by Anthony Glassman

Dayton--?It?s About Freedom,? the theme for this year?s Dayton LGBT Pride celebration, stretches across half the month.

Dayton?s festivities are traditionally broken up into two separate weekends, with the parade and festival on the first Saturday of June and the Pride Dinner and LGBT Expo on the third Saturday.

This year?s dinner and expo will feature keynote speaker Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The June 17 dinner is $45; attendance at the expo is free to the public.

In addition to Foreman as the speaker, the Dayton Gay Men?s Chorus and the Cincinnati Women?s Chorus will perform, along with artists from the Human Race Theater Company.

The Pride Expo and Dinner will be at the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College, 444 West Third Street in Dayton.

Tickets are available through the Dayton LGBT Center or at Q Gifts at 1904 North Main, Dayton.

There are registration forms on the Dayton LGBT Center website to participate as an exhibitor in the expo.

Two weeks before Foreman?s visit, the Pride March will step off from Cooper Park at noon, wending its way to Courthouse Square.

Making the festival at Courthouse Square even more poignant this year will be a mass wedding dubbed ?Vows to Make a Stand.?

Clergy performing the mass wedding and commitment ceremony include Rev. Mark Pridmore of Eternal Joy MCC, Farther Richard Young of Dignity Dayton, Cross Creek Community Church?s Rev. Valerie Garrick and Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship?s Rev. Martha Hodges.

Couples can register online at www.daytonlgbtcenter.com or call 937-2542087. There is a $7 processing fee.

Rev. Pridmore noted, ?The couples who have registered are taking this seriously. They are doing this for personal reasons and because it is meaningful to them and our community.?

The festival will also feature a performance by dance music singer Taborah, known for her singles ?I Am? and ?All I Gave to You.?

Of course, the Dayton Gay Men?s Chorus will also perform at the festival, both during and after the mass commitment ceremony.

For more information about Dayton Pride, go to www.daytonlgbtcenter.com.