LGBT History Month: The Loft's First Anniversary ............

As the month draws to a close for 2011 here is a brief look at the first anniversary celebrations recently at the centrally located LGBT club in the heart of Kingston's business and lifestyle metro-pole. The Loft which was founded by a two man team who are also life partners finally came into being on October 30, 2010 officially with its kick off party in the halloween period creating a seismic shift for gay entertainment in Kingston and Jamaica, they have been blamed unfortunately for the fast decline of interest in the long running life of Club Heavens which lasted for some 7 years whilst changing management and was located in North Central Jamaica whose only other competition apart the occasional party block buster in Kingston was the now defunct Calabash Club in Montego Bay which folded after an awful police invasion occurred due to rivalry from other party promoters at the time. Despite the challenges of patron behavioural problems, settling with the neighbouring business owners, the police situations at the commencement of its life, a seemingly opposing vibrant spirit filled church congregation located on the ground floor, the battyman entitlement phenomenon and the concern in the minds of many though not expressed too loudly in its location in the centre of that side of town they, the Loft's team have survived whilst making the name a household brand in the community offering varying products. They have some competition however from up and coming astute party promoters with growing fan bases but as the LGBT community itself expands there is room for more than one major player. Let us also not forget the launch of the Couture Elements bar open five days a week but with much smaller space. Other more serious challenges presented themselves earlier this year when a rival party promoter said to be linked to aforementioned police raid who resorted to unethical and deviant tactics to include informing the tabloid enemy of the gay community, The Star News of the where abouts of the spot and supposed activities which almost put the club out of business. The management team however quickly sprung in action with damage control to the community via a press release while maintaining its offerings after a brief closure. Also of note was or is some of the outreach work done to the homeless community to include some feeding programs and the recent interventions as influentials at the homeless msm civil disobedience action at a particular non governmental organization. several former and presently displaced and homeless were in attendance at the recent party but noticeably missing were Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG representatives and other advocacy personalities which was not surprising

flyer for the first event

They at the time issued a resolute press statement which was published on this blog in April of this year:

Sankofa Management: The Loft Remains Open despite Star News trope ......

In part they said:

We, the management of Jamaica’s premier LGBT entertainment space wish to thank our loyal patrons for their continued support of our brave business venture. Despite the many challenges we have faced in bringing this dream to fruition we remain determined never to allow the light of this community to go dim.
The movement that inspired the creation of The Loft is bigger than any one of us. It is bigger than any selfish motivation, envy, or iniquity. This is a powerful movement that cannot be hampered by evil deeds, careless tongues, or thoughtless actions. It is time that we as a community embrace the idea of togetherness and stop the petty in-fighting that is tearing us apart. We are not enemies, we are compatriots.

We share the same struggles with the wider society and we all have the same desire for happiness, love, and enjoyment in a safe environment. Since we cannot live this reality in the society we inhabit we must therefore do all we can to protect the few safe spaces that exist.
The Loft was created for all of us in the community and it is therefore our collective responsibility to protect it. We wish God’s richest blessings on the authors of the article that appeared in The Star of Monday April 4, 2011 under the headline “Cross-dressers clash at club”, and we hope that they will put their God-given talents as fictional writers to good use and not continue to let their imaginations run wild.

We are the ones that will decide if the Loft will close its doors, not anyone else.
We enjoy a positive relationship with the leadership of the St. Andrew Central Police Division as well as our neighbours in the business district in which we operate and will not allow the mischief of a few idle minds to sully our reputation, negatively affect our business, or most importantly disrupt the enjoyment of our valued supporters.

The Loft is part of a movement that cannot be stopped. Let us continue marching on until victory is won!

Sincerely,
BP & D
Management
The Loft

ENDS

Interview with Management of the Loft by shane-mccarthy of the Pink Report

My response then was:

The Star News story was inaccurate in a sense as I was present at the club named in the piece the police were called by the club owner/manager in question at around 4am to avert any negative violent action from rival queens who had previous altercations elsewhere NOT AT THE CLUB ON THE NIGHT OF April 2nd as hinted to. The event overall at the Loft went pretty well for the most part until the abrupt cut off to avoid the possible disturbance. The Loft and ALL OTHER PARTY PROMOTERS AND CLUB OWNERS have my full support but as the Loft remains resolute in serving their patrons/supporters this release is a professional way to deal with it, the police I have since gathered are also mindful of the issues involved however underhanded tactics to prove a point are TOTALLY UNNECESSARY LET US WORK TOGETHER FOLKS including Promoter X. Mek we talk dis out proper. 

