GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE JUNE 24, 1994

Record numbers turn out for Cleveland's Pride '94

by Charlton Harper

Moving in everything from Harleys to hightops, nearly 1,000 loud, chanting marchers strutted down Euclid Avenue June 11

IND

event on the northwest quadrant of the Square swelled to 2,500 people. With clouds darkening mid-day, this was the first Pride to face the rain. But thanks to a seamless flow of entertainment, speakers and vendors, and only a sprinkle here and there, nothing could stop this party.

The Cyclone Sisters; K.J. Denhert, Khalel, and Tina Thomas, entertain the crowd as Diane Sarotte interprets.

and onto Public Square for Pride '94. This year's festival, "Community of Pride," was the largest celebration ever held by Cleveland's lesbian-gay-bisexual community. At its peak, the crowded day-long

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The quiet steps of Trinity Cathedral shortly before noon looked more like a pickup demonstration than a rally of hundreds. Michael McMurray and fellow members of the Green Party sat waiting with their "multi-issue" banner while a stream of bodies trickled along

Euclid headed for Trinity. Members of ACT-UP Cleveland gathered on the corner of East 22nd street, still putting their banner together and handing out posters. Kenn Kriz held a poster-sized copy of the group's advertisement for the AIDS Cure Project. Larger versions have recently begun appearing on Cleveland RTA buses.

ACT-UP's well-earned reputation for effective street theater had many expecting a surprise along the route. Kriz said the focus was instead on the ad campaign. "Well, after the costs of the bus ads we felt we needed to keep spending our time and energy on the Project. I promise, we aren't up to anything today," he laughed with a look that said "but be prepared, just in

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case." Banner construction had come to a halt on the sidewalk. Did anyone have a pair of scissors, or maybe a knife? In a flash, Marcos Rivero whipped out a pocketknife. "I've got a knife. I am a spic after all," he boasted, getting a good laugh from the group.

If things seemed quiet out front, the parking lot behind Trinity was where the real action was starting. A sea of white tee shirts and shorts, filtered with dabs of leather, lamé and sequins, ebbed and flowed as rally speakers pumped the crowd.

Trying to put a face on Pride points up the many stories that are both familiar and new. Tim was marching in his first Pride parade as part of the Twentysomething group. "I'm a little nervous and scared," he said, holding one end of the group's banner. "I've just come out since January. This group has really helped me. I wouldn't be marching in Pride without the support I found here." Though he's reluctant to give his last name, his jump from the closet to banner carrier in his first Pride parade made Tim a hero that day.

ALL PHOTOS BY JAMES STENNIES

Lizz Falcone arrives at the festival with a message to Mom.

It wasn't Debra's first Pride but it was the first time she had ridden a motorcycle in the march. The firsttime ride was also special since she had just bought the bike a couple of months ago. "It's my first time out on it in Pride. I just got it a couple months ago. It's a good way to get seen. Her girlfriend Tamara sat high on the seat behind Debra. They were both "getting seen" and

Tamara was eating it up. "Oh honey, red heads

should never

music later in the afternoon, a Pride first.

Various entertainers and speakers held the stage throughout the day. Singer Dianne Davidson was the headliner and a guest appearance by the Flirtations filled out the celebrity portion of the day. Many community groups and leaders added the important

Mark Rankin, rear, and Maurice, a.k.a. Candy, enjoy the festival stage show.

tan," she yelled into a circling blur of white cotton. "Listen to me, give up the tan."

The march itself went off without incident. Near the old National City Bank building, between E. 9th street and Public Square,

reminder that all is not party, there's still plenty of work to be done. Vendors represented most of the major organizations in Cleveland's lesbian and gay community, along with

a good representation of queerowned and queerfriendly

nesses.

busi-

Pride Coordina-

tor Brynna Fish was still ecstatic about this year's festival three days later. "We couldn't

be more pleased with it. I think last year was pivotal for us because we moved the site to Public Square. It was a test year for us. Could we survive in the public eye? Could closeted people-and closeted people come to Pride-could closeted people feel safe at Pride? I think we made it,

Arlene Black and Gary Stevenson with their trusty steeds.

hate graffiti had been vomited on several walls: GAY = AIDS. The words failed to cast a somber mood.

As the parade wound to its end on the Square, the strains of "We Are Family" blared from Jerry Szoka's speakers mounted high on the Grid's first-prize-winning mobile dance float near the rear of the procession. The Grid float served as a second festival stage, playing large sets of dance

and now more people know its down okay there."

It's hard to avoid the ubiq-

uitous P-word

when talking

about Pride. A

day that can run

so easily without the potential hitches everyone secretly dreads can warm a lump in the belly. Fish says community is a big part of why a successful festival in the public spotlight is possible today, in 1994. "I see the respect from the police department about how smoothly everything went and I know that our community can come together like this and people see how great we are. But I think the times are part of it too. We couldn't have had a successful Pride like this five years ago. I think society itself is as responsible as we are."