This week, May 27 through June 3, is being celebrated as Pride Week by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered folks and their supporters, with organized activities throughout the Hudson Valley. But the expression “pride of place” takes on a whole new meaning this Sunday, June 3 in New Paltz, the birthplace of New York’s marriage equality movement. “Come Back to Where It All Began” is the theme of the annual Hudson Valley LGBTQ Pride March & Festival planned for the little upstate town whose upstart mayor made national news by conducting same-sex weddings back in 2004. It only took the rest of the state seven years to catch up.
On Sunday, more than 2,500 LGBTQ community members, allies and friends from the region are expected to gather in New Paltz for a march that will culminate in Hasbrouck Park with festivities, vendors, music, food and fun. With couples married by West in 2004 heading the line of march, the parade will begin at 12 noon at the New Paltz Middle School, located at 196 Main Street, and proceed down Main to Plattekill Avenue, then turn left and head to the Park. The festival is scheduled to continue until 4 p.m., followed by a Party-After-Pride until 9 p.m. at Joe’s East-West, located at 254 Main Street in New Paltz.
Headquarters for the planning of Pride Week is Kingston’s Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, which is also presenting “The Rainbow Screen,” the Pride Week 2012 LGBTQ Film Festival. The lineup includes Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride on Thursday, May 31; and Aimee & Jaguar on Friday, June 1. All screenings begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, June 2 at 5 p.m., the Center will host a Pride Eve Wine & Cheese Reception and Piano Bar.
For more event details, download the 2012 Pride Guide at https://lgbtqcenter.org/download/2012_pride_guide.pdf. Support the Center with a $5 donation or show your Pride Pass for admittance to all Pride Week events at the Center. To obtain your Pride Pass for $20, visit https://lgbtqcenter.org/pride/2012/2012_pride_pass.html or call the Center at (845) 331-5300.
Elsewhere this week, the Rosendale Theatre will host a special showing of Bully at the Rosendale Theatre on Friday, June 1 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets cost $7 general admission or $5 for Rosendale Theatre Collective members.
Join the family! 