this year's flyer

The celebrations briefly

October 28th 2011 was the date set for the last in the month long series of celebrations with respective themed events and rotating DJs to meet ever changing musical tastes, the admission free event which had a bumper crowd support. A team from the Red Cross were present carrying out some light HIV intervention work. DJ Dr. Buck had the crowd whipped in frenzy quite early as his trademark chants and hardcore selections usually do while wearing my DJ hat my first set of dance beats was welcomed as the kids served  after a smooth transition with the goodly doctor. It was clear that the evening was going to be a major success, hardly any space was left foe shaking a leg in the newly redecorated white walled dancefloor complete with strobe and lazer lights stoking the high energy. Denis(e) could be seen darting about the floor and frolicking with the children albeit on his golf club which has become his trademark item as he monitors his sometimes hurting right foot while BP manned the busy bar as it was shelled down to no inventory left for consumption. The queens served and gyrated with resorted to some head-top antics while others profiled with drinks in hand but clearly were enjoying the festivities with the occasional head bopping in approval to a tune selected. Not to be outdone were members of the thug community who seemed ofe in mixing with more effeminate patrons. Apart from beating the odds and becoming the sixth major gay club in recent known history they also stepped outside of their brand marketing and single handedly revived the Pride Event celebration during the Gaycipation period (Emancipation and Independence in August 1st and 6th) they successful launched an outdoor beach front event once carried by a previous advocate, promoter and brainchild Gareth Henry who had said events at a small beach front property in St. Ann. The event dubbed Sea Queens took off in fine fashion despite a mainstream event that also attracts LGBT persons was in session in another parish, persons took the trek to St. Mary on July 31, 2011 and had a "whale" of a time . Let us also not forget the infamous Santa's List event for the Christmas season which they have also developed under the brand. Sea Queens will certainly go up against Naughty Glam High Seas Couture as the best events for 2011 when that time comes for selection, I'll let you know which one is in my book then in the year in review. 


Please see:  The Loft/Sankofa's Sea Queens: Di Fish(es) DID swim .........

Happy first anniversary to the Loft's team and we hope they remain for a while longer although unconfirmed reports suggest there maybe a hiatus by the team as they collect their thoughts on new offerings. 


Peace and tolerance


H

Suriname holds first gay rights march

Brazilians and Surinamese members of the LGBT community participate in the first International Coming Out Day, and the launcing of the "Say No to Hate" (symbolized by N2H8) campaign in Paramaribo.Image by: RANU ABHELAKH / REUTERS 


 Suriname’s first gay rights march in the capital on Tuesday drew a small peaceful crowd to protest in part a legislator’s insistence that homosexuality “should be completely eradicated.”Approximately 120 people marched for 15 minutes from Independence Square to a restaurant in this tiny Latin American nation’s capital wearing pink shirts and waving rainbow flags.Gay, bisexual and transgender groups organized the “National Coming Out Day” aimed at outlawing discrimination. 


 “This is an eye opener for both the government and the people who have not yet come out,” said Marciano Zaalman, 29, a member of one of the organizing groups.The march was organized after legislator Ronny Asabina launched a tirade against homosexuality in July, describing it as a “disease and a mental disorder.” 

 The march ended with speeches, followed by dancing to music blaring from a party bus supplied by the sizable Brazilian community. Men in drag mixed with families and children who participated in the event.Suriname, with a population of about 500 000, is a former Dutch colony sandwiched between French Guyana and Guyana, with Brazil to the South. It won its independence from the Netherlands in 1975.“Generally speaking, people are not willing to talk about sexuality, let alone homosexuality,” said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of Human Rights Watch’s gay rights program. 


 President Desire Bouterse did not participate in the march, which wound its way past his office.Harish Monorath, was one of two members of parliament to take part. “The taboo still exists,” he said. “Too many members of parliament are still having a retarded attitude toward homosexuality.”Dutch politicians have waded into the debate by sending letters to ministers in Suriname asking for comment on Asabina’s tirade and whether his views were supported by the governing coalition.Bouterse has refused to enter the debate. 


