Philadelphia hosts the oldest OUTFEST celebration of National Coming Out Day which unfortunately fell on the same weekend as the National Equality March, which was called in May by legendary GLBT activists David Mixner and Cleve Jones as a show of solidarity to the nation that our time for equal rights under the law is now. 

We all should have been in Washington but for those of us stuck in Philly, this year’s OUTFEST was a spirited show of local GLBT community.   The great and lovely Henri-David announced from the staging area that there were 25,000 in attendance.   The carnavale atmosphere was for everybody and I can’t remember being in a more diverse looking crowd, it seemed like representatives from every sector of the rainbow community was there.  And of course love those straight doves who fly with us.