A Smorgasbord of Prides

Originally published in the June 2009 issue of The Advocate.

Zurich EuroPride
Has already passed
The primo Euro homo event of the year, in 2009 EuroPride came for the first time to the Alps-adjacent Swiss city of Zurich. A luminous slate of concerts, art and film exhibitions, conferences, workshops, sports, and of course parties lit up the town, building to a Pride weekend city center traffic-free town festival and climaxing in the parade June 6.
Click here to for a slide show and highlights of the event.

CSD Cologne
June 20?July 5
Kicking off with the unique-in-the-world WomenPride Festival, CSD Cologne in Germany cranks into full gear the weekend of July 3 with its annual AIDS gala Friday, the 10,000-strong Colour Cologne party Saturday, a massive parade Sunday, and an action-packed street festival running throughout.
CSD-Cologne.de

Antwerp Pride
June 25?28
One of the few Prides that isn?t centered on a parade, the Belgian festival is more a four-day feestje, with special events at venues all around the fabulous Flemish city, including a multivessel Saturday boat party on the Scheldt River. There?s even a Gay City Bus Tour to show pride visitors around.
AntwerpPride.com

Madrid Pride
July 1?5
Better known locally as Madrid Orgullo (or just Mado), the Spanish capital?s Pride is the country?s most lively, colorful, and massive. The annual parade on July 4 draws upward of 1.5 million revelers, making it one of the biggest in the world.
COGAM.es/en/secciones/orgullo-lgbt

Copenhagen Pride
July 25?August 2
Running concurrently this year with World Outgames Copenhagen, the Danish capital?s festivities include a weeklong market-style Pride Square at the center of town, where multiethnic group Sabaah (those with backgrounds other than Danish; Sabaah.dk) will have a strong presence. The parade, for the second year featuring a Danish army contingent, will be followed by a huge free concert on City Hall Square on August 1.
CopenhagenPride.dk/uk

Amsterdam Pride
July 31?August 2
Amsterdam Pride kicks off in earnest Friday, July 31, with specialized gay street parties (women, Caribbean, etc.) all over town. The marvelous Saturday afternoon Canal Parade on August 1 is the weekend?s nautical headline event, when some 350,000 assemble to watch scores of bedazzled dinghies float by along the Prinsengracht.
AmsterdamPride.nl