LGBT History Month: Pride Fest 2011 The First Full Community Introspective

September 11, 2011 would never be the same in Kingston Jamaica as a little event that was named Pride Fest became Huge making history as the first full introspective activity to cover not only the party vibe as usual but LGBT businesses and their owners all gathered together in an exposition of sorts, please see the release from the organizers below as prepared on September 12, 2011. What is of great interest was the noticeable absence of The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and its parent organization Jamaica AIDS Support for Life JASL although they were invited to set up booths, with not so much as an apology to the organizers clearly indicating their non interest in real community development. 

Here is the release from the UR


What is PRIDE?

Pride is an inward directed (feeling) emotion that exemplifies either an inflated sense of one's personal status or the specific, mostly-positive emotion that is a product of praise or independent self-reflection. Gay PRIDE movements became popular after the StoneWall Riots of the late 1960's (research Stone Wall Riots) attempting to remove the shame of choosing to love differently from mainstream.

As LGBT Jamaicans, the two pronged fork of homophobia has been keeping LGBT people from stepping out and following their dreams with too many lives being lived in anguish and fear and too many dreams being buried in a grave somewhere. Being a Jamaica gay, lesbian or transgered person, we feel the pinch of external homophobia and internal homphobia, these trials have made us stronger and even more passionate...what we need now is PRIDE!

To create any kind of change in Jamaica, the community must become the change first...to be come the change...we must attempt unity....to attempt unity...we must develop respect for our internal diversity and to develop respect...we have to remind and re-instill our PRIDE.

PRIDE FEST 2011 with all proceeds in aid of The Underlined Response, is the beginning of this movement toward PRIDE. Showcasing 9 booths owned by LGBT business owners: modelling and promotions PRESS PLAY, Sex Toys and Piercings by FETISH SECRETZ, Tattoos by SAMIYEN INKED COUTURE, nail care by RAINBOW NAILS, Jewellry and clothing courtesy of NUBIAN DESIGNS, gadget fashionistas NOSTIK DESIGNS, travel agent and coffee distributor GLOBAL TRAVEL, artwork by Veneesia Thompson, to list a few and the after concert featured epic and professional performances from over 30 different people, PRIDE FEST left the over 250 patrons in attendance in awe and instilled a new and foreign feeling...being gay and proud and part of a community of talented and creative persons.

artwork on display at Pride Fest while patrons milled about

Food was provided by Champion of Champions winner of Jerk Chicken competition with his signature sauce, Jerk Fried Rice and Jerk Red Peas Soup, as well as Dawn's Burgers. We want to take this opportunity to apologise gravely (gravely) for not delivering on the lovely local dishes and pastry that were advertised, unfortunately, Ocassions Catering/Sweets Tanya Lee and Lola's Pastry pulled out the thursday before the event leaving us with no options in such a short space of time. Nonetheless, the offerings of the Jerk Pan and Jamaica's Champion of all Champions Jerker with his exotic twist on Jerk food pleased exceedingly, where the comfort of Dawn's much loved cheese burgers and hot dogs done to order, was tired.

Throughout the venue, patrons commented on how shocked and delighted they were. Singers, Poets, contemporary and inspirational dance pieces, Dancehall DJ acts, models, drag queens and a comedian delivered a fantastic 4 hours of performances. Almost all the acts were crowd favorites with special mention to our drag performers, Kerry and Macy who gave many patrons their first experience of the beauty, grace and art of Lip Syncing, an almost dying feature of gay life in Jamaica; soul crooners, the Jamaican version of Floetry: Debbie and Jordie...shared their Fire and talent on stage to our delight, Poets like Tyrell and Nadz dived right into the sex and excited the crowd, whilst revolutionary poet Christina touched some sensitive but needed to be told issues, igniting the revolutionary spirits in the audience. A duo from Tiana and Fyahh had mouths on the ground, as both persons are known for similarly hotting up any dancefloor at a party..headtops and splits like stars...their performance to Cece Winans 'Alabaster Box' incorporating their skills into this very touching and relevant gospel song..left goose pimples. Toni graced our stage with 4 original songs and had the crowd singing along to Blue Skies. The all boys dance group killed it with their high energy and colourful performances with death drops. All girls song birds Phyllea, Lani and Sade thrilled us with a Beyonce fave. Swagga Ras the DJ of the night gave loads of instructions...on who fi juck and who fi wine and even demonstrated!! Drama on the stage! Whilst the All girls group did lots of whining and some stripping...to song...with a routine (ofcourse). Tiana took breaths away with her performance to 'He Lives In You' from the Lion King Sound Track...clearly highlighting and distinguishing the full extension of her talent, while our sole comedian had the crowd laughing at her jokes. Maxine closed the show with her signature high energy and almost death defying stunts as she split and pranced to her song selection, then dived into the pool, perfect to start the after party.

Although we did not have a showing of any of our talented designers again due to late cancellations, the Fashion Shows were definately a point of PRIDE, the show featured hot male and female models draped in nothing but glam, class and style strutting the runway like millionaires in the top name brands and extremely stylish outfits carried by courtesy of RDS FASHIONS.

Amidst the threatening rains, the last minute cancellations, missing personal items and tonnes of other issues that plague events, we pulled it through and we are PROUD. A special thank you to the angel who jumped in last minute ans sponsored our event, although you were unable to attend the show to see the final product, I know no doubt you are PROUD, Thank you. Big Ups to our DJs David and Tandra who provided the music and the hardworking and dedicated team of The Underlined Response who made it a reality. The PRIDE has made it to the hearts and visions of all present, as plans for PRIDE FEST 2012 are already underway, we want to remind that our external world and its experiences are merely a reflection of our internal world and its experiences, and so to create any change...we must look at the person in the mirror first...and become the change we wish to see.

THE CHANGE IS ON ITS WAY...BECOME PART OF IT...IF YOU WANT BUT DONT FIGHT IT IF NOT....JUST LET IT!

Look out for our upcoming initiatives aimed at taking LGBT lifestyle another LEVEL UP!

Couture Elements

coutureelements@gmail.com


also listen to my first full audio commentary on LGBT History Month since I have been trying to cover some of the milestones.

   LGBT History Month Jamaica by glbtqja5