“I believe gay people are nice guys. Everyone has their own preference,” he told a news conference on Monday.
ENDS


More and more smaller states in or near the Caribbean are moving ahead and making firsts in their own territory's LGBT history, good to see that Suriname who we do not seem to hear a lot about in the news on homosexuality has stepped up to the plate and launched out despite oppositions and participation from politicians as well.


Peace and tolerance


H

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 

Cubans stage ‘independent’ Gay Pride march

BY JUAN O. TAMAYO

JTAMAYO@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM

(old photo from 2009 Mariela Castro)

A small group of “independent” Cuban gays and lesbians strolled down a Havana boulevard Tuesday to celebrate Gay Pride Day — and mark their distance from pro-government LGBT groups controlled by Raúl Castro’s daughter Mariela.
Waving rainbow colored flags, dozens of LGBT activists and supporters joined what was described as Cuba’s first gay street demonstration not sponsored by the government in recent memory. The event drew a strong police presence but went off without incident.
Leannes Imbert, whose Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Observatory organized the event, had said that she was inviting everyone, even Mariela Castro, to the stroll — not a protest or a march because those might have required police permits.

But the event was clearly designed to highlight differences with the “official” LGBT groups backed by the first daughter, who has argued that Gay Pride parades are “protests” not needed in Cuba because the country’s laws protect gay rights.
The stroll also highlighted the growing activism of varied independent groups — gays, blacks and farmers, among others — seeking a stronger voice in the nation’s affairs as the communist government tries to overhaul a stumbling economy.
“People are a bit more daring each day. We’re hearing critical expressions that were unthinkable before,” blogger Yoani Sánchez wrote in a Tweet as she joined the 90-minute demonstration.
In turn, the independent groups are receiving growing attention abroad. Imbert attended former President Jimmy Carter’s meeting with civil society leaders in Havana in March, and the U.S. State Department is planning to spend $300,000 this year to help the LGBT community in Cuba.

Imbert told reporters after the event that Mariela Castro and her National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) in Havana had organized several events Tuesday to divert attention from the stroll. Security officials also had warned gay rights activists in recent days to stay away from the Observatory’s event.
Several El Nuevo Herald calls to Imbert’s cell phone Tuesday appeared to have been blocked.
In an interview published earlier on the website Cuba Encuentro, she declared that her group organized the stroll primarily to cast a spotlight on the LGBT community in Cuba, “which has been in the shadow for so long.”

She acknowledged some improvements in gay rights in recent years but argued that not all the credit should go to Mariela Castro, who has been the face and the voice of the pro-government LGBT community on the island for more than a decade.
“This is the time when we have to come out into the light and show everyone the LGBT community in Cuba, which is not only CENESEX,’’ Imbert was quoted as saying.
The Observatory will “demand” respect for the rights of gay Cubans, she added, “which up to now have been denied. There are many violations still — although the form has changed somewhat if we compare it to past years.”

Herb Sosa, head of the Unity Coalition, a Hispanic gay rights group based in South Florida, remained skeptical of the Observatory, arguing that if the Cuban government allowed the stroll it must be part of a government propaganda effort.

“Almost every day I get reports of LGBT community people being beaten, arrested, dragged off to jail because there’s no freedom of expression at all in Cuba,” Sosa told El Nuevo Herald.
Imbert told Cuba Encuentro that police have broken up efforts to mark Gay Pride Day in past years and pointed out the stroll was held on Paseo del Prado — a pedestrian boulevard in central Havana where police cannot accuse participants of disrupting traffic.

New York author Armando Lopez recalled in a column in May, shortly after Mariela Castro had led a CENESEX-organized conga line down Havana streets for her version of a Gay Pride march, that Fidel Castro had harshly attacked gays in a 1963 speech.

“Homophobia became state policy” that year, Lopez wrote, quoting Castro as saying that gays “use public spaces to organize their feminoid shows … Socialist society cannot permit such degenerate actions.”
Castro added, “I always noticed that the countryside never gave rise to that subproduct.” Two years later, he sent thousands of gays, priests and others he did not want to draft into the military to the notorious hard labor camps known as UMAP.
Cuban gays, Lopez added, “are victims of an absurd revolution. Just like you and me, my dear reader.”

