LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2010: A Proclamation
by indypride on Jun.01, 2010, under Uncategorized
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release May 28, 2010
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2010
- – - – - – -
A PROCLAMATION
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.
LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us — the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance — we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.
My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life-saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.
In other areas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a series of proposals to ensure core housing programs are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also announced the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders.
Much work remains to fulfill our Nation’s promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal.
As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
Circle City IN Pride Update
by indypride on Apr.21, 2010, under Circle City IN Pride, Gay Life in Indy
Circle City IN Pride 2010 is only six weeks away! Listed below is a update of changes and events!
Venue – The Indiana War Memorial Personnel and our Indy Pride Security strongly suggested that we consider moving the Pride Festival to a larger venue since University Park cannot adequately accommodate 45,000 people! This year’s Pride Festival will be held at the American Legion Mall which is located at North Street between Pennsylvania & Meridian.
Parade Route – The parade will step off at the corner of College and Mass Avenue and proceed down Mass Avenue to Michigan Street. The parade will turn west onto Michigan Street and proceed on Michigan passing the front of the War Memorial Building then will turn north onto Meridian Street and end at the corner of Meridian and St. Clair Streets. De-marshalling will take place at this corner. Floats will line the sides of the park on Pennsylvania and Meridian Street. Space is still available, to register complete the application form online at www.indyprideinc.org.
Vendors – As of April 20, there are 98 sales and non-profit informational booths and 12 food vendors. A vendor map will be available after May 1. Space is still available. Application forms are online at www.indyprideinc.org.
Entertainment – Taylor Dayne, Blake Lewis (from American Idol) and Nhojj (the gay black male to win and OUT Music Award) will perform at Pride. Entertainment applications are online for local artists and for drag performers to submit to be considered for this year’s event.
Beverage Tent– This year, Indy Pride will have one LARGE alcohol tent located in the center of North Street between Meridian & Pennsylvania. Once again, the tent will feature Coors and Absolut!
Picnic – The annual Pride Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 6 at the Pagoda at Garfield Park. Ruth Hawkins and her committee are working with the Gay Softball Team, the Indy Volleyball group and the Gay Bowling team to have sporting events. For those who do not like sports, Bingo will be played and there will be entertainment provided by Rock Star Entertainment.
Pride Skate – The annual Pride Skate will be held on Sunday, June 6. This year’s theme is 2010 Rainbow Roll from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. – Cover charge is $10.00 which includes skate rental, pizza buffet and soft drinks. This is a fun-fille, family-friendly roller skating with rockin’ tunes from Talbott Street’s DJ Deanne, the family “Drag Skate” race and more! Let’s “wheel with pride” and come dressed in rainbow colors!
Community Service – On Monday, June 7, Indy Pride volunteers will be working with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful as part of our Day of Community Service.
Pride of Indy Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. on the lawn at the Firehouse Museum. This is a free concert.
Educational Seminar – Watch for details about our Pride Educational Seminar which will be held on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Pride Bag Ladies – The Bag Ladies will kick off their 30th Anniversary Year with “Three Decades of Drag” on Thursday, June 10 at 9:00 p.m. at Gregs.
Girl Pride – Talbott Street will be hosting “Girl Pride” at Talbott Street on Thursday, June 10 – watch for details!
IYG – A NIGHT TO SHARE – On Friday, June 11, IYG will host their annual “A Night To Share” event. More information is available on the IYG website: www.indianayouthgroup.org.
Volunteers – Pam Powell, our Volunteer Coordinator, is actively recruiting volunteers for events!
For the most up to date information, please check out http://www.indyprideinc.org/
Indy Pride Bag Ladies’ News
by indypride on Mar.24, 2010, under Indy Pride Bag Ladies
Shimmering Shamrocks Raises Over $1,300!
The Annual Shimmering Shamrocks Bag Lady Show was held on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) at Talbott Street. The “Ladies” managed to raise over $1,300 even though the crowd was rather small! “Our crowd obviously started drinking early in the day this year and probably were too drunk to make it to show,” according to Cadillac Barbie! Despite the smaller crowd, ten performers and a cute little “Leprechaun” entertained the crowd and got them donate the funds to Indiana Youth Group (IYG). IYG provides a safe place, a confidential environment, youth development programs and support services which foster personal strength and wellness among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. IYG advocates on their behalf in schools, on the streets, and in the community.
Bag Ladies On Tour!
The Pride Bag Ladies will be at Zooleggers in Lafayette, IN on Friday night, March 26. If past shows there are any indication, the event will be interesting! Special thanks go out to Zooleggers’ owner Wayne for inviting us back. We look forward to seeing the great bar staff and the Zoolegger “ladies.” A special thank you to our sister Amanda Love who will be the hot hostess/emcee! We hope to see so many of our Indianapolis friends in Lafayette!
