| First Annual Gay Pride Weekend in Puerto Vallarta Rated a Perfect 10 Prensa GayPV | |
May 28, 2013 |
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Spectacular Opening Party for Vallarta Pride 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013, was the long awaited kick off for Vallarta Pride 2013 with an elegant cocktail reception at Taste Restaurant located at Casa Cupula Hotel.
Casa Cupula, the luxurious boutique hotel for gays, lesbians and friends, hosted the official launch of Pride Vallarta, amidst a tropical setting with torches by the pool.
Although admission was free and was open to the public, Taste Restaurant offered free delicious bites and drink specials. In addition, a fabulous raffle was held for a 2 night stay at Casa Cupula and a dinner for two at Taste.
Never before seen in Puerto Vallarta, the launch of the Pride Festival featured a famous dance number from the 2010 show "Broadway Bares / Equity Fights AIDS" called "Stripopoly" and a number from last year's production of "Happy Endings".
The famous "Diva Divine", who performed the night previously at Paco's Ranch, was the host for the evening at Taste. And the evening rounded up with a special performance by "Delicious" at Casa Cupula.
Part of the funds that were raised though drink sales during the event, will be donated to SETAC to assist them in continuing their noble cause.
Vallarta Pride LGBT Mass Commitment Ceremony Huge Success
The Lido Beach Club hosted a mass ceremony in which same-sex couples symbolically committed to their love or reaffirmed their marriage vows in front of friends and family.
At 11:00 am on Saturday, May 25, 2013, 25 couples gathered at the Lido Beach Club, located on Los Muertos Beach, to pledge their love in front of ministers Marivel Mendoza and Maurice Monette, who led the symbolic commitment ceremony.
For the newlywed couples, the Lido Beach Club offered a glass of champagne to celebrate and an invitation to enjoy the day at the beach club.
The Vallarta Pride Organizing Committee provided the couples a certificate as a symbol of their commitment to one another and the couples were photographed on one of the most popular beaches in our destination by a professional to preserve the moment forever.
All couples were also entered in a contest to win a weekend at Hotel Casa Cupula and a romantic dinner at Taste Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.
This event was designed to promote LGBT rights and LGBT tourism in Puerto Vallarta. While gay marriage is not legal in the state of Jalisco, event organizers are interested in promoting Puerto Vallarta as a destination for LGBT symbolic weddings or honeymoons.
Variety of Events during Vallarta Pride
Vallarta Pride offered a host of different events throughout Puerto Vallarta this weekend to celebrate the LGBT community in the city, during the first ever official Pride weekend in Vallarta.
Vallarta Pride events included a fashion show featuring local fashion designers at the popular Blue Chairs Hotel. Buenflex Clothing, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry, Alphonse Swimwear and Art Millan Gallery all showed pieces under the theme of "Urban Tribal".
Blue Chairs and Lido Beach Club threw a joint beach party on the beach featuring DJ Mike Peña spinning a mix of dance, pop and latin beats.
El Dorado Beach Club hosted a screening of the Oscar-winning biography Frida to honor the famous Mexican painter who refused to comply with the stereotypes and gender roles. El Dorado was also the scene of the opening of the Claudia Bremer art exhibition.
The organizers of Vallarta Pride intend that the weekend's events will not only support the LGBT community in the city but also help to attract LGBT visitors to Puerto Vallarta, a major segment in the destination's important tourism industry.
Successful Gay Pride Parade in Puerto Vallarta
Hundreds of people gathered at the corner of Aquiles Serdan and Ignacio L. Vallarta for the 4:00 pm start of the much anticipated Pride Parade on Sunday.
Featuring more than 20 floats and hundreds of people, the parade route continued down the streets of Ignacio L. Vallarta, Basilio Badillo, Insurgentes and finally Venustiano Carranza to finish at Lazaro Cardenas Park.
ACT II was commissioned to produce a 4-hour musical event that started at 5:00 pm and was hosted by La Supermana and Edgar Sanchez, bringing together some of the best local talent to put on a fantastic open air concert.
The talented DJ Marco, one of the most popular in Vallarta, was in charge of spinning the opening set and he put out a fabulous mix of beats that had festival-goers on the dance floor.
There were also numerous food stalls, community organizations and local businesses participating in the park festivities, joining in the celebration of equality.
In conjunction with the sponsors, the Vallarta Pride Organizing Committee raffled fabulous prizes to raise funds and continue to promote Pride events for 2014.
Although the festival at Lazaro Cardenas Park ended promptly at 9:30 pm (out of respect for the neighbors), the party went on until dawn at bars and clubs nearby.
Organizers, sponsors, participants and the LGBT community were pleased with the acceptance and success of what was the first Gay Pride Festival in Puerto Vallarta.
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From the Bay & Beyond
Celebrate a Healthy Lifestyle
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.
Banderas Bay offers 34 miles of incomparable coastline in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, and home to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit's many great destinations.