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news
L.B.
gay pride prominent
By Michelle Siazon
On-line Forty-Niner
More than 100,000
people are expected to attend the two-day Long Beach Lesbian
and Gay Pride Celebration, which celebrates diversity while
promoting pride with this year's theme, "Pride at Home
... Pride Worldwide."
The celebration consists of a festival in downtown Long Beach
on the Marina Greens at Shoreline Village, May 17 and 18 from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and a parade on Sunday beginning at Ocean
Boulevard and Temple, going west and ending at Ocean Boulevard
and Alamitos Boulevard.
"Pride is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the
freedom to be themselves, whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, or heterosexual," said education chair of
the Cal State Long Beach Rainbow Alliance, Erin Butler. "It
brings awareness to individuals and the community with educational
booths and workshops. It's a great way to blow off steam before
finals."
Entertainment will feature five different sections of music,
including:
• Fiesta Caliente -- Various DJs as well as performances
by Brenda K. Starr, Ruby La Reyna Del Tropico and Sonora Dinimita,
to name a few.
• Gospel Stage -- Glory Singers, Christ Chapel Church,
John Edmonds and Revival Glory Band will take the stage along
with other performances.
• Main Stage -- Pat Benetar, Berlin, Taylor Dayne, Jocelyn
Enriquez, Pua Olena's and hosting the stage are Eddie Safarty
and Sabrina Matthews.
• Country Stage -- Tommy The U.K. Cowboy, Katie Trickett,
Country Knight Cloggers and Cody Villa are just a small portion
of the lineup.
• Dance Tent -- DJs Millenium, Dawna, Casey, Nineteen
69, Armando, Zenway, Paladen and Snake will all have their
turn on the wheels of steel.
Aside from entertaining performances, there will be a number
of informational booths, vendors and a fine arts pavilion
displaying artwork.
CSULB's Rainbow Alliance will volunteer its services at a
booth in collaboration with the Queer College Coalition.
Participating in Sunday's parade are Lesbian Gay Bisexual
Transgender community organizations and leaders as well as
various members of the Long Beach City Council, such as Political
Grand Marshals, Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza of the 55th District
and Assemblyman Herb Wesson of the 47th District.
"It's not just about rainbow flags, dancing, and partying,"
said Rodney Scott, publicist for Long Beach Lesbian &
Gay Pride, Inc. "Celebrations and festivals like this
give the community courage to fight on. It's a psychological
and emotional fuel to take on the next battle."
Long Beach Pride benefits the community in a number of ways,
such as pride, rewards, grants and scholarships to local organizations.
Recipients in 2001 included The AIDS Food Store, Gay &
Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach, Wilmore Urban Agency,
Leadership Long Beach, Knowledge Transfer and CSULB Office
of Financial Aid.
Long Beach benefits economically because the festival, which
has drawn crowds of 55,000 to 100,000 people, is the second
largest event held in the city. The crowds are a testament
to the strength in having such a diverse community, making
Long Beach one of the most diverse cities in the country,
according to Scott.
"People come from out of town to go to Long Beach Pride
because it's so big and the entertainment is the best,"
said Frank Clark, employee of HotStuff, a card/gifts store
on Broadway. "Long Beach has a sense of pride all the
time, I've met in the past week about six couples that just
moved here from different parts of the country and they just
love it here."
Not only has Long Beach Pride been successful in drawing large
crowds, but it is well known for it's prominent location on
the Marina Greens with the ocean breeze, skyline, convenience
of hotel locations and freeways.
It's an overall beautiful, romantic, charming atmosphere being
near the water and the skyline, according to Barbara Dallessandro,
owner of HotStuff.
"Imagine if society said who you are had to be kept a
secret," said Scott. "Imagine a place where for
a weekend you could be who you are. You can hold your partner's
hand or kiss your partner without being judged."
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