Gay Pride Parade 2013: Dates And Route Map For NYC, Chicago, San Francisco And More

The United States Supreme Court has ruled and, for LGBT people, the celebration begins this weekend. In two landmark cases decided this week, the court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

Beginning with the Defense of Marriage Act, the majority declared the 1996 law -- which barred same-sex couples legally married in their home states from receiving benefits available to other married couples under federal law -- “unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.”

Also in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down California’s Proposition 8, the 2008 referendum that banned same-sex marriages in the state. Effectively, Wednesday’s Prop 8 ruling left in place a San Francisco federal district court ruling that overturned the law. California will now join 11 other states and Washington, D.C., in allowing gay marriage as well as permitting same-sex couples to receive tax breaks, pension rights and other benefits available to married couples.

For same-sex couples, activists and their supporters, the rulings handed down Wednesday kicked off huge celebrations, which will only continue at the annual Pride Week which just coincidentally starts this Saturday in many cities nationwide. With issues spotlighted on an international stage, this year’s traditional festivities celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities will be particularly meaningful and joyous.

Below is a list of information – including the history, dates, times and route maps – for the 2013 Pride parades around the country in major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco and more this weekend. (Some cities, like Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston, have their festivities on other dates.) Events are not limited to the parade or march in each city, so check out the organization websites for each city for additional events.

New York City

NYC's annual Pride March, which began in 1970 as a commemoration of the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, is one of the oldest and largest celebrations.

Date: Sunday, June 30, 2013

Time: Noon (Lineup begins at 11 a.m.)

Route: The parade begins at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue and ends at Christopher and Greenwich Streets in the West Village.

San Francisco

Tuesday marked the 35th anniversary of the rainbow flag that has come to symbolize LGBT pride. The flag, designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, made its debut at the San Francisco Pride parade on June 25, 1978, according to LGBTQNation.com. This year, the theme for San Francisco pride is “Embrace, Encourage, Empower.”

Date: Sunday, June 30, 2013

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Route: The parade kicks off at Market & Beale and ends at Market & 8th Streets in downtown San Francisco.

Chicago

The 44th annual Chicago Pride Parade will be eventful with more than 200 entries and openly gay former NFL player Wade Davis as the grand marshal.

Date: Sunday, June 30, 2013

Time: Noon

Route: Begins at Broadway and Montrose in Chicago's uptown neighborhood, travels south on Broadway, then south on Halsted, then east on Belmont, then south on Broadway, then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive, according to ChicagoPride.com.

Houston

Date: Saturday, June 29, 2013

Time: 8 p.m. (Festival is open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Route: The parade will be held along Westheimer Road between Dunlavy and Montrose Boulevard. A pre-show will begin 30 minutes prior on Westheimer and Waugh.

Seattle

Date: Sunday, June 30, 2013

Time: 11 a.m.

Route: The 39th annual Seattle Pride Parade, which is celebrating "Equality: Passed, Present & Future," will begin at 4th Avenue and Union Street in downtown Seattle and will proceed north down 4th Avenue to Denny Way.