Since the first Pride march in 1970, Pride celebrations around the world have seen incredible displays of color, love, and light. Some of the biggest displays span miles and take thousands of people to unveil.
You may see Pride displays in your towns and cities in shop windows, on front porches, doorsteps, or even on billboards along busy streets and intersections in your city center. But some pride displays around the world take the cake for grandeur, style and impact.
One of the biggest Pride displays to date was first donned at Key West Pride in 2003. A 1.25 mile rainbow flag created by Gilbert Baker became the world’s longest rainbow banner featuring the original eight colors of the rainbow pride flag. It took thousands of volunteers to march the banner through Key West. Since then preserved sections of this flag have been paraded around the country in celebration of Pride Month, uniting communities everywhere.
A more recent Pride display that’s making history in Toronto is a 2,000 feet (600 meter) rainbow walkway art installation by queer artist Travis Myers. The walkway entitled “The Long Walk to Equality,” was unveiled on Toronto Islands at Hanlan’s Point in the company of LGBTQ+ icons like Canadian “Drag Race” star Jada Shada Hudson. The road painted in the rainbow colors will welcome pedestrians and cyclists throughout Pride month, according to LGBTQ Nation.
Each year during Pride Month in San Francisco, a pink triangle is painted on the city’s Twin Peaks to symbolize pride. It looks out over the city for residents and visitors to see. In Manhattan, the famed Empire State Building, one of the most famous sites in the world, has been illuminated in rainbow Pride colors every June since 1990.
Across the Atlantic Ocean in Madrid, like the Empire State Buildings, the Cibeles Fountain is illuminated in rainbow colors during Pride, as the city attracts millions of visitors for MADO, Spain’s largest Pride celebration.
Pride parades around the world range from small walks with under 100 people in small towns and communities, to huge festivals taking up entire cities with millions in attendance. Pride parades in New York City, Sao Paulo, Sydney, San Francisco and other major progressive cities offer attendees floats, balloons, and more attendees than you could attempt to count.
Featured Image: The Empire State Building and One Vanderbilt Illuminated with Rainbow Colors for LGBTQ+ Pride Week in New York City (Photo by Francois Roux)