Country/Gospel Brunch Tickets on Sale!
Tickets are now on sale for our annual Country/Gospel Brunch. The date is Sunday, April 18. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Brunch is at noon. Showtime is 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the brunch and show are $20.00 per person in advance ($25.00 at the door – if space is available). Be sure to get there early – you don’t want to miss the church music sing-a-long with the Rev. Sequoia Pentecost and Rachel Yoder (the Queen of the Amish)! Proceed from this event will be donated to Eric Berry and his family to help pay for his medical expenses.
Eric Berry has ridden the Bag Lady Bus on several occasions. Eric, who is 35, was found unresponsive in his apartment on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at approx. 5:45 p.m. After he did not report to work, his employer contacted his parents and Eric’s father who happened to be in Chicago for business, was able to break into the apartment to get to him and call for medical attention. Eric was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downer’s Grove, Illinois where he underwent emergency surgery to remove blood from his brain. Eric was then transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Doctors discovered that Eric has an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. To date, he has had six procedures while in the hospital. Eric is currently at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana so that his family can help with his recovery. Please come out and enjoy the show and help us raise this “love offering” for our fellow Bag Lady!
Hope to see you at a Bag Lady Event Soon!
Suzanne Westenhoefer at Talbott Street in May
by indypride on Mar.15, 2010, under Gay Life in Indy, General Pride News
The hilarious and ground-breaking comedian, Suzanne Westenhoefer, is bringing her “Totally Inappropriate” tour to Talbott Street on Wednesday, May 12th, AND it is a benefit for Indy Pride!
That’s right, the first openly gay comedian ever to appear on television is coming to town, and you can purchase tickets online at the Indy Pride website or at the Talbott Street box office. Tickets are $18 in advance and $23 at the door.
Seating is general admission, and since everyone must be seated for the show, the doors are opening at 6:30. It will be a show that cannot be missed! A giant thank you to Talbott Street Cares for making this all possible!
For more information on Suzanne, visit her website: http://suzannew.com/
Circle City IN Pride 2010 — Ch-Ch-Changes
by indypride on Mar.01, 2010, under Circle City IN Pride
As you can imagine, putting on an event like Circle City IN Pride takes months and months of preparation, and while there has been lots of things going on behind the scenes, we’re getting close to the early press deadlines, which means we can start to announce things. We’re still hammering out all the details, but we can say there will be things going on everyday from June 6th through the 12th
The biggest news has to be the move to a new venue for the Festival on the 12th. While we are still in same general area, instead of being just south of the War Memorial in University Park, we are moving one block north of the memorial to the American Legion Mall. The mall is flanked by Meridian, St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and North Streets. Since the venue is moving, this means the parade route will be slightly different, too, but we’ll have new maps available closer to the event. The main reason for the move was simply the fact that we outgrew University Park. It was so crowded last year, it was difficult to get around.
Outside of the move, the top story is that multiplatinum diva, Taylor Dayne will be the headliner on the big stage. Along with Ms. Dayne, American Idol Season Six runner up, Blake Lewis and award winning, out singer Nhojj will be appearing, too. Nhojj will also kick off the Festival’s events with the National Anthem. Dayne, Lewis, and Nhojj will be joined throughout the day by the best local and regional acts making this year’s stage the best yet!
Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done. We’re doing really well on selling vendor spots and the festival, and our sponsorship levels are going up. We’ll be meeting the first and third Wednesday’s of each month to discuss the progress of the various planning committees, and really, before you know it, June is going to be up on us.
Keep checking back for more information!
World AIDS Day
by indypride on Dec.01, 2009, under Uncategorized
Today is World AIDS Day, and for those of you looking for local observances, here are three that were brought to our attention:
Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition
INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION TAKE THE LEAD AT CIRCLE CITY-WIDE WORLD AIDS DAY OBSERVATION THAT TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS KEEPING THE PROMISE TO STOP AIDS
INDIANAPOLIS– The Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition will host a Memorial Service of Worship to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at The Church Within, 1125 Spruce Street, Indianapolis. The greater Indianapolis community is invited to this free community program.
“World AIDS Day serves as a yearly reminder that this disease hasn’t gone away,” said Jason Grisell, chairman of the Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition. “We need to recognize that it is a global public health problem, even right here in Indiana.”
