Lil Kim Takes Pride In BET Awards Absence, "I Will Absolutely Not Be [There]"

Brooklyn rapper Lil Kim decided to snub fans hoping to see her at Sunday (June 26) night's BET Awards and instead devoting her support to the weekend's Gay Pride parade in New York City.

Hitting up Twitter, Kim revealed her decision and updated followers on the 42nd annual parade.

"I will Absolutely not be at the [BET] awards Sunday. I will be on a float at the gay pride parade with my Queens in NYC then at LQ performing," she tweeted June 24.

"Getting glammed up for my G-boyfriends & girlfriends at the #prideparade. Come out & join us at my float. Tonight performing at LQ.," she tweeted June 26th.

"In the car headed to my float on the gay pride parade. We taking off on 37th & 6. Can't wait to see everyone. #teamlilkim"

"Thank you Pride nyc!!! My G bf's & gf's are the best. See u at LQ.http://twitpic.com/5hddop" (Lil Kim's Twitter)

The annual event was especially memorable as gay marriage in New York became legalized a couple days prior.

Parade organizers estimated as many as 2 million spectators turned out to celebrate the 42nd annual LGBT Pride March on Sunday. Many considered it the most electric in the Parade's history. Although this year's theme was "Proud and Powerful," the New York gay community feted the legalization of same-sex marriage, which was signed into law late on Friday by Governor Andrew Cuomo. (Reuters)

The parade's history dates all the way back to the early 1970's.

Crowds gathered for the 42nd Annual LGBT Pride March on Christopher Street in the West Village on Sunday, June 26. New York City's annual Pride March began in 1970 as a commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The March has since grown to become the oldest and one of the world's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) events. (New York Daily News)

Following last fall's suicide of a gay Rutgers University student, artists like Nicki Minaj have spoken out.

"I would encourage my gay fans to be fighters and to be brave," Minaj said in an interview. "People face difficulties, no matter who you are. I faced difficulties with a lot of things. I face opposition every day, but I didn't kill myself and now, thank God, I'm here. So I want my life to be a testimony to my fans and my gay fans...I mean I could never imagine what they're going through. But I know that suicide is never the answer and I know that things always get better. So I'm supporting you guys. I love you very, very much and for the people who don't love you, they need help." (MTV)