We did not have the power to change the direction of the storm on Saturday for Pride 2008 but we sure had a fabulous day. By the time the rain hit Bicentennial Park, there were 120,000 people who marched along High Street and attended the festival. This was the biggest and best Pride ever with over 100 floats and groups marching and over 150 vendors exhibiting. Janet Jackson served as our Grand Marshal this year and the United Way of Central Ohio had ninety people marching along side of her. Some folks called the event “electrifying and flashy.” Those comments may have referred to the lightning; nevertheless the over 300 volunteers including Pride committee members took the compliment to heart. The headliner Jennifer Holliday was not able to perform due to weather conditions but did take the stage at AXIS nightclub later that evening. Events were scheduled all month long and each of them was extremely well attended. Brunch on Sunday, June 29 had 250 in attendance including Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer and a variety of political figures. Stonewall Columbus thanks the countless volunteers and sponsors who made this day happen. Next year, Pride weekend will be held June 19-21 at Goodale Park. We welcome your comments and suggestions: visit http://columbuspride.org/survey to take the survey.

Congratulations to our Winners of the Parade Contest. A thanks goes to our judges, Joe Baer, Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessy and John Angelo who made the tough following choices:

Float Most Closely aligned with the theme, “Our Power” – Girth and Mirth
Best Contingency – United Way of Central Ohio
Most Outrageous – Exile
Most Creative – Gay Men’s Chorus
Best Float – Wall Street Nightclub

Stonewall Columbus Executive Director, Karla Rothan, interviews Pride Festival Performer Jade Esteban Estrada who will be performing with Lori Michaels: Me and the Girls on Saturday, June 28th on the Main Festival Stage.

They talk about what he has coming up, his past Columbus performances and what to expect from him at Columbus Pride 2008.

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Stonewall Columbus Executive Director, Karla Rothan, interviews Pride Festival Performer Unecc who will be performing with Unecc and Friends on Saturday, June 28th on the Main Festival Stage.

They talk about her performance at the Columbus Diversity Pride Events, what she has coming up and what to expect from them at Columbus Pride 2008.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Stonewall Columbus Executive Director, Karla Rothan, interviews Pride Festival Performer Lori Michaels who will be performing with Lori Michaels: Me and the Girls on Saturday, June 28th on the Main Festival Stage.

They talk about what she has coming up and what to expect from them at Columbus Pride 2008.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Happy Pride!! 31 Days until the Pride Parade and Pride Festival!

The big month is upon us! Pride Month officially begins this Sunday, and the events are as numerous and diverse as our very own community. Be sure to check out the fabulous list of everything on the “Events” link on the Pride website. Many of these events have their very own web pages with more detailed accounts of the goings-on, but feel free to drop me a line or give me a call if you have any questions. Your Pride Committee and Friends and Leaders in the Community have some really exciting things planned, so be sure to support these events and, of course, Stonewall Columbus!

The Festival IS still at Bicentennial Park this year, by the way! I know, I know – you are wondering where everything is going to go. Not to worry. That’s a bigger space down there than you realize! The City of Columbus has also been extremely helpful with keeping your Festival Committee updated on all the latest construction details and whatnot. I think Joe, Joyce, and Rob and Company could do this festival anywhere, they are that good! Just as long as the sprinklers don’t come on again this year to wash away Rob’s booth numbers, there are no worries!

Speaking of booths, have you registered for your space yet? Have you registered your parade entry? The “Pride Participant Packet” is available online. Simply download that, fill it out, and send it in to me. Don’t YOU want to see and be seen? Of course you do! Go to the online links and sign up now, as the deadlines are approaching.

Also available online are the dogs tags, as well as tickets for all things Pride. You can buy tickets for An Exhibit of Pride, the annual Pride Art Show which is coming up next week. You can also get your VIP spots for the special Pre-Party and Saturday Brunch with Bitch and Ferron, as well as other tickets for “Our Power Weekend,” the Pride Kick-Off Concerts.

You can even register your golf team to play in “Fore! Pride,” or you can register to “Run for Pride.” You also better snag those coveted spots to come to the Pink Party to meet that cute Southern Boy, Leslie Jordan (aka “Brother Boy,” “Beverley Leslie.”) And don’t forget to go to our link to the Ticketmaster site to purchase tickets to his show at the Southern Theatre the following night! He is hilarious!

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP is also available online! We still need a few people to help in various areas, including the upcoming Art Show. Sign up to be a stylish server at An Exhibit of Pride. Or is setting up and tearing down the festival more along your lines of talent? Want to help with the Parade? How about helping in the Family Area or volunteering in the Beverage Area? Don’t you want to look important in one of those awesome SWC Volunteer Shirts? Come on, sure you do! All the cool kids are doing it!

I am getting tired just telling you about all these events! So get your pedicures, manicures, stylist appointments, disco naps, and dates all lined up – it is time to do the “Happy Pride” shout out for the next 31 Days!

Happy Pride!