Sunday’s Ourfest is too much, too over the top
The usual gay pride parade and festivities in June are right at my doorstep, but they do not result in the massive street closures of Sunday’s Ourfest.
I consider myself more gay-friendly than the average Philadelphian, who is pretty gay-friendly.
My long-time close friend, Mark Segal, founder and publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, the award-winning weekly, says Philly is the most gay-friendly city in the nation — moreso than New York or San Francisco.
I live in the Gayborhood, one block from a street named after Jeff Guaracino, a gay marketing genius, and a dear friend who died much too young.
A large number of my condo neighbors are gay.
The usual gay pride parade and festivities in June are right at my doorstep, but they do not result in the massive street closures of Sunday’s Ourfest.
The official start of the party is noon, with the close at 7 p.m. However, the street closures start at 5 a.m. and run until 9 p.m.
The area shown above is too large and the Ourfest closures go on for too long.
Hundreds of motorists are forced to move their cars off the street — to where? Center City street parking is already sparse. Even garages fill up.
Other parades are shorter; other all-day festivals close fewer streets.
This is over-the-top, even for our gay friends.
If you want an all-day festival, how about Rittenhouse or Washington Squares? A lot of space, and little inconvenience to neighbors.