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/28/2289773/cubans-stage-independent-gay-pride.html#ixzz1QheSEbDU

June is Pride Month ... but sadly last year's post still seems befitting

Sadly not much has changed since last year's entry on Pride Month on my sister blog GLBTQJA, yes we have seen some silent protests from a section of the advocacy arena and the letter writing campaign is still on which are geared to the anti gay establishment, there are some other changes in regards to homelessness and our transgender sister who was mentioned in the original piece but sorry to be the bearer of bad news many are just not feeling the overall community unity and sense of worth that is needed, there is a bright spot where a new forumatic area has been helping to air some of the inter and intra community issues and social networking sites have also been widely utilised, have a read of the post from last year and see if you agree, some slight editing has been done.

So June is PRIDE Month internationally as various parts of the world will celebrate publicly in most instances their respective LGBTQ events. With new territories adding their own voices in expressing pride in themselves, Jamaica in times past has had our own set of private celebratory events, parties and lymes when the the days of JFLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays) were far more introspective in the community itself and using such activities as a part of the social support strategy to engage the community and develop an identity given the homophobia and violence meted out to persons accused of being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered as we have seen in recent times. Only some party promoters and bloggers like myself who will highlight or have events so themed in respect to the occasion still carry on, I hope that will change soon.

PRIDE presently is supposed to be a mostly American invention coming out of the Stonewall events in the late sixties, other jurisdictions have added their own historical experiences such as Brisbane, Russia, Canada and The UK. LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The movement has three main premises: that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. The use of the abbreviated gay pride and pride have since become mainstream and shorthand expressions inclusive of all individuals in various LGBT communities.

The word pride is used in this case as an antonym for shame, which has been used to control and oppress LGBT persons throughout history. Pride in this sense is an affirmation of ones self and the community as a whole. The modern "pride" movement began after the "Stonewall riots" in 1969. Instead of backing down to unconstitutional raids by New York Police, gay people in local bars fought back. While it was a violent situation it also gave the underground community the first sense of communal pride in a very well publicized incident. From the yearly parade that commemorated the anniversary of the Stonewall riots began a national grassroots movement. Today many countries around the world celebrate LGBT pride. The pride movement has furthered the cause of gay rights by lobbying politicians, registering voters and increasing visibility to educate on issues important to LGBT communities. LGBT pride advocates work for equal "rights and benefits" for LGBT people.

Symbols of LGBT pride include the LGBT rainbow flag, butterfly, the Greek lambda symbol, and the pink as well as black triangles reclaimed from their past use.

Historical Background:
Advocates of gay pride have used history to point to oppression as well as differing levels of acceptance of homosexuality throughout history. The ancient Greeks did not conceive of sexual orientation as a social identifier, as Western societies have done for the past century. Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by the gender of the participants, but by the extent to which such desire or behavior conformed to social norms. These norms were based on gender, age and social status. "Lesbian" derives from the name of the island of Lesbos,which was famous for the poet Sappho, who wrote love poetry to female lovers. Homosexuality in the ancient Roman Empire is considered to have been widespread but was tempered by the complex social systems of the society.

During Medieval times all forms of sexuality began to be repressed by the church as the message of heaven and hell gained popularity. As technology fell behind, simple luxuries such as clean running water and proper sewage became a thing of the past. This caused horrible conditions and disease. People began to believe that they were suffering from the wrath of God, blaming immorality. Any and all forms of homosexuality became not only shameful but punishable by death.

see also:
Homosexuality in ancient Greece
and Homosexuality in ancient Rome
Symbols of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Movements
The Catholic Church and Homosexuality
Pride celebrated worldwide

In 390, the first law banning same-sex love was enacted in Rome, making it punishable by death.

Pride! but the problems on the ground still are real .......
In our most recent history though, it is disheartening that many activities that were once expected to occur during this period have died or discontinued, there were film festivals, art auctions, other forms of entertainment and forums/workshops as well that were helpful to the community to realise who we are with ordinary LGBTQ persons participating. Sad that the only advocacy group once again has failed and continue to fail us as a GLBTQ community in this regard to fuse our resolve in ourselves as proud people despite the problems we face literally on a daily basis. The closure of the MSM housing project in 2010 for example under the watch and deafening silence from JFLAG is a further indication that we are representationless as a community as only certain issues seem to be of priority while others are cast aside for whatever reasons at the risk of violence due to displacement and even reported deaths since 2011. Recent attacks on a camera crew from Sweden who were interviewing MSMs in a volatile community suggest we have a far way to go. Yes we may be proud as individuals as we assert ourselves as a natural survival instinct mechanism but it is sad we can't get the activities required on a larger scale to fuse the subgroups under the GLTBQ umbrella towards solving some of the inter-community issues that need urgent attention. Small cell groups however are doing what they can given their limited scope and resources available, many individuals would like to offer more but the present systems overlook or ignore such voices.

