THANK YOU from Gay Pride Virginia / Pride Recap
September 30, 2009 by Chris
Filed under Pride Festival
PRIDE 2009
What a tremendous effort we saw in our celebration of VA Pride! For the first time ever we saw Mother Nature challenge us in a way she had been threatening to in many years prior to this one! The result was one were we saw the tireless efforts of GCCR and GPV staff and volunteers culminate in an effort that led to the effective transfer of a show from an outdoor to indoor setting in a matter of 40 minutes. Truly this effort ranks right up there with one of the most incredible accomplishments I have ever seen surrounding Pride.
This year was about grass roots efforts! Corporate sponsorship was well off for GPV, as mirrors other comparable Pride organizations such as Baltimore, and Memphis. Both the GCCR and Capital One renewed their commitment to the Celebration of Diversity in the Commonwealth. I am confident that this year’s event went a long way to demonstrate just how dedicated GPV is to that shared vision and how committed our leaders are to being the ideal stewards of that public trust. In fact, I was approached by many of our vendors who voiced their great satisfaction with the event, and noted how impressed they were with the evident workload that was universally shared by all committed parties, both from GPV and the GCCR. I expect that we shall see greatly renewed interest from silver level sponsors and up for the 2010 season.
Specific areas of improvement this year are notable. Two areas that standout for unique recognition are vendor organization and volunteer coordination. GPV saw a double-digit percentage increase in vendors from its 2009 season. It was thru the efforts of Leonard Richard, Wes Brown, Jason Williams, and John Martin that we were able to accommodate the increase vendor demand, and deliver an organizational process that was superior to any previous year. Leonard picked up and led the effort leading up to, and on the day of the event. Jason and Wes came onboard newly as of 2009 and really helped contribute to and manage the vision. John was with us coordinating the backend all day, and closed out the night. The four of them were a blur of activity on Saturday! Scott Sibley stepped up to contribute his leadership as our first ever Volunteer Coordinator. This position had been in high demand for the last 3 years, and we finally found the right leader, and the right vision in Scott. Upon arrival to the Center on Saturday morning, I found an eager group of volunteers already working at 7:30 am! GPV has never had the manpower or the skill sets to realize the value of this role until now. Scott brings organizational experience from his current leadership of Aidswalk Richmond to bear in this visible and key role.
Our attendance was off sadly because we started the day off rainy and gray. We ended the day with a respectable number that surprised us all given the weather challenges. Again, those that braved the elements left with sense of the vision that GPV brings forward. One were all members of the LGBTQ community have a voice and a perspective that is valuable. Our mission is to most effectively provide an outlet for the greatest majority of our Commonwealth to celebrate LGBTQ Culture and Community. In that effort, I am confident that our shared 2009 Pride Festival was a great success. At our Pride gay men and women of all colors and backgrounds may find common bonds with the trans community. Queer and questioning teens may be Proud of the battles that the drag queens fought for the rest of us in the early days of our movement. And finally, we may all be confident that there is such a thing as a driving LGBTQ Culture that unites us all in a common mission to realize civil rights for all people, everywhere.
Proudly,
David S. Ryder
Past Chair, Pride Coordinator
Additional thanks-
·The GPV Board
·The staff and volunteers of the GCCR, specifically Jay, Bob, and Cindy!
·All of the vendors who supported us and were so quick to accommodate the switch -indoors
·Capital One
·Bank of America
·All GPV volunteers who worked tirelessly Friday night and Saturday
·City of Richmond Police
·All the Richmond area bars, and bar owners who donate space, marketing, time and resources-
Babes
Barcode
Club Colors
Godfrey’s
Nations
·Stagemasters for sound and staging and The Prop Shop for those wonderful tents!
·Ed and his team from NuWear
·All of the amazing talent who donated their time!
·Each and every member of the Community who voiced support this year and constructive critique for the 2010 season!
Note* GPV holds meetings monthly that are open to the public. These meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month, unless otherwise noted prior to on the GPV website. We are always looking for new board members from within our Community. Come out and lend a hand!
