Stronger Together and Breaking Records

The 47th annual Pride Parade and Festival, which took place June 2 to 11, consisted of over 45,000 marchers from 331 contingents with over 550,000 spectators. An estimated 125,000 individuals attended in the Pride Festival at City Hall plaza. This year, Boston Pride created a “Solidarity” category to encourage small nonprofits to join the Parade and the Festival with a discounted fee. The “Solidarity” groups made up about 22 percent of the total groups participating in the parade, with nonprofit organizations making up almost 70 percent of the parade.

Among the groups marching were 29 survivors of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting, who commemorated the year anniversary since the tragedy. As a special honor to the victims and survivors of the Pulse shooting, trans activist Renee Manning built a float and invited 1,000 people to dance along the parade route as part of a Grand Dance remembering those who were killed. Survivors of the massacre joined Manning and traveled the parade route on the float.

“In a year that has been so challenging for our community and beyond, it was gratifying to see that so many people made a point of supporting our community at the parade and festival,” said Sylvain Bruni, President of Boston Pride. “We want to thank those individuals, as well as the many partners and sponsors who help us to put on a parade and festival that is safe, joyous, and celebratory.”

In addition to a successful parade and festival, Boston Pride also saw tremendous growth in its social media and digital presence. During the two day period that included the parade, festival and block parties, Boston Pride reached close to 55,000 people on Facebook. From June 1st to the 11th, the organization reached more than 140,000 people in total. During the month of June, Boston Pride also reached 179,000 impressions on Twitter and during the 9-day Pride Week, had almost 7,000 engagements on Instagram.

This year’s theme, “Stronger Together,” focused on the current climate of political uncertainty and marginalization of LGBTQ people. It stressed the imperative that the diverse groups that comprise the LGBTQ community stand together and fight for civil rights for all.

For the first time ever, Boston Pride partnered with a major Boston television network, NBC Boston that created special programming and promotions throughout Pride Week. As the official television sponsor of Boston Pride, NBC Boston and NECN broadcast stories about the LGBTQ community and about the history of the organization, in addition to reporting on the Parade, Festival and Stronger Together rally and other events.

Parade Marshals

Grand Marshals
Kristen Porter – founder of Kristen Porter Presents & Dyke Night, has over 20 years of serving the LGBTQ community by creating high quality inclusive events that support the community artistically, socially and philanthropically.
Honorary Marshals
Norman J. Hill, Jr. – former President of Gay Officers Action League New England, was Deputy Superintendent of the Boston Police Department and worked with then Police Commissioner William Bratton to initiate LGBTQ recruitment
Dr. Judy Bradford – Co-Chair of The Fenway Institute from its inception in 2001, played a key role in building a framework for LGBTQ-focused research and teaching. Her work has improved the lives of those whose minority status often makes their needs unseen or disregarded.
John Michael Gray, half of the famous “Hat Sisters”, was a prominent Massachusetts LGBTQ community activist who helped raise money for causes ranging from AIDS healthcare to cancer research.

Festival/Concert Entertainers

Carlito Olivero (Headliner), Adrian A (Emcee) Additional performers: Fantine, Lyric Rachae, The Burgeoning, Conor Street and Girls Night Out

Block Party DJS/Performers

Back Bay Block Party – DJ Alain Jackinsky – Canada & DJ Adrian A (Bootie Mashup – San Francisco)
JP Block Party – DJ LeahV, Jayden Jamison, Alora, Kamden T. Rage, Tee Spark, Lakia Mondale, Oxy-Gen