Happy Pride! The legalization of same-sex marriage in California is the major theme of this year’s Pride festivities. There is so much to celebrate and Pride is a great time to mobilize our community to brace for the biggest fight of our lives in November. At the end of the day, it really is not about whether you believe in same-sex marriage; rather, it is whether you believe every person should have the freedom to choose to marry. As the theme of this year’s Pride says: “Live, Love, Be.”

The official events begin on Friday, July 18 with a Human Rights Vigil at Balboa Park with global activist Peter Tatchell as featured speaker. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19 from University Avenue and Normal Street. Expect to see a lot of blushing man-brides – this is one time I say it’s OK to wear white. Please, though, resist the urge for a cathedral train – too many people will step on it and it is not pretty for a bride to be dirty. Don’t forget the sensible shoes; you’re not at a Vivienne Westwood fashion show – you’ll thank me for it. Parade marshals include Ruth Henricks, founder of Special Delivery; Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow lag; and Peter Tatchell. Be sure to wear sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection, otherwise it may be hard to explain your spaghetti straps to your office manager come Monday. The two-day festival at Balboa Park runs Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All bars in the city will jam pack their weekends with special events. The bars on the parade route, including Flicks, Rich’s,and Universal, will open early. The restaurants will be packed, so be sure to make reservations. I know I will be at Saigon on Fifth to enjoy some home-cooked Asian cuisine that my sister Patrick will whip up special for me.

The highlight of the festival has got to be Emmy-award winning (as we’re reminded every week on Bravo) gay icon Kathy Griffin performing. Her cable show “My Life on the D-List” is the queerest show on earth. She’s hosted the Gay Video Awards, she loves Cher, she outed Anderson Cooper, and this season she’ll frolic with gay bears. Kathy is scheduled to perform at 6:30 p.m. on the Pride Green Stage on Sunday, so go early. If she can pack Madison Square Garden, she can pack Balboa Park.

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been receiving wedding invitations from friends in long-term relationships including John Laird and Aaron Borovoy; and my adopted child Alan and his fiancé Travis. Robi Cox and Greg Scott of Bacchus House are renewing their vows as well; they were married in San Francisco four years ago. In lieu of gift, the couples are requesting donations be made to The Center Advocacy Project and the fight against the November ballot initiative. What a swell idea! Gods knows they don’t need another toaster or blender.

The same sex marriage phenomenon has spawned a new industry of its own. Maybe this will actually turn the economy around in California. Florists and event planners are all geared up to help couples host the wedding of their dreams. Imagine having your wedding aboard the Sternwheelers paddleboat or the Hornblower cruise boat in San Diego bay; or at great locations like the Top of the Park at Park Manor Suites, or the Vivienda Estate in Rancho Santa Fe. All you have to do is turn the pages of the Gay & Lesbian Times and you can find someone to officiate your wedding (like Rabbi Susan Conforti) or somewhere to host your wedding (like St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Sixth Avenue). You can find jewelers, a jazz quintet or even a complete mobile sound and lighting system. But before you go wild with the bridal registry at Macy’s, I implore you to consult your lawyers and financial planners. While a wedding is a fun event and a celebration of love, it is also a serious lifetime commitment with many responsibilities and ramifications. Remember: in the state of California, what you own will become communal property. And unless you want to part with your condo, you might consider a prenuptial agreement. I don’t want to be a party pooper, I just want to be sure you all protect your future. In fact, I’m actually considering taking an online course so I can be ordained a minister and legally marry people. How about a fabulous drag queen minister? Anyone?

A few weeks ago, I took Virgin America for the first time to New York City and I loved it. There was no line at LAX and I was through security check in 10 minutes. It does take longer at Kennedy Airport because the Virgin America terminal is in the international terminal with many other airlines. The planes are all new and seats are equipped with individual TVs. But this is no ordinary TV; you can chat with other passengers online, order food and beverages, movies and listen to many music stations. The staff members are all so cool and the price is right. Virgin America flies from San Diego to New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Give it a try next time.

While in New York, I got to see the giant waterfall art installation at the Brooklyn Bridge, which is a brainchild of Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. This is one of four such manmade waterfall exhibitions, which range in height from 90 to 120 feet, about as tall as the Statue of Liberty. You might remember I wrote about another large scale installation about a year ago, The Gates, which consist of 7,500 saffron-colored nylon panels draped all around Central Park and designed by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Art events such as these are what make New York City so exciting.

I was also in town to attend the annual Folsom Street East held the weekend before New York City Pride. 28th Street between 10th and 11th avenues, where The Eagle bar is located, was closed and carefully partitioned for this adults-only street event. Close to 10,000 leather men and women, and many curious leather queens, came out in support of this event which was a fund-raiser for the NYC LGBT Center, the Anti-Violence Project and National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. The block was mobbed with people in leather, rubber and gas masks, and the expected summer showers. There was an entertainment stage among the tables for community groups and leather, kink and porn vendors. Despite the strong thunderstorm that lasted for an hour, the show went on onstage, with diva host Chi Chi LaRue, ever stylish under her clear plastic umbrella, emceeing. Unfortunately, it rained again the following weekend at the Pride Parade, but that did not dampen the crowd either. We are all such show biz people!

I know it’s party time during Pride, but please party smart and party safe – and don’t drink and drive!