As we have been celebrating and observing National Gay Pride Month, spurred historically mostly by the Stonewall riots in New York City in the late 1960s, we are still struggling for the same rights, privileges and opportunities-our equality-in employment, housing, education, the military, inheritance, adoption,  and marriage, to name just a few.

The parades, festivals, street fairs and parties, the rainbows and floats, the dykes on bikes and the boys in Speedos are all a lot of fun but being proud of who we must be more than a celebration of our achievements and accomplishments of which, mostly grown out of grassroots efforts from our own national queer community, there are many.

This year President Barak Obama gave us, in what I consider a brave and bold moment in queer history, on May 18, 2010, and this declaration:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue in me by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month."

He continued: "I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists."

Now, without becoming overly dramatic or emotional, I feel that we have something this year to be celebratory and festive about as we observe Gay Pride.

In a different world, Harvey Milk, Matthew Shepard, James Byrd, Jr., and Ryan White, among many faceless and nameless others, would be with us to experience this historic moment with President Obama.

Now, go party like it's the last day of your life-joyously and safely!

In Sacramento, there were special celebrations in observance of Harvey Milk Day, May 22, an official statewide holiday declared by the State of California. In cooperation with Equality Action NOW (EAN) and Outword, the local LGBTQ newspaper of Sacramento, reported that the EAN held an early birthday party, "Milk & Cookies: A Celebration," on May 19, in the state capital with some of Milk's real life friends and allies, including Cleve Jones (the founder of the Names Project AIDS Quilt), assemblyman Tom Ammiano, and Senator Mark Lean, "who led the long battle to make Harvey Milk Day a reality in California."

Now it's time for a movement to see a special commemorative postage stamp in honor of Harvey Milk! In our contemporary world, there aren't many queer personalities recognized with this honor though queer artist and Pennsylvania native son, Andy Warhol was granted a postage name of one of his famous self portraits, so anything is possible. What do you think?

And the fight for equality continues, and the parties go on into the night. Be who you are and do a little something special to make our world better, even for a precious moment.

This weekend is Heritage of Pride's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Parade and Festivalin New York City. Well, what can I say? If you've been then you know that Manhattan transforms itself into Queer Island. If you've never been, what the hell are you waiting for? Hundreds of thousands of queers from across the nation and around the world show up for the largest queer bash in the country.

Yes, our queer folk in Los Angeles and San Francisco (also this weekend) throw huge celebratory events to show our collective pride but there's just nowhere like the Big Apple for a massive parade down Fifth Avenue and so many parties, big and small, hot and hunky, or otherwise (we love our bears, among other diverse groups) and just the sheer joy of people watching along the streets of the city that never sleeps will you have you bleary-eyed by the end of the weekend.

For big dance parties, there's the ever-increasing in popularity, "Matinee" New York Pride 2010, 6 pm to 12 am, Governor's Island, presented by Josh Wood Productions, Bob Fernandez, Tommy Marinelli and Jake Resnicow and sponsored by AX.

Will I see you there flirting with all those gorgeous boys and handsome men lining the streets up and down the parade route? You bet!

The legendary Lilith Fair, the celebration of Women in Music, has lined up an impressive and diverse female performers this year with 11 acts and three stages, July 9, with headliners Queen Latifah, Sarah McLachlan, Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert and The Bangles. They will be joined by Marina & The Diamonds, A Fine Frenzy, Susan Justice, Elizaveta and their winning our stage artist. It all takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. This year's presenting sponsors will include: Crystal Light, ABC and More Magazine.

Where would you think to go for a queer "Family Fest"? Well, the Weekend of Music, Expo, Fellowship and Fun will offer-literally--something for everyone, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, August 6-8, and featuring Bebe Zahara Benet and Zeric from Models City. The host hotel is currently offering rooms for a special festival price of only $99 per night! Las Vegas has continued to become queer-identified to world travelers. So, there's more than enough for queer visitors to enjoy in the world's adult playland!

Though both the number and popularity of gay circuit parties has significantly waned over the past decade for a variety of reasons from the changes in queer lifestyle and culture to the economic downturn itself, some of these parties never seem to diminish in status or stature among the International party boy circuiters.

So head  up North to our Canadian neighbors for one of the most extensive and, let's be honest, also one of the hottest gay circuit parties of the fall season, if not the entire year, the Bad Boy Club Montreal "Black & Blue" 2010 Festival, October 6-12, celebrating its 20^th anniversary. Presenting sponsors for this year will include: Westin Montreal, the official hotel, Air Canada, the official airline, and A & U Magazine.  But if you're otherwise engaged for October, the Bad Boy Club Montreal doesn't stop the partying as they produce "Le Bal des Boys" in December, Red in February, Hot&Dry in May and Twist in July. Those queer Montrealers really know how to give a dance party and to party nonstop!