Promote your business by becoming a Pride 2010 sponsor. Packets and Order Forms Now Available.

Get more information at http://www.columbuspride.org/becomeasponsor.

Participate in Pride 2010 in the parade or with a vendor booth space at the festival.

Get more information at http://www.columbuspride.org/participateinpride

Freedom is living without fear of discrimination. Watch for some interesting facts about living and being GLBT in central Ohio and decide for yourself, “Have we achieved Freedom?”

What Does Freedom Mean to You?

The Theme of Columbus Pride 2009 is Freedom. We asked Central Ohio GLBT people what Freedom means to them.

From the June 2009 issue of Outlook Columbus

DeLunacy
Kat Deluna headlines Pride Holiday 2009

by Chris Hayes

This year’s headliner is the beautiful and feisty Kat DeLuna. You will know Kat from her debut Gold single, “Whine Up” featuring Elephant Man, and second smash single “Run The Show” featuring Busta Rhymes and Don Omar. At only 20 years old, she has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and recently kicked off the summer on the “True Colors” tour with Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell. She is one to watch for sure. I caught up with Kat on the road to find out what we can expect from her performance at Pride Holiday, her connection to the community, her fashion sense and what freedom means to her.

Chris Hayes: Is this your first time to Columbus and or Ohio?
Kat DeLuna: It is and I’m excited.

CH: For those that have never seen you perform, what can they expect?
KD: For those who haven’t seen me yet should be prepared for some upbeat energetic songs. They should be ready to dance. My performances are full of adrenaline and overall fun!

CH: Britney’s tour just came through town and she was obviously lip syncing, with so much dancing in your shows can you actually sing live?
KD: I’ll admit it’s hard to dance and sing upbeat hour sets back to back.  No matter what the situation is I always sing live, there has even been times when I’ve sounded out of breath and even tired. I truly believe the harder I work at something the better the outcome. I will eventually perfect all performances. But you need to understand as well, we are human and we need our voices to rest especially if we’re going to need it to stay healthy for a long time! We’re not robots! Lol.

CH: I saw you at the White Party’s closing party where you definitely brought it. Will your performance here be as hot?
KD: The Palm Spring White Party was amazing and the support from all my divas and my fabulous guys was great!! I will definitely bring the same energy!!!!!!

CH: What differences are there performing to a GLBT crowd compared to a hetero crowd? Than a Latino crowd?
KD: When I perform for a GLBT crowd I’m in my diva mode!! For a hetero crowd I’m very fab!! And for a Spanish crowd I run the show! In general it’s all very over the top and fun!! Through music I show my creativity especially when I’m performing!

CH: You have definitely been working the GLBT party and Pride circuits this year (Dinah Shore/White Party, Long Beach/San Fran/Columbus Pride etc)? What’s your connection to the community? Is there any political fallout from doing so many GLBT events?
KD: No, not at all!! They have been supporting me from the start and I will always remain faithful to them!! 100%!

CH: This year’s theme for Columbus Pride Holiday is “freedom.”  What does freedom mean to you? What’s your definition of freedom?
KD: Freedom – having a choice. You have a chance to stand firm next to what you believe in! And being who you want to be all the time! Freedom is being able to live your life the way you choose!

CH: For so young in your career, you’ve worked with some big names like Busta Rhymes, Enrique Inglesias, and Lil Wayne. Which celeb has been your favorite to work with? Who would you like to work with in the future?
KD: I have been blessed to have gotten the opportunity to work with such talented artists. I can see myself working with anyone who’s fabulous, innovative and risky!!

CH: Besides your music, you’re also known for your fashion. What’s your favorite thing to wear when you’re not in the spotlight? What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t performing?
KD: I love to experiment with high-end fashion. I love couture dresses and vintage pieces. It’s always fun playing dress up. If I’m not in my glam mood you will see me in skinny jeans, 6-inch heels and a vintage top or blazer. Chic and cute.

CH:  What’s next for Kat Deluna?
KD: My sophomore album is out later this year, entitled Inside Out! I will be touring and building empires out of broken bricks. Most importantly I will be living life to the fullest and loving every single aspect of what I do!

Kat DeLuna is the final performer at Pride Fest on the Freedom Stage Saturday, June 20. For more info on Kat visit www.katdeluna.com. Chris Hayes is Co Publisher of outlook: columbus.

JUNE PRIDE MONTH is right around the corner and your Pride Committee is ready to present to you one of the best Prides to ever hit Columbus, Ohio. Goodale Park is going to be a fabulous location for the 2009 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and its 120,000 or so guests. We are looking forward to seeing YOU at Goodale Park on June 19 and June 20!

Yes, that is correct! Stonewall Columbus Pride is a TWO-DAY event this year. We are in a new venue so we are going to “kick it up a notch” for you, as my friend Emeril says. BUY YOUR OFFICIAL PRIDE DOG TAG OR WRISTBAND NOW FOR $10 and you have entrance to both days of Pride Fun.

Day 1 of the Pride Festival – Friday, June 19 – will include our usual festival attractions of exhibitors, food, and beverages with the gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Two stages of entertainment will also be presented that night, starting at 6:00 p.m. The event formerly known as “Rockin’ in the Streets” is now part of the Pride package this year. Melissa Ferrick will headline the energetic “Rockin’ ‘” Stage on Friday, and we will also feature Columbus favorite Trina Hamlin, among others. The “Gayzebo” Stage headliner on Friday is Josh Zuckerman and he will be joined by many others. Stay tuned for “Entertainment Updates” as other information is released.

Saturday, June 20 brings Day 2 of the Pride Festival. The gates open at 11:00 a.m. that day and we will celebrate into the night with the Festival ending at 9:00 p.m. Saturday will include numerous featured entertainers, including Headliner Kat DeLuna. Kat has toured with Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell on the “True Colors” Tour and was recently featured at the “White Party” in Palm Springs. Check her out! She’s fabulous! We are so thrilled to have her with us this year!

Along with the excitement of a new venue comes a few changes. The Pride Rally is on Saturday, June 20, at 11:30 a.m. at The Statehouse Lawn. The Pride Parade Step-Off follows at 1:00 p.m. from THE STATEHOUSE, traveling north on High Street, then heading into Goodale Park. Another big change this year is that NO COOLERS will be permitted in Goodale Park. It is a neighborhood park, keep in mind. So, if you come to Pride with a cooler, please know you will be asked to leave it at one of the Toll Booth Entrances. There will also be some new guidelines in place for the Toll Booths this year, so stay tuned for those updates, as well.

HAPPY PRIDE – SEE YOU THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 19 AND JUNE 20!

First of all, I would like to send a big THANK YOU to all of the sponsors who have been so generous to Stonewall Columbus Pride over the years. Your partnerships have continued to help us promote and produce one of the largest and most popular Prides in the country. Thanks again, and we look forward to your return this year for Stonewall Columbus Pride 2009.

We have recently updated our Sponsorship Proposals and they are now available online here on the site.  Along with the common Festival Sponsorships, we have added new areas for sponsorship opportunities, including Golf Cart Sponsorship and Temporary Restrooms Sponsorship. These two areas are highly visible and would be a fun way for you to promote your business to the 120,000+ projected to be at Pride 2009. We also have sponsorship opportunities available for our Special Events, including “An Exhibit of Pride,” “Fore! Pride,” “Run for Pride 5K,” “Pride Poker Run,” and “Pride Brunch.” Please contact me should you like to schedule a meeting to discuss our many sponsorship opportunities. We look forward to seeing all of you at Stonewall Columbus Pride 2009!