B-16 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE PRIDE GUIDE 1998

Proud of where we've been, and where we're headed

by Melissa M. Soto Cleveland On Saturday, June 27, Cleveland Pride, Inc. will be sponsoring the tenth annual Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual Pride Parade and Festival.

This year's parade will begin with a 1 pm rally at East 21st St. and Euclid Ave., in front of the Cleveland State University campus. The parade will step off at 2 pm, following Euclid and East 9th St. to Voinovich Park on the East 9th St. Pier. The festival will continue there until 8 pm.

For a decade now, committed gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people have been gathering in downtown Cleveland every June, not only to tell the world, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it!" but also to celebrate and affirm our lives and loves.

There has been an incredible amount of hard work, commitment, passion, and dedication shared by all of those who have been involved in the process. As we take a brief trip down memory lane, Cleveland Pride, Inc. would like to extend a heart-felt "Thank You" to all of you who have helped to make all of the Pride festivals possible-official sponsors, vendors, parade participants, volunteers, committee coordinators, board members and festival participants.

In a relatively brief amount of time, we truly have 'come a long way, baby.'

Here's an overview since the beginning of Cleveland Pride:

When Cleveland held its first Pride gathering in 1989, Melissa Etheridge had not yet come out as a lesbian, and was still singing in local clubs. The cost of a ticket to one of her shows was between $5-7. In June, Cleveland held its first Pride event, "An Out of the Closet Experience." There was no parade the first year, but the rally and business fair held on West 29th St. in front of the Lesbian and Gay Center drew more than 1,000 people.

In 1990, k.d. lang was just leaving the country music scene and starting to cross

over into mainstream America. There was no such thing yet as "lesbian chic." The second Cleveland Pride festival was held that year, with the theme "Look to the Future." The first parade drew 600 marchers and 2,000 people attended the festival.

The third Cleveland Pride festival, "Bridging the Gaps" in 1991 drew 2,000 participants.

In 1992, a Republican was still in the White House. RuPaul had yet to release her first CD. The fourth Pride theme was "Evolution Revolution," with a combined attendance and parade participation of over 2,100 people.

The year 1993 brought us "don't ask, don't tell." The drag film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, had yet to be released. Pride's fifth festival was the last time it was held on W. 29th Street.

wwwwwwwww

DOREEN CUDNIK

Marchers carry rainbow-colored streamers in last year's Cleveland Pride Parade.

1994. Who knew that the '70s Swedish pop group Abba would once again be all the rage? Thanks to lang and Etheridge publicly coming out, lesbianism is in. Drag, too, is becoming mainstream fashionable. In this year, Pride moved to Public Square, and 2,500 people came out to participate.

1995. Ellen DeGeneres gets her own TV sitcom. We know she's queer, but at this point no one else does. Marky Mark changes his name to Mark Wahlberg and he and Leonardo DiCaprio look sweet, young, and fine in The Basketball Diaries. This is Pride's last year at Public Square and the last Pride performance of Odd Girl Out and The Cyclone Sisters.

1996. Aloha! Could Hawaii become the gay Las Vegas? Nathan Lane and Robin Williams do justice to the La Cage aux Folles remake The Birdcage, but would an onscreen kiss have hurt anyone? Pride moves to Pier Park on the East 9th St. Pier and festival attendance doubles!

1997. Ellen comes out, saying, "Yep, I'm Gay" on the cover of Time magazine. The Defense of Marriage Act is passed, but at least the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is considered. The Pride "Family Reunion" is our most successful event to date, with over 1,200 marchers in the parade and over 5,000 festival goers.

Clevelanders can take pride in knowing that out of 46 international cities with Pride festivals, Cleveland ranks fifth in the number of consecutive years with festivals. Our turnout last year ranked us 12th and we rank third in the number of years having a parade!

In only ten years we've grown tremendously. We started with a business fair and no parade on a crowded West 29th St. Last

year's Pride festival had over 120 vendors, a dance stage, a main stage, a food court, a beer garden, a gaming area, musicians and comedians, plus over 1,200 marchers in the parade.

Every year we keep growing—not only physically and logistically-but in spirit and pride as well. We may not have the right to marry just yet, but many Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits. Ellen DeGeneres may have lost her show, but she made television history, and openly gay actor Harvey Fierstein has a network comedy in the works. Congress once again is considering the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

We've come a long way since 1989. There is still work to be done, but we can be pretty proud of what we've achieved so far. Come join us in celebration Saturday June 27 at the parade and festival.

Believe. The power of Pride.

Melissa M. Soto is a member of the Cleveland Pride board.

WANTED:

MUSIC DIRECTOR

NORTH COAST MEN'S CHORUS

Now entering its eleventh year, the North Coast Men's Chorus is a community based musical organization which affirms the gay experience by:

• Providing a supportive environment for its members, Presenting entertaining and quality performances to diverse audiences and

Promoting a positive presence within and beyond the gay community.

Our Core Values include musicality, friendship, cooperation,

commitment, integrity, inclusion, diversity and (last but not least) fun.

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates for this part time paid position who meet the following criteria:

• Hold a music degree with emphasis in choral or vocal music, with

·

some practical experience in conducting a choral ensemble.

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Have the ability and willingness to conduct a range of musical styles, including classical, jazz and popular.

Will maintain high community visibility as the conductor of a gay chorus.

• Are proficient in the following areas: team leadership, vocal and ensemble instructional technique, artistic leadership, repertoire development, choral arranging, time management, scheduling, audience development and performer recruitment.

Resumes must be received by August 15, 1998

Interviews: Week of September 7-14

Finalist Selection Notice: September 15-18

Start Date: September 27, 1998

Contact: Nell Giewont at 216-813-1875 (day) or 216-251-2260 (eve)

or mail your resume to Neil:

3991 Victory Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44111

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