The important GLABCOM (Gay Lesbian Allsexual Community) meetings that were discontinued in Kingston in late 2008 has been meeting constant stalls in efforts by some to restart them. Frankly in my estimation there is nothing to be proud of in this vein presently given the set of circumstances that prevail. We have an advocacy system for the most part now being driven by funders who now basically dictate how those activities ought to operate as we have failed to properly carry out basic continuity of previous interventions, ideas and strategies that would have produced tangible results and a seemingly special club decides what happens on that level excluding dissenting voices like this one and others as was evidenced in the recent IDAHO event, the wider community was never made aware in a meaningful way of what IDAHO actually entails let alone a planned activity in Jamaica.

What is happening to our lesbian and bisexual women in terms of the corrective rape typed instances of violence meted out to them with very little assistance or concern from the advocacy quarters on these problem that has been on the increase since 2007 is worrying as well. Not even so much as public outcry on the matter to bring attention to it or some forumatic discourse on the issue at the community level.

The invisibility of the Transgender and bisexual communities are still a major concern for me, their issues need to be brought to the fore by main advocates and take a break from all this talk of repealing the buggery law.
Let us still celebrate PRIDE on an individual level non the less but we cannot and must not overlook these and other serious issues friends, I am sure there are many others you may know of as well in your own corners. See how best you can play however small a part in adding improvement of the lives of our brothers and sisters out there.

Peace, tolerance and PRIDE

H

Gay Pride Dates in the US & Cananda

Below is a list of the 2011 Gay Pride Events being held around the US & Canada. If you know of any Pride Events that I missed, please send me an email, or leave a comment, and I will be sure to add them to this list.

Thanks to girl2girl for the heads up, mwaaaahhh daaahling

Now get ready to CELEBRATE!!!!

APRIL
Saturday, April 16, 2011 Miami Beach Gay Pride

MAY
May 21-22, 2011, Long Beach, CA, Long Beach Pride
May 26-29, 2011 Washington DC Black Pride
May 28-June 5, 2011, Winnepeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Pride
May 30-June 5, 2011 , Kansas City, MO, Kansas City Gay Pride

JUNE
June 2-12, 2011 Washington, DC Capital Pride
Jun 3-4, 2011, Austin, TX, Austin Pride
June 3-5, 2011, Salt Lake City, UT Utah Pride
Jun 3-12, 2011 Boston, MA, Boston Pride
Jun 4, 2011, Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Pride Parade
Jun 4, 2011, Sacramento,CA Sacramento Pride
Jun 5, 2011, Guerneville, CA, Sonoma County Pride
Jun 5, 2011, Charleston, WV, Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
Jun 8-12, 2011, Key West, FL, Key West Pride
Jun 9-11, 2011, Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque Pride
Jun 10-12, 2011, Los Angeles, CA, LA Pride
Jun 10-12, 2010, Milwaukee, WI, Pridefest
Jun 10-13, 2011, Des Moines, IA, Des Mines Capital City Pride
Jun 11, 2011, Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Pride
Jun 11, 2011, Columbus, OH, Columbus Pride
Jun 11, 2011, Erie, PA, Pride Picnic
Jun 11, 2011, San Antonio, TX, Pridefest, SA
Jun 11, 2010, Spokane, WA, Spokane Pride Parade & Rainbow Festival
Jun 12, 2011, Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia Pride Day
Jun 12, 2011, Huntington, Long Island, NY, Long Island Pride Parade
Jun 12, 2011, Columbia, MO, Mid-Missouri Pride Festival
Jun 12-13, 2011, Pittsburgh, PA, Pittsburgh Pride
Jun 12-19, 2011, Portland, ME, Southern Maine Pride Parade & Festival
Jun 17-18, 2011, Louisville, KY, Kentuckiana Pride Festival
Jun 17-19, 2011, Kalispell, MT, Montana Pride in Kalispell
Jun 18, 2011, Boise, ID, Boise Pride
Jun 18, 2011, Flagstaff, AZ, Pride in the Pines
Jun 18, 2011 Grand Rapids, MI, West Michigan Pride
Jun 18, 2011, Nashville, TN, Nashville Pride
Jun 18, 2011, Providence, RI, Rhode Island PrideFest
Jun 18, 2011 Syracuse, NY, CNY Pride
Jun 18-19, 2011, Denver, CO Denver Pridefest
Jun 18-19, 2011, Portland, OR, Pride Northwest Portland
Jun 18-26, 2011, Anchorage, AK, Anchorage Pride
Jun 24-Jul 3, 2011, Toronto, Canada, Toronto Pride
Jun 24-25, 2011, Chicago, Chicago Pride
Jun 24-26, 2011, Columbia, SC, South Carolina Black Pride
Jun 24-26, 2010, Oklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma City Pride
Jun 24-27, 2011, New Orleans, New Orleans Pride
Jun 25, 2011, Cleveland, OH, Cleveland Gay Pride Fest
Jun 25, 2011, Houston, TX, Houston Pride
Jun 25, 2011,Tampa Bay, FL, Tampa/St. Pete Pride
Jun 25-26, 2011, Minneapolis, Minneapolis/St.Paul Pride
Jun 25-26, 2011, New York, NY, New York City Pride
Jun 25-26, 2011, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco Pride
Jun 25-26, 2011 Seattle, WA, Seattle Pride
Jun 25-26, 2011, St. Louis, MO, St. Louis PrideFest

