Pridefully Speaking

Outside of the millions of holiday parties to go to, there are a couple events I would like to point out for the weekend.

The biggest and most important one is the annual Bag Ladies’ Holiday Show, “All the Stockings Were Hung…”  The show is taking place on Sunday, December 14th at Talbott Street.  The doors open at 7, and the show will start at 8.  So, come out and see your favorite Bag Ladies do their thing to support the Indiana Youth Group.  You will see all of your favorites like Cadillac Barbie, Sequoia Pentacost, Donna Rhea, Holly Luyah, Halle Pino, and Summer Clearance.  If you can’t make it, check back on Monday for pictures!

In other performance news, Portia Lynn Van Buren will be hosting her annual holiday show at Cosmos.  While it is not an official Bag Lady event, if you go to both events, you can double your pleasure by seeing Holly Luyah and Summer Clearance twice in one weekend!

Happy Holidays!

Don’t forget to check out the November issue of Pride Press!

Friday, November 7 (Tonight)!

Please join the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival at Greg’s on Friday evening (November 7) for a special promotional and fundraising event for the 8th annual Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival! You can get a sneak peak at some of our films and buy a beer or glass of wine from our Film Fest Bar.  We’ll even have the yummy popcorn machine going! All proceeds benefit the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival! There will also be an opportunity to win cash and prizes with our 50/50 raffle and Pull Tabs.  The event kicks off around 9:30 PM – come out and have some fun and support a great cause!

Wednesday, November 12

Indy Pride Board Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

Indy Pride Office

Thursday, November 13

Indy Pride Membership Mixer – 6:00 -8:00 p.m.

Agio Restaurant

Friday – Sunday, November 14-16

Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival – For details visit:  www.indylgbtfilmfest.com/

IUPUI Campus Center

Join Indy Pride for the Opening Night Mixer – 7:30 p.m. – Cash bar, Drink Specials, Hors D’Oeuvres – FUN!

Opening Night Films:  Fair Enough, Casting Pearls and Save Me starring Chad Allen and Robert Gant (Queer As Folk).  Robert Gant will be attending the Opening Night Event.

Full Festival Pass:  $75.00

Thursday, November 20

Time Warp 1940 – Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; Entertainment Beings:  8:00 p.m.

Featuring the Pride of Indy Jazz Band & Brenda Williams
Tickets:  $12.00 in advance; $15.00 at the door

Saturday, November 22

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Fellowship Hall of Central Christian Church – 701 N. Delaware Street

Saturday, November 22

Indy Pride Community Thanksgiving – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Co-Sponsor:  Indiana Black Pride

Jesus MCC located at 2950 East 55^th Place (near 56^th & Keystone Avenue)
Turkey will be provided.  Those who are able are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share!

Indy Pride Scholarship Recipients will be recognized.  Following the dinner, there will be a performance by the Jesus MCC Gospel Choir.

I think most of us are still trying to recover from last week’s parties and the Bag Lady Bus tour, but just as the moon rises, so does the options for your weekend.  Btw, if you want to see some pictures from the Tour, check out the Indy Pride Flickr Page.

Along with Friday night being the actual Halloween, Saturday night brings us the 21st Annual Grand Masquerade, which is the largest event of the year for The Damien Center, the premier organization helping those effected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the Indianapolis area.  This year’s theme is “Illusions of Moulin Rouge,” and with the Bag Ladies, Dance Kaleidoscope, and internationally known performer, FLAVA, performing, it is going to be an unmissable night!

At last word, tickets were virtually gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun.  Talbott Street will be hosting the themed afterparty, and everyone is encouraged to come in costume.  Not only will you have the usual outstanding performances of the Ladies of Legend and DJ Deanne, but FLAVA will be performing there as well.  So, even if you cannot make the Grande Masquerade, you can join in the bohemian extravaganza of Illusions of Moulin Rouge!

Have a great weekend!

Nick
Indy Pride Board Member

It has arrived.  The weekend that all Indy Pride Bag Ladies and guys who think they can walk in heels have been waiting for: The 28th Annual Bag Lady Bus Tour is on Saturday!

Along with the Bag Ladies as an organization, this is one of the longest running charity events for HIV/AIDS in the country, and every year it becomes bigger and better.  This year there will be three buses worth of people all participating to raise money for the Gregory Powers DEFA Fund, and you should check the Indy Pride website next week for pictures.

