebranded QFest will present more than 250 films, documentaries, and shorts, with two full weeks of uninhibited programming (like last year?s sing-along Mamma Mia!) and colorful parties.

QFest.com

Autumn?s Colors at Longwood Gardens

September 7-November 23

The prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show is a springtime favorite, but once summer winds down, locals will tell you that a jaunt out to Longwood Gardens is well worth the three-mile drive. For two months the 1,000+ acres? 40 indoor and outdoor gardens transform into an autumnal utopia (complete with monster pumpkins).