New Jersey Pride Breaks Records, Likely Foreshadows a Massive Celebration in Philly

Photo by Kevin Jordan via Twitter.

If this weekend’s Pride celebration in Asbury Park, New Jersey is any indication, we can expect a hell of a turnout when Philly’s festivities roll out on Sunday, June 8th. Asbury Park Press reports a record number of folks turned out to party in the nearby gay mecca, a showing Jersey Pride President Laura Pople (aka the Franny Price of NJ) attributes to the state’s recent passage of marriage equality:

There have been many gay pride parades in Asbury Park before. Twenty-two, to be exact. But what made this year’s 23rd annual parade more meaningful to the gay community was the passage of same-sex marriage into law in New Jersey in 2013.

I’ve been involved since the beginning, and you can’t help but reflect back on what’s happened in the past year and what’s happened since the beginning, when we first started.

Same-sex marriage became legal in New Jersey last fall. With our triumph happening only a few weeks ago, you can only imagine that things will be crazy down at Penn’s Landing. This year’s celebration will include entertainment from the  The Village People and artists-turn-activists BETTY, among others. For a complete rundown of the day’s itinerary, go here.