Black, Gay and Proud expands to a full week

Pride Guide 2005 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

B-7

09.17.05

BlackOut Unlimited members and staff gather at Cleveland Pride in 2004 to promote the Black Unity Celebration, this year renamed the Black, Gay & Proud Celebration.

by Michael Oatman

Cleveland Northeast Ohio now officially has the longest black pride celebration in the country. In a surprising move, BlackOut Unlimited announced that its Black, Gay and Proud Celebration has expanded to a full week: Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7.

"Last year we had such a tremendous response when we produced the Black Unity Celebration that we decided to really show off Cleveland's African American same-genderloving community," says Jon Everett, interim executive director of BlackOut Unlimited.

Everett says his agency has joined forces with several other community groups for this year's celebration and decided to change the name of the event to more accurately convey its purpose. Participant organizing this year's event include the Cleveland Friendship Committee, Platinum Productions, Cleveland Black Pride, Da Brothers and Da Sisters, People of All Colors Together, the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, and a host of volunteers.

Deb Sharp, coordinator of BlackOut Unlimited's Sister Circle, says all seven days of the "Black, Gay and Proud Celebration" are filled with innovative and unique events.

"Our mission is to empower, educate, and entertain the African American same-genderloving community," Sharp explains. “We want to be welcoming and have all members of our community-lesbians, gays, bisexuals, questioning, and transgender individuals—unify and enjoy this special event."

The week keeps off with an awards ceremony and continues with several major events including "The State of Black Gay America Symposium," "Raise the Roof Gospel Service," "The White Fantasia" (white attire affair), "The Fire and Ice Ball," "The Family Festival” and more.

"We are currently finalizing all the details for the week with our sponsors," says Adam Conley, coordinator of BlackOut Unlimited's Brother Circle. "We have people coming from all over the country to participate, including Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Detroit and Los Angeles. The committee is working hard to make sure this year's celebration is the best ever. We want the world to know that we are black, gay and proud of both.”

For more information concerning the Black, Gay and Proud Celebration contact BlackOut Unlimited at 216-937-2268 or visit www.blackgayproud-cleveland.com.

Michael Oatman is a freelance writer in Cleveland..

They LOVE to hear it!

Let our advertisers know you saw them in the

GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Quality Futon Furniture

phio esbian

festival

www.ohiolba.org

MUSIC

FRONTIER RANCH, KIRKERSVILLE,

WORKSHOPS MERCHANTS

OHIO

ART

23 MILES EAST OF

COLUMBUS

23!

ALL WOMEN WELCOME

WOMEN ONLY

bg

SPEED BUMP

Cincinnati • Hyde Park •

Pittsburgh

We print our prices in our complete catalog. We can send you one today. Cleve. Hts. 1812 Coventry Rd. (216)371-8489

NORKA Lakewood 15112 Detroit Ave. (216) 226-2660 FUTON Akron

143 W. Market St. (330) 253-9330

Cleveland Hts. Lakewood • Akron Columbus

Drugs like SPEED and Crystal can make you forget your inhibitions. Whether you sniff it, smoke it, shoot it, or BUMP it protect yourself. Remember the latex and lube when you party and play.

Be Smart. Play Safe. Learn more at ... 216-621-2437