PRIDE GUIDE 1995 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 23

'Pride Season' in Columbus is six weeks of fun

Stonewall Union of Columbus invites you to participate in "Pride Season," which began with activities in mid-May and continues through the last Sunday in June. The grand finale will be the 1995

An O

1994's Pride March in Columbus

Stonewall Union Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Freedom March and Gayfest. Step off with us at Goodale Park at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. March with us through downtown Columbus to Bicentennial Park for the Rally and GayFest.

Our goal of celebrating "Pride in Diversity" will only become a reality through participation that reflects the diversity of our community and the power we hold when we all work together. Whether you march with us, donate your time, make a financial contribution, or do all three, your participation is needed." Said Stonewall Union "Pride in Diversity" co-chairs Kim Dill and Neal Johnson.

The theme of the 14th annual Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Freedom March and Gayfest is Celebrating Pride in Diversity. Stonewall has produced this event since 1981. The March will step off from Goodale Park at 1:00 p.m. After marching throughout the streets of downtown Columbus proclaiming gay Pride, over 10,000 lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and their supporters will assemble in Bicentennial Park for Gayfest.

Gayfest was added to the “parade" in 1989 when the event was moved from the

Statehouse lawn to Bicentennial Park. Modeled after the Columbus Arts Festival and the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, Gayfest features a rally with both speakers and entertainers providing the backdrop for the street fair. The park and streets are filled with over 70 booths.

LEE ANN MCGUIRE

In past years, festival-goers have strolled around the fountain, soaking up the sunshine and learning about community groups such as the Log Cabin Club and the Lesbian Avengers; joined the Lesbian Business Association, picked up information about the Columbus Gay Men's Chrous, registered to vote, joined a bowling league or a softball team, discovered new lesbian and gay affirming churches and spiritual groups. Groups such as Sistah Power, the Gay and Lesbian Parenting Group, the Columbus AIDS Task Force, the National Leather Association, Ohioans Against Discrimination, Brother II Brother, the AIDS Service Connection, Ohio NOW, Phoenix Pride Youth Group, Women's Outreach to Women, and a host of other local organizations, have all had booths in the past. The Columbus Health Department has done anonymous HIV testing on-site a number of years in the past.

Plans are not final yet. It is not too late for your group to participate and spread the word to 10,000 people that you are out there and welcome their participation. There are a number of ways to get involved. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! It takes over 500 people to make this happen. Come and join us and make this year the best yet.

If you would like to volunteer, have a booth, advertise in the Pride Guide, write a check or help in any way, call the Stonewall Office at 614-299-7764 and get involved.

Short North gears up Gay Pride weekend

Short North businesses are preparing to welcome visitors to Columbus for the annual Gay Pride parade on June 25. During the weekend of June 23 to 25, thousands of people from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indi-

ana and elsewhere pour into Columbus for this enormous parade.

Short North area

merchants anticipate that many visitors will choose to spend much of the

for

are gay-owned, and many more businesses actively market themselves to the gay community."

"Add the energy of several thousand gay, lesbian and bi-sexual visitors, and you've got an event that shouldn't be missed.'

evening in the North High Street shops, coffee houses and restaurants. According to Short North Business Association trustee Brian Fitzgerald, "Our goal is to make the Short North an annual destination for the Gay Pride Parade visitors to Columbus. We envision an event unique to the Midwest."

Added Fitzgerald, "The Short North is a natural destination for Pride Weekend visitors. It has a reputation for being very gayfriendly. Many of the businesses in this area

Short North Business Association executive director Cleve Ricksecker said, "We want to develop a Saturday evening focus to the Gay Pride weekend in Columbus and will work actively with businesses to create excitement in the area on June 24. Nobody is going to walk away disappointed." "Anyone who goes to the Gallery Hop understands how exciting the Short North can be," said Fitzgerald. "Add the energy of several thousand gay, lesbian and bi-sexual visitors, and you've got an event that shouldn't be missed."

Information about the June 24 Saturday Night Out in the Short North may be secured by calling Brian Fitzgerald of Metro Video at 614-291-7962, or Cleve Ricksecker of the SNBA at 614-421-1030.

The

NEW

Northampton

Lesbian Festival

July

14 & 15 & 16

The Lesbian Festival Comes Home To Downtown Northampton, 50 craftswomen, Urban, 10,000Lesbians, Workshops, Hotels, GRRRLS, Queer, Electric, Camping Nearby, Drumming and Shopping.

Art by Denise Beaudet

JUCA w/

Judith Casselberry Suede, Shelly Mars Annie Sprinkle

Zoe Lewis, Kate Wolf

Rhythm Express Pamela Sneed

Juliana Luecking Jaime Morton Dayna Kurtz

Jean Navarr, Ritual Motion Terry Dame's New York Situation Quartet, Justina & Joyce, Cheesecake, Pirate Jenny,

Fly, Tizzy, Grind, M'Liss

Cindy Bow, Swank, Letta Neely, Linee Perroncel, Jan Corliss, Chapter In Verse, Johanna Clearfield and many more.

For a brochure after May 15: send SASE; WOW Productions 160 Main St. Northampton MA 01060

Tickets on Sale: MAY 15, 1995 Ticket order line: 800-THE-TICK Or call 413-586-8686

To speak directly to a WOW representative, Call 413-586-8251

SYKE

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