If you would like to follow the buses or meet up with us at one of our stops, here is the itinerary (download it here):

Since October is the high holy month for many in the GLBTA community, there is plenty going on every weekend.  This is no exception.

Saturday -

Christmas in October Silent Auction

This is a benefit for Team Indiana, Indy Sluggers, and Indianapolis Track & Field Club, which are atheletic groups in the GLBTA community.  They are working hard now to raise money for the next Gay Games, which will be held in Cologne, Germany.  So, come out to the McPhee Gallery (874 Mass Ave) to help support these great teams.  The even starts at 6pm and goes until 10, and if you would like more information, call 317.822.5922 or go to http://www.mcfeegallery.com.

Bearly Bowling Cookout: Bears vs Bowlers

Hi, we would love to invite everyone to our “Bearly Bowling Cookout and Bar event” at Gregs Our Place. We will be there Oct 18th a Saturday beginning at 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. for the cookout and meet and greet other organizations and clubs. We will be doing the Beer Bar Bash party on the patio till 1:30am also. We would love to hear about your events coming up also. This also would be a good time to get to know more of what TGIF Bowlers and the Midwest BearPack is all about. This event is open to anyone that likes to mingle, likes beer, or just a good hamburger, hot dog cookout. So come and join us and have some fun and get to know each other again. Thanks!

Sunday:

Pride Bag Lady Queen Pageant 

Before the Queen can be crowned next Saturday at the end of the Bag Lady Bus Tour, all the Queen hopefuls must first complete the pageant.  Come out and see all the contestants, PLUS your favorite Bag Ladies Cadillac Barbie, reigning Queen Aurora Diamonds,  Summer Clearance, Carolina Fox, Amanda Love, and many more.  The doors open at 7:00 at Talbott Street, and the show will start at 8:00.

Finally, do NOT forget the deadline for registering for the Bag Lady Bus Tour.  You must have it in by Monday, October 20th!  Checkout http://www.indyprideinc.com/bagladies for all the information, including a tentative itinerary.

This past Saturday was Indiana AIDS Walk, and I am happy to report that Team Indy Pride/Talbott Street raised a grand total of $5,659.50! We ended up coming in second to the mega huge Team GMCI (Greg’s, Metro, The Club, and English Ivy’s), but since it was all for a good cause, we’re not going to be too down about it.  I want to give a shout out to everyone who donated and helped us beat our goal!

Upcoming Events of Note:

Thursday, October 16

Indy Pride Membership Mixer – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Agio Restaurant.  Everyone is welcome!  Members are encouraged to attend and bring potential new members.  Free appetizers!  Come & find out about future Pride events and how you can volunteer!

Saturday, October 18

Bearly Bowling Cookout: Bears vs Bowlers

Hope to see you at one (or all) of these!

Nick
Indy Pride Board Member & Webmaster

Some things to consider when you’re trying to decide what to do this weekend:

Saturday:

Sluts With Nuts – Location: Metro Nightclub – 10:00 pm – Sluts with Nuts is the sister show to Bitches with Balls, which was held last Saturday at Greg’s.  They are both benefits for the Team GMEC (Greg’s, Metro, English Ivy, and The Club) for Indianapolis AIDS Walk.  It is basically a turnabout drag show where a lot of the staff of these establishments bring out their inner diva for tips.  It is usually very very entertaining because these boys are not usually made for drag.  It’s enough to make a Bag Lady proud.  Indeed, our reigning Bag Ladies’ Fearless Leader, Cadillac Barbie, and current Bag Lady Queen, Aurora Diamonds, will be performing!

Sunday:

Alana Steele Benefit – Location: Talbott Street – Doors open at 7pm & Show begins at 8pm – Simply one of the best diva’s in town is currently the reigning Miss Gay Midwest America 2007, and this benefit is to help her as she moves on to the Miss Gay America pageant!  Several of Alana’s dearest friends including Bag Ladies Cadillac Barbie, Sequoia Pentecost, Aurora Diamonds, Halle Pino, and Summer Clearance will be performing to give Miss Steele a proper send off to St. Louis.  If you would like to read more about Alana, head over to Halle Pino’s blog, Halle’s Happenings.  She’s done a fantastic job profiling this extraordinary talent.

Next Saturday:

Don’t forget AIDS Walk!  Even though we’re giving a shout out to Team GMEC and Sluts with Nuts, you can still join or donate to Team Indy Pride/Talbott Street.

Have a great weekend!

-Nick