Pride Guide 2002 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-19

21 years is a lucky number for Columbus Pride Holiday

by Anthony Glassman

Columbus-In blackjack, 21 is the lucky number. On June 29, it will also be the lucky number for Stonewall Columbus' Pride Holiday.

"Uniting for Equality," Pride Holiday 2002, will have as its centerpiece the traditional parade from the Short North to Bicentennial Park, where it will let out into the daylong festival that last year drew 32,000 people to Columbus.

Line-up and registration for the parade will begin at 12 noon, with the parade stepping off at 1 pm.

The festival will officially begin at 2 pm and run until 6 pm; a-$5 donation on sliding scale is requested at the entrance, but no one will be turned away.

The rainbow banners will be back from last year, with ten more being added to light poles downtown to bring the total to 40.

Martha Wash of Weather Girls fame, the diva behind the hit single "It's Raining Men," will headline the entertainment at the Pride Holiday festival this year. Emceeing events on the main stage will be WCMH Channel 4 anchor Tyler Bacome. Other acts include the Columbus Stompers, the top country-western dance group in the state; Andy Kuncl; Commonbond, a lesbian folk duo from Washington, D.C.; the Dyke Queens and the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus.

A second stage will showcase more local talent, as well as drag acts and a DJ spinning music to keep the crowd dancing throughout the festival.

Last year's new arrivals, the family area and the beer garden, will return this year. The beer garden confinement, however, will not return; patrons will be given wrist bands designating that they are of legal drinking age, and they will be allowed to roam free.

Once the festival ends, the festivities will continue in a different venue. The traditional

AN AND FRIENDS XING AND E

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Dancing in the Streets outdoor dance party will open its gates at 6 pm in the parking lot of Axis, 775 N. High St.

Headlining the party this year will be dance divas Niki Haris, one of Madonna's backup singers, and Pepper Mashay, returning to the site of her successful July 4, 2001 show.

Dancing will be hosted by the Lady Alexis Fontaine, and will also feature Virginia West, TNV, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, Aurora, Kemistry, Rhonda and the Moulin Rouge Splash Girls.

Dancing in the Streets will benefit Stonewall Columbus, the Columbus AIDS Task Force, Project Open Hand, Ohio AIDS Coalition and the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, as well as the Midwest Institute for the Arts.

The following day, Bat 'n' Rouge, the yearly charity drag softball game, be at the field by the former Mohawk School, now the Afrocentric School, at the corner of Grant and Livingston. The gates open at 12 noon, with the game beginning at 3 pm. Admission is $5 in advance, or $7 on the day of the game.

Madonna backer Niki

Harris to headline Dancing

by Scott Nusbaum

Columbus-Plans for the fifth annual Dancing in the Streets are well under way. The June 29 event will be held in the Axis parking lot at 775 N. High St., with gates opening at

6 pm.

Past performers have included Ultra Naté, Jennifer Holiday, Vernessa Mitchell and Inya Day. This year's performers include Madonna's main backup singer Niki Haris, singing her hits "What's It Gonna Be," "Total Love" and "Do you Love As Good As You Look?"

Also appearing will be club diva and 20012002 Billboard Singing Artist Pepper Mashay, with her club hits "Dive in the Pool," "I've Got My Pride" and "You & Me." Mashay played to a packed house last year at Axis for the July Fourth holiday. Her hit "Dive in the Pool" is also used on the hit Showtime series Queer as Folk.

Axis welcomes back the Lady Alexis

Fontaine to the stage to be the hostess for the evening. Also appearing will be Virginia West, TNV, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, Aurora, Kemistry, Rhonda and the Moulin Rouge Splash Girls.

The event, which is produced by the Union Station Foundation, benefits several local charities, including Stonewall Columbus, Columbus AIDS Task Force, Project Open Hand, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, Ohio AIDS Coalition and Midwest Institute for the Arts. The Union Station Foundation was established last year to host events and disperse funds to local organizations.

The event is held on Columbus' Pride Holiday weekend, which draws thousands to the city to participate in the Stonewall Columbussponsored event.

Tickets are available at Union Station Video Café, 630 N. High St, or online at http:// www.columbusnightlife.com.

Scott Nusbaum is the promotions and marketing manager for Union Station.

KAIZAAD KOTWAL

Last year's parade stretched the length of High St. from the Statehouse to the Short North.

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Pilgrim Church

An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

2592 West 14th St. (in historic Tremont) Cleveland Ohio 44113 216-861-7388

Worship:

Sunday 10:30am

The Rev. Dr. Laurinda Hafner, Sr. Pastor The Rev. Eric Bentrott, Assoc. Pastor

Thursday 6:00pm

The Rev. Kathryn Huey,

Pastor for the GLBT Ministry

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3832 W. 140th

(Between Lorain and Puritas)

216-671-0277

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