It's Summer! Celebrate with MUSIC!

Happy SUMMER!  While summer unofficially kicked off with Memorial Day a few weeks back, today is, in fact, the official start of the flaming hot summer season!

I guess it's no coincidence, then, that June 21st is also World Music Day.  This annual celebration began in 1982, and has turned into a worldwide phenomenon as countries around the world enjoy the day in their own way.  The day also promotes peace and goodwill through music- heaven knows we can use more days to promote that!

Some of the countries that celebrate World Music Day are: Argentina, Australia, Britain, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, India, and Lebanon, among others.  While we fond some evidence of US participation in our sister city San Francisco, we would like to see Philly on fire with some HOT World Music Day events, so feel free to share the message and help us get the blog out!

Now, we're going to enjoy some classic vino while listening to some classic tunes on this classically beautiful summer, World Music Day!

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A Little Vexillology Anyone?

 

Flag Day was first observed in 1916.  In that year, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that established June 14th as a nationwide observance of "Flag Day."

While it is unconfirmed who actually designed Old Glory, it is accepted that Betsy Ross made the first US flag in 1776 right here in Philadelphia, PA.  While the designer is unknown, the colors chosen for the flag are no accident.  Red is a symbol of valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, (d) of the US Flag Code maintains that the American flag, "should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free."

So, rather than use an actual flag, rely on design re-prints of the flag on objects like this decorative pillow to ensure your decorating is within the bounds of the "flag code."  Then again, maybe you should use this symbol of life, liberty, and freedom to decorate your home however you desire!

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Say it Loud, Gay is Proud!

At the heart of it all. . . a squeaky clean, impressively pink Gay Bar!

In June of 1970, the nation's first PRIDE parade was held in New York City to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots (a nearly week-long uprising between NYC police officers and the city's youth, following a raid of Stonewall Inn).  Stonewall was a popular gay bar located on Greenwich Village's Christopher Street, and the uprising helped bring the LGBT civil rights movement into the national spotlight for the first time.  This first parade was named the "Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day" march.

Here in Philadelphia, official PRIDE parades began in the late 1980s, and continue today thanks to the hard work of Philly Pride Presents, a grassroots, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  The annual PRIDE parade and celebration at Penn's Landing attracts more than 25,000 people!

Fast forward to June, 2009, and the LGBT civil rights movement garnered a new level of support when the President of the United States of America proclaimed:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."

This year's Philly PRIDE celebration will be held tomorrow (Sunday, June 9, 2013) beginning at 12 noon in the heart of Philly's Gayborhood.

Now, go get washed up, and we hope to see you there!

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