With this year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival a great success, plans are already underway for next year’s event, so you’d best start getting in shape early for this action-packed, high profile event.
First up, Endurance. While it may not seem like you need that much endurance to walk the five or so block parade route, you actually do, when you consider that this year it took 90 minutes to do so. Plus, there were 60 floats, along with marching bands, and even drag queens dancing down Ocean Drive, so you really do have to keep alert!
Next, you need to look good. Consider this: We in Miami Beach are known for our scanty clothing every day of the year, but, during Pride, the shirts really come off. That’s not only for the guys – lots of gals in bikini tops were spotted, and even a couple wearing virtually no top at all!
And, don’t forget longevity. One of the parade’s most popular features is the appearance of the “Legacy Couples,” a unique feature of the Miami Beach celebration. “Legacy Couples” are same sex couples that have been together for many years. This year, 50 couples participated, most of them with 30-plus years together, including record holders Bob Truax and Tony Fernandez, with 57 years. So, for that kind of longevity, you have to stay fit.
Plus, you will need lots of energy. Don’t forget; it’s not just the parade; there’s a week-plus worth of pre-and-post Pride events. This year’s fun included Unity Coalition’s spectacular Leaders, Legends & Lovlies Ball, Mova Lounge’s First Annual Block Party, and URGE: The Official Saturday Night Party. Not to mention the Lords South Beach Brunch & Pool Party.
By the way, kudos to all the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce who were sponsors and supporters of the event, including Equinox South Beach, Macy’s, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, Wachovia, W South Beach, Lords South Beach at Nash, Bar 721, NY2O, Atlantic Broadband, Welcome & Bienvenidos Visitors’ Magazine, the Leader, Dee & Co, TD Bank, and the Townhouse.
More info:
Miami Beach Gay Pride:
www.miamibeachgaypride.com/
Getting in Shape for Pride:
Andreas Heuser, Equinox South Beach
305-673-1172, www.equinox.com
Charlotte Libov’s is a writer and photographer and her work appears in Ocean Drive magazine, Florida Travel + Life and Examiner.com, and she is the South Beach Culture & Events Examiner for Examiner.com. She is also a book author and nationally known women’s health speaker. Reach her at 305-333-8844 or char@libov.com.