Updates may be found at www.gaypridevirginia.com
Sunday, Nov 1st - GPV Meeting
The next GPV Board meeting will be held at the Gay Community Center of Richmond on Sunday Nov. 1st at 2pm.
Your new GPV Pageant Winners …
Gay Pride Virginia welcomes and congratulates our new title holders!
Lance Johnson - Mr. Gay Pride Virginia
Deija Diamond - Miss Capital City Gay Pride
We look forward to working with you and wish you the best during your reign!
GPV Scholarship App - NOW available
Gay Pride Virginia’s board of directors is proud to assist members of the LGBT Community and their family, friends and supporters with the expenses of post high school education. In 2009, three scholarships will be awarded which emphasize service to the community. The scholarship recipients will awarded on Saturday, December 12, 2009 to reimburse expenditures for the fall 2009 semester. There will be one $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships awarded.
To apply, please complete the below application.
Once complete, please mail your application to:
Attn: Scholarships
Gay Pride Virginia
PO BOX 17706
Richmond VA 23226-2614.
Applications must be received by midnight on November 27th, 2009.
All questions should be sent, via e-mail, to GPV.Scholarships@yahoo.com
VCU LGBT Events
Here is what is up and coming on VCU’s campus. Come celebrate diversity at VCU!
October 1st 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room
Before Stonewall Film Discussion; Come experience life as LGBT American from the 1920’s to the 1960’s through archival films in this groundbreaking documentary
****Coming Out Week****
October 5th 10am-3pm University Student Commons Show Your Colors Day
Check out the Queer Action tables around the commons and pick up the ribbons that represent you!
7pm-9pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
For the Bible Tells Me So; Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?
October 6th 10am-3pm
Wear Jeans if You’re Queer Day! Check out the Queer Action Tables around the Commons
October 7th 1pm-2pm Harris Hall Lawn
Coming Out Picnic - Join Queer Action for their annual Coming Out Picnic – Look for the rainbow picnic blanket!
October 8th 10am-3pm
Hershey Kiss a Queer Day; Check out the Queer Action Tables around the commons and get Hershey Kissed by a Queer!
5pm-7pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Coming Out Day Celebration! Join us as we celebrate being out and proud! Food and beverages will be served.
****End of Coming Out Week****
October 20th 12pm-1pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Brown Bag Discussion: Obama’s LGBT Policies – Has Obama kept his promises to the LGBT community? How has he progressed so far?
October 22nd 9:30am-10:45am Virginia Room A, University Student Commons
Gender and the Body: Transgender Panel Speaks – Come explore life beyond the gender binary as we hear from local transgender advocates about the spectrum between gender and the body.
October 22nd 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room, University Student Commons
After Stonewall Film Discussion – Come witness the struggles and challenges faced by the post LGBT rights movement generation and discuss the efforts still needed
October 26th 7pm-9pm Commonwealth B, University Student Commons
Beth Marschak, co-author of Gay and Lesbian Richmond speaks about her experiences putting together LGBT history in Richmond. Come learn about LGBT History right here in Richmond!
October 28th 3pm-5pm Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215 University Student Commons
Almost Normal, Diversity Film Series – What if gays were the majority? Come check out this hilarious comedy about life on the flipside.
October 29th 4pm-6pm Shockoe Room, University Student Commons
Paris is Burning, film discussion – this controversial documentary explores the lives of New York City minority drag queens in the late 1980’s.
King of Kings Pageant … 11/19
Save the date and look for more information soon on the upcoming King of Kings Pageant!
Who will win the crown this time around? You’ll have to be there to find out!
Cancel Buju Banton Concert
Buju Banton is a Jamaican reggae singer who in a twenty-year career has repeatedly called for the maiming and murder of gay men. In response to Buju Banton’s scheduled appearance at the National on September 26, community organizers have created a Facebook group called “Cancel Buju Banton ‘Faggots Must Die’ Shows in Virginia”. Click here to learn more!