This weekend, for the second year in a row, the Triangle will host the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival. June is typically considered National Gay Pride month, but this year organizers are taking advantage of cooler temperatures and extra planning time to involve more university and area organizations than ever before. There’s a slew of activities lined up for PrideFest 2001. But the highlight of the weekend will no doubt be the parade on Saturday, complete with floats, antique cars and two marching bands. Participants will meet at Duke’s East Campus at noon for a pre-parade rally featuring speakers including Mayor Nick Tennyson and state Senator Ellie Kinnard. The parade will leave Duke at 1 p.m., wrap around Durham’s Ninth Street area and return to campus for live music, speakers and drag festivities. Evening events will be held in and around the Triangle, including an HRC-sponsored barbecue, a booksigning at White Rabbit Books and, of course, more dancing. For more info and a full schedule of events, visit www.ncpride.org. —Clancy Nolan
