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!

HAPPY PRIDE!!   65 Days until the Pride Parade and Festival!!!

Can you believe that countdown?  I have it posted in my Pride office and I change the numbers every day! It’s purely because of my excitement – like Seniors counting down their last days until Graduation –  not because I am stressed about getting everything done in time . . .

There are sooooooooooooooooo many Pride events the month of June! “We aren’t just a Parade and Festival anymore,” that’s what I’ve been saying.  June is officially “PRIDE MONTH” now! We have moved up from just one weekend and definitely from one day! Many of our events have their own official websites, too, with online registration and ticket purchasing. We are definitely advancing the Pride Site so that everything is easily accessible and very user-friendly. Simply click on the “Events” button on the left side of our Columbus Pride Home Page, and you will see a complete list of events with dates, locations, website information, and whatnot.  Many thanks to the various Event Chairs and their committees who bring all of these fabulous – and diverse! – events to you!

I am also including a concise list of events here as I conclude this post. Please refer to the “Events” site for the more detailed information.  Enjoy these events, and HAPPY PRIDE!   – Jan

June 3 – History Panel:  The Central Ohio Response to the AIDS Crisis

June 5 – An Exhibit of Pride Art Show

June 6 and June 7 – “OUR POWER WEEKEND” Pride Kick-Off  Outdoor Concerts

June 11 – History Panel

June 14 – Pride Poker Run

June 14 – Fore! Pride Golf Outing Inaugural Event

June 15 – Leslie Jordan “Pink Party” Pride Fundraiser at Stonewall

June 16 – Leslie Jordan: My Trip Down the Pink Carpet   One-Man Show

June 20 – CATF “Skate for Life”

June 21 – Run for Pride 5K Run/Walk

June 26 – After Stonewall DVD Showing

June 27 and June 28 – Rockin’ in The Streets

June 27 and June 28 – Qasis Pride

June 27 and June 28 – Interfaith Events

June 28 – Pride Parade and Pride Festival

June 29 – Pride Brunch

June 29 – Bat -N – Rouge

June 30 – Call in Sick! =)