Local AIDS activists, public health officials, clergy and concerned citizens will join families touched by this crisis to take part in this program which is designed to highlight the place of Hoosiers in this pandemic health crisis. The memorial observance will give attendees an opportunity to look back and remember those that they have lost to HIV/AIDS while uplifting and encouraging all in attendance to the on-going fight to combat this crisis by raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and its real, but often dismissed, impact on people here in Indiana.
Joining in the celebration this year is sponsor Walgreens, “The Pharmacy America Trusts”.
This program is a cross-cultural program that seeks to bring the community together in a city-wide observation that stresses the changes in the disease over the years as well as the realities that HIV disease continues to impact and devastate lives.
“There are no race, color or sexual orientation barriers to this disease,” Grisell said. “We are all at risk.” We can celebrate those that we have lost, but we need to keep on fighting and encourage everyone to get tested, learn their status, and help educate to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.”
The event will feature displays of panels from the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, live music, and various speakers including civil and social rights activist Reverend Thomas Brown, Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church and a special presentation by Walgreens pharmacy. A reception will immediately follow the hour-long program.
In Indiana, there have been more than 5,000 deaths from HIV-disease since the state first started recording them in 1981. In Marion County alone, from January through June of 2009, there have been 108 newly reported cases of HIV, so there is much work to be done to keep the promise.
The Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition is a non-profit community action group comprised of HIV/AIDS prevention organizations and individuals from secular and faith-based backgrounds in HIV education who are interested in prevention efforts that combat HIV/AIDS and supportive efforts that impact HIV positive persons across Indianapolis and its surrounding areas.
###
Contacts:
Kimberly Wells, Marketing, (317) 828-1913
Jason Grisell, Chairman, (317) 630-1805
Indianapolis Urban League
World AIDS Day
Citywide Observance of World AIDS Day featuring National HIV Advocate Antoinette Bennett. Ms. Bennett is a 58 year old, long term AIDS Survivor (27 Years), Cancer Survivor and Incest Survivor from Brooklyn, New York. Come and hear her story live….
on World AIDS Day at the Indianapolis Urban League.
EVENT:
Citywide Observance, Awards Presentation, Guest
Speaker, FREE HIV/STD Testing, Mini Fashion Show Featuring Originals by Michael Bush / Candlelight Vigil (Delta’s)
Guest Emcee – First Lady Khris Ray – Radio One
DATE:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
LOCATION:
The Indianapolis Urban League / 777 Indiana Avenue / Indianapolis, IN 4620
TIME:
6 PM to 9:30 PM
ADMISSION:
FREE to public
COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative, Bright Ideas, Brothers United, Community Health Network, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Gallahue Mental Health, Indianapolis Urban League, Indiana State Department of Health, Kroger Corporation, Macy’s the Federated Group, Marion County Health Department, National Urban League, Radio-One, Ryan White Services, Starbucks Broad Ripple, The Bethlehem House, Walgreens Corporation
For more information contact: Deidra Coleman – Indianapolis Urban League – (317) 693-7644 (dcoleman@indplsul.org)
Riley Hospital & the Indiana State Dept. of Health
World AIDS Day
INDIANAPOLIS – Please join Riley Hospital for Children, the Indiana State Department of Health and others as they announce “One Test Two Lives-Prevent HIV Indiana” – a statewide campaign designed to reduce the mother-to-baby HIV transmission rate, which has increased 400 percent compared to the past 2 ½ years, by improving clinical practices.
WHAT: “One Test Two Lives-Prevent HIV Indiana” campaign launch with the Riley Hospital for Children Ryan White Center for Pediatric Disease, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Perinatal Network, and the Midwest AIDS Training + Education Center.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 1, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Indiana State House North Atrium, 200 W. Washington St.
SPEAKER: Dr. Elaine Cox, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease
WHY: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perinatal transmission accounts for 90 percent of all AIDS cases among children in the United States. The goal of “One Test Two Lives-Prevent HIV Indiana” is to prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby by providing quick and easy access to a variety of resources for obstetricians, nurse-midwives and other providers to ensure all women are tested for HIV early in the pregnancy.
###
Contact:
(317) 234-1811
http://www.1test2lives.in.gov (website not active yet)
Bag Ladies World Tour – Lafayette
by indypride on Nov.23, 2009, under Indy Pride Bag Ladies
The Pride Bag Ladies made a return engagement at Zooleggers in Lafayette, IN on Friday night, November 20th. It was a hot time and special thanks go out to Zooleggers’ owner Wayne for inviting us back, the great bar staff and the Zoolegger “ladies” for all of their help backstage. A special thank you to our sister Amanda Love for being the hot hostess/emcee! It was also great to see so many of our friends who made the trip up from Indianapolis.
