Gay pride events draw travelers to other cities

Atlanta is a Gay Pride mecca to Angela Gabriel.

"Sometimes I think Atlanta is the norm," says Gabriel, co-owner of Charis Books and More. "I've had out-of-town visitors tell me they don't have Pride events." he East Atlanta bookstore will have a float in Sunday's Atlanta Pride Parade.

"I just feel very lucky that here I can be who I am and what I am and I don't have to worry about it. I forget there are places where people are really scared and not accepted for who they are," Gabriel adds.

In addition to Atlanta, several cities celebrate Gay Pride year round. Philip Rafshoon, who owns Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse in Midtown, recommends New York City's Pride celebrations. He attended the event last weekend.

"It rained but I loved it," says Rafshoon. "It was my first time, because it's always the same weekend as here. It's a larger city so it gets a broad base of support from all forms of government. And there were no protesters. I get protesters here across the street."

Here's a look at gay and lesbian focused events held across the country.

• Atlanta Pride Parade. Starts at 1 p.m. Sunday with a procession of floats, marchers and motorcycles from Midtown to downtown Atlanta. 770-491-8633, www.atlantapride.org.

Gay pride events draw travelers to other cities
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA