News stories from the Gay People's Chronicle

Pride Guide, June 3, 2005

The circus is coming to Cleveland Pride

Parade starts in Warehouse District this year

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland--The circus is coming to town, and it will take over on June 18.

The circus is Cleveland Pride, whose theme this year is ?The Greatest Pride on Earth,? a nod to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which for years has billed itself as the greatest show on earth.

However, with this year?s line-up, Cleveland Pride might be giving them a run for their money.

Of course, if it?s going to be ?the greatest,? that would mean there must be changes from previous years. Change is necessary to go from ?great? to ?greatest.?

The big change this year will be the parade route. In past years it has assembled near Cleveland State University in the eastern part of downtown. This year it will begin in the Warehouse District, a block west of Public Square.

The parade gathers at 11:30 am. It will step off from West 3rd St. and St. Clair Avenue at 1 pm and head toward the festival?s traditional location at Voinovich Park, where East 9th Street meets Lake Erie.

Marchers will go north on West 3rd Street, then east on Lakeside Ave. past the Cuyahoga County Courthouse and Cleveland City Hall, then north on East 9th St. to the park. The new route is about half the length of the old one.

A rally at the entrance to Voinovich Park will be held at 2 pm, with emcees Thom Rankin and Keli Zehnder. Performances by LGBT and allied marching bands from Cleveland and Columbus and the national anthem sung by the North Coast Men?s Chorus will be the musical highlights of the rally.

Of course, once attendees enter the park, the fun really begins.

Under the big top, the aerial antics of Wise Fool New Mexico will provide segues between the musical acts, which include Robbing Mary, Tamaras, Disappear Fear, American Idol?s Kimberley Locke, Sacha Sacket, and headliner Jane Siberry on the main stage.

On the acoustic stage, or the side show if you will, the North Coast Men?s Chorus will again perform, along with Mr. and Ms. Black Gay Ohio, Slack Jaw, spiritual music, Rainbow Idol contest semi-finalists and hunk Eric Himan.

In the fun house, DJ Low Key will spin dance tracks, while in the children?s pavilion, entertainment will be provided by Flower and Jojo D. Klown.

Add animal crackers, peanuts, cotton candy, a drag queen how-to station featuring Brandy, Coco Star and Erika Martinez and belly dancers, and one can really say the carnival is coming to town.

For full information on the 17th annual Cleveland Pride, ?The Greatest Pride on Earth,? and all the related events, go to www.clevelandpride.org.

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