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NC Pride this Weekend!

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:13am


www.ncpride.org

NC Pride is this weekend. It marks the 25th anniversary of this celebration. Of course the main event is the Parade at 1pm today. But there are speeches, festival grounds, food, vendors, booths, and lots of fun to be had. I'm about to head over to NC Pride, check out what is going on, and then volunteer at the Equality NC booth for a while.

I would argue that it is important for as many people to turn out to this parade and rally as possible, because it is the first one since prop 8 & the protests, and it is important to see this as not only a good time, but also a large political rally with a positive message. I also want to take a second to share some info on the Parade Marshall Mark Kleinschmidt, a Chapel Hill town councilman who is running for mayor, and for whom I am the campaign's volunteer coordinator:

Campaign Website
www.mark4mayor.com

Canvassing – Walking Ridgefield - Sunday - End Pride Weekend with Action!
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=262499340061

Mark Kleinschmidt for Mayor
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91222152476

Please consider supporting the campaign with a vote, by telling a friend, and most especially volunteering! (if you need extra motivation, watch the video below)

Another person you might see at Pride, is also a poster on BlueNC, Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend. She's the keynote address giver.

So I encourage anyone to come if you can make it, all the directions & info on parking can be found on ncpride.org & I'll try to write up a little bit about my experience later today after I'm back.

Also, just so no one thinks that if they can't make it to Durham that they can't enjoy the fun, here is a list of events from all over the triangle & the state: http://ncpride.org/pride/pride2009/schedule-all-events.php

Tagged:

Comments

Rainbow Flags on Franklin Street

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:14am.

I also just wanted to point out that this are kind of cool, they put them up downtown, where they'd sometimes have American flags on the 4th, or snow flakes around holiday time.

Thanks, Jake

Submitted by Betsy Muse on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:50am.

I hope later we can hear about Pam's speech. I know she'll do a great job.



***************************
Vote Democratic, the ass you save may be your own.

Back from Pride!

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 1:56pm.

It was great to see so many churches involved. I saw churches with tents set up at the fair grounds, churches marching in the parade, and churches passing out water bottles with rainbow labels on them to thirsty parade marchers inviting them to worship with them. It is easy to forget just how many affirming church voices there are out there, when a few decide to get loud & ugly. But I had a very positive experience with the parade over all. I heard most of Mark's speech. And when volunteering with Equality NC I was collecting signatures for their petition in suppport of ENDA. And having a clip board with a pro-lgbt equality petition on it is a great ice breaker for meeting all kinds of people at a festival. One couple I talked to went into detail about the openness they felt they could have with working at a hair salon vs working at target. And there were plenty of companies marching in the parade too which I thought was cool. I ended up marching with the Best Buy group just because several people I knew were going with them, and it was pretty awesome to see how welcoming a company like that can be because its not something you would usually think about. I know the Carrboro Plaza Vet where I worked was very open, and was willing when I asked to add sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy.

So without any further ado, I'll share the pictures! (and more are being e-mailed to me, so I may have more to share soon)


One of many parade floats


I believe that was Senator Kinnaird on the right


I'm holding one of those water bottles from that a church volunteer gave to me


Looking up 9th Street


Looking down Main Street


Another Parade Float


Even more Parade floats


Como se llama?


US Airways


Festival Grounds

Here is another festival grounds pic that I found on a facebook friends photos:

NC Pride - Pam Spaulding's post and address from her place

Submitted by usernamehere on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 6:53pm.

She or others may post later, but here's the link to her place.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13201/2009-nc-pride-keynote-address

 

Pam's speech looks great

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 5:32pm.

by the text of it, I wish I could have stayed long enough to hear it. But when I said hi to her earlier in the day, her wife was with her, with the camera, so I'm betting she'll post a video of the speech in a bit.

Also speaking of Pam, it looks like she got more pics than I did, so I wanted to share some of them too that she put up on facebook. All credit for the pics in this post go to her:

Browsing some facebook friends pride pics, I found a few extra I thought I might share:

Photo Credit-NBC17:

Here I am marching with the Best Buy crowd. I was going to march with Equality NC after collecting signatures for their petition for about an hour, but I went too long and missed them lining up, but my brother who came with me used to work at Best Buy, and we both knew people from that crowd, so you can spot me here marching with them as we made up random chants to shout out:

More Pride Pics

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 10:28pm.

that I found on Flickr:

Cool pics. Loved them

Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 7:52pm.

When we can actually get pictures of ministers and pastors and the people in the gay community together all openly attending services, we will know we have "bridged" the true divide.

Just me being me. Sorry.

My wife and I went with

Submitted by NationHahn on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 12:46pm.

My wife and I went with several of our friends and it was a cool experience. We arrived later in the day but had the chance to speak to a number of folks which was great.

my post with my Pride keynote speech and video is up...

Submitted by Pam Spaulding on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 4:28pm.

http://bluenc.com/my-keynote-address-nc-pride-2009-video-and-photos

--
Pam Spaulding
Durham, NC USA

Pam's House Blend
www.pamshouseblend.com

More great pics

Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 8:56pm.

I was particularly enthralled (captivated) by the diversity in those pictures. Being gay or lesbian or "bi" isn't something that is gender or racially or age specific.

Again, super pictures.

you might want to...

Submitted by fake consultant on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 8:58pm.

...post this to bilerico as well, if you haven't already.

"...i feel that if a person can't communicate, the very least he can do is to shut up." --tom lehrer, january 1965

Whole Foods at Pride - progressive credentials?

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 1:53pm.

I didn't notice the float when I was there, it was a big enough parade & festival that it is hard to take in everything, but it is interesting that whole foods has recently had its progressive credentials challenged & while simultaneously doing this sort of thing. I noticed they were also sponsors of the recent 14th Annual Gay & Lesbian film festival in NC, in addition to taking taking part in the 25th Annual NC Pride Parade & Festival.

Hole foods

Submitted by James on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 5:01pm.

The wrap on that story is: the CEO is an Ayn Rand extremist but the company is oh-so-good-and-responsible.

I guess teh gayz have lots of money and buy lots of arugula?

Pardon my cynicism. I boycott Whole Foods.