Just Do It

Philly Pride Parade

by Ashlea Halpern

Sun., June 10, noon-6 p.m., free, 13th and Locust streets to Penn's Landing, 215-875-9288, www.phillypride.org

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Need a reason to drag your pasty ass into the glorious, gay sunshine? Bump it with the kids from 12th Air Command, Key West, PGN, Shampoo, Woody's and other hometown homo staples at this weekend's annual Philly Pride party and parade.

The fest's rather exclamatory theme, "Freedom! Expression!" invites peeps to come as they are � gay, straight, bi, pan, trans, drag, androgyne, genderqueer, genderfucked, whatever. There'll be floats, balloons, food, drinks, queens on rollerblades, more anti-Bush pins than you can shake an immigration bill at, and no shortage of underdressed eye candy.

The shindig will be grand marshaled by Perry Monastero, executive director of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, and Philadelphia Black Gay Pride, but the real draws are MC Henri David, the man with the best shoe collection in the tri-state area; the shiny-happy cast of Prince Music Theater's HAIR; and members of the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus singing the "Unofficial Gay National Anthem." Never to be trumped: The fabulous Sierra Spaulding (pictured), aka Miss Philly Gay Pride 2007, will be kicking up her heels during two wildly costumed performances. "I cannot reveal my songs," says Spaulding, "but I can tell you there'll be four backup dancers, and it will be unforgettable."

What's the message behind the sequined madness?

"Philly Pride means having pride in your community and pride in yourself," says Spaulding. "You can be who you are and still be happy � even if you're in a dress."