Congratulations to Lafayette Pride on their beautiful office/meeting space at 640 Main Street! They are doing a great job in their community and are to be commended. If you are in the area stop by and visit them and check out their rotating show of local artists. Check them out at http://www.pridelafayette.org.
Lessons learned by a relatively new Bag Lady –
1) Press- on nails are not the same as “temporary” nails.
2) Be sure to have your shoes on in the dressing room when Sequoia is around (I’m sure my toe will heal someday)!
3) It is a good thing to have the “wig whisperer” nearby (and you know who you are).
Hope to see you all soon at an Indy Pride event.
Ahneeta Martini,
Bag Lady & Indy Pride Board Member
Smoke Free Indy?
by indypride on Aug.21, 2009, under Gay Life in Indy
Indianapolis has had a no smoking law on the book for a few years, but it really only affected restaurants. On top of that, if a bar serves food, they could opt to not serve the under 18 crowd so that they could continue to be a smoking establishment.
For those of us who are non-smokers, this is just something we’ve had to deal with. Smokers always tend to fall back on it being their right to smoke, and if non-smokers do not want to breathe it they can go elsewhere, which to me is a bit disingenuous, because where exactly are we going go? It is just one of those catch-22 situations, which is only exacerbated by the fact that Louisville, which is in the tobacco belt and 90 minutes away managed to go smoke free well over a year ago, and it seems, anywhere you travel, those cities are going the same way.
Without making this an argument for or against smoking, the general consensus was that no gay bar in town was going to go smoke free until it was mandated by law. Talbott Street attempted to do so, but there were some strategically placed complaining which made them to change direction and just make the Legend’s Drag Bar smoke free, which don’t get me wrong was great because that is a low ceiling room that really got pretty smokey, but it still wasn’t the whole bar. Then Greg’s started to survey the clientele on whether they should limit smoking to the back patio. The survey came back an overwhelming majority supporting the smoking limitations. Once Greg’s announced they were going smoke free on August 1st, then Talbott Street quickly followed, and we have been enjoying the clean air at both for almost a month now.
It was with great surprise that Metro announced that they would be going smoke free on October 1st. I always figured since they were a restaurant and more of a sit down bar type establishment, they would be one that would totally wait until there was a law. I’m happy to have been proven wrong. It really does take balls for them to do this, almost more than Greg’s and Talbott, because they still have competition from restaurants that allow smoking like Olly’s, English Ivy’s, and The Varsity, but I truly commend them for taking the leap.
Greg’s, Talbott, and Metro should all be celebrated for taking a limited smoking stance. We all know the health hazards of smoking, and while it becomes muddy to start taking away the rights people have over their bodies, I believe this was the right thing to do for the good of the community.
Country & Gospel Brunch 2009
by indypride on Apr.21, 2009, under Uncategorized
On Sinday (typo and I’m keeping it..HA), April 19th, the Indy Pride Bag Ladies held the 2nd annual Country & Gospel Brunch. It was a fabulous show, which went a lot smoother than the year before. The first time out, I don’t think anyone had any idea just how popular it was going to be, but this year, Sequoia Pentecost and Rachel Yoder were ready for it.
For my money, the best line of the night came from Rachel Yoder when talking about tipping, “Jesus may have risen, but our standards haven’t!”
Here are some pictures from the event.
And We’re Back!
by indypride on Apr.17, 2009, under Circle City IN Pride, Gay Life in Indy, Indy Pride Bag Ladies
I know I have been a horrible Pride blogger, but since we’re an all volunteer organization, it is sometimes hard to keep all these balls in the air. However, now that we are less than two months away from the Circle City IN Pride, I am going to try harder to make this a semi-relevant blog. I may even recruit some guest bloggers to keep this material running.
Circle City IN Pride News
I’m currently redesigning this portion of the website, but you can get the basic schedule and information on volunteering. We NEED your help! If you’re interested in booth space or being in the parade, both of those applications are still available. http://www.indyprideinc.org/circlecityinpride/
Upcoming Events
Sunday, April 19
2nd Annual Pride Bag Lady County/Gospel Brunch
Place: Talbott Street
Time: 12:00 Noon
Catering: Hoaglin Fine Catering
Tickets: $20.00 in advance; $25.00 at the Door (if available)
Proceeds: Benefit the Damien Center
Monday, April 20
Spotlight – One Night, One State, One Reason
Place: Clowes Hall
Time: 7:30 p.m. http://indianaaidsfund.org/spotlight.html
Thursday, April 30
Dining Out For Life
Location: Various Restaurants in Indy
Proceeds Benefit the Damien Center! http://www.damien.org/
