WILTON MANORS – A heavy morning downpour did nothing to dampen the festivities on Sunday, as Stonewall Summer Pride heralded the first weekend of Summer 2012 into the gay village of Wilton Manors. The street festival—named to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, which marked the dawn of the modern LGBT rights movement—gave tribute to both the past achievements of LGBT advocates, and to more recent accomplishments, such as the repeal of the Pentagon’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and the recognition of marriage equality in places across the U.S. A Who’s Who list of business and community leaders, and worldclass performers participated in Stonewall Summer Pride, which kicked off at noon, in spite of heavy rains and the appearance of Tropical Storm Debby, which drenched most of the Sunshine State on Sunday.

The event featured entertainers including Tony Award®-winning singer Jennifer Holliday, entertainer Jonny McGovern (the “Gay Pimp”), performer Tiffany Arieagus, and headlining entertainer Andy Bell, the lead singer for 80s British pop duo Erasure. The Twilight Parade, which capped off the day, kicked off shortly after 7 p.m. It included 70 floats, a pink Broward Sheriff ’s Office (BSO) cruiser, 30 BSO horses, a mile-long rainbow flag sponsored by Jackson Padgett, Mark Negrete, and the staff of Georgie’s Alibi, and Emmy Award®-winning writer Bruce Vilanch, who served as Grand Marshal.

Officials closed Wilton Drive from Dairy Queen at the south end to Wells Fargo Bank at Five Points, and attendees lined both sides of the Drive to observe the spectacle. The evening’s events ended around 11 p.m., with live performances from Bell and others at the main stage near Wilton’s Bier Garden, at the corner of Northeast 6th Avenue. Al Cicotte, President of American Tax and Insurance Services, who attended Stonewall Summer Pride with his partner of 25 years, Kevin Palombo, said that—rain or shine—the event was a huge success, and made a larger point. “Rain or not—thinks are looking very sunny for gay rights,” said Cicotte. “Kevin and I have been coming to these for years all over the country, and hands down, we had the best time today.”