JULY
Jul 9, 2011 in Monterey, CA, Pride of Monterey County
Jul 15-17, 2011, Charlotte, SC, Charlotte Black Gay Pride
Jul 15-17, 2011, San Diego, CA, San Diego Pride
Jul 16-17, 2011, Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Springs PrideFest
Jul 23, 2011, Burlington, VT, Pride Vermont Parade
July 31, 2011,Vancouver, Canada, Vancouver Pride

AUGUST
Aug 9-14, 2011, Montreal, Canada, Montreal Pride
Aug 13, 2011, Eugene, OR, Eugene/Springfield Pride Festival
Aug 20, 2011, Edgewater, MD, Chesapeake Pride Festival
Aug 20, 2011, Reno, NV, Reno Pride
Aug 20-21, 2011, San Jose, CA, San Jose Pride

SEPTEMBER
Sep 4, 2011, Oakland / East Bay, Oakland Pride, Oakland Pride
Sep 17, 2011, Hartford, CT, Connecticut Pride
Sep 17, 2011, Modesto, CA, Modesto Stanislaus Pride
Sep 24, 2011, Raleigh-Durham, NC Pride Parade and Festival

OCTOBER
Oct 15, 2011, Memphis, TN, Mid-South Pride

October - LGBT History, Breast Cancer Month & Coming Out Day (Oct 11th)

Coming Out Day is an internationally-observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. It is observed by members of the LGBT communities and their supporters (often referred to as "allies") on October 11 every year, or October 12 in the United Kingdom.


Coming out / being "open"


NCOD founders Rob Eichberg, Ph.D. and Jean O'Leary encouraged all people, of all sexual orientations, to "take your next step" in living openly and powerfully on October 11th.
It is highly encouraged for participants on this day to wear gay pride symbols, such as the pink triangle (gay men), the black triangle (lesbians), the Greek letter lambda, and rainbows in jewelry and on clothing.


History


The day was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary in 1988,acting on behalf of their organizations, The Experience (www.ExperienceYourPower.com) and National Gay Rights Advocates,[citation needed] in celebration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights one year earlier, in which 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, United States, for gay and lesbian equality. National Coming Out Day events are aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community among the general populace in an effort to give a familiar face to the LGBT rights movement.


Multi-national observance

In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign manages the event under the National Coming Out Project, offering resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents and children, as well as straight friends and relatives, to promote awareness of LGBT families living honest and open lives. Candace Gingrich became the spokesperson for the day in April 1995.


Despite its name, National Coming Out Day (so called because it originated as an event in the United States) is in fact observed in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Poland and the United Kingdom (in the UK it is celebrated on October 12). As of 2008, the Netherlands also has Coming Out Day on October 11.

For Jamaicans here on the rock that may not be so easy given the sensitivities involved and our active homophobia, one could maybe come out to close family members and friends and hope they keep it close to their chests.

If you feel you want to observe this day in your life please be cautious and review the information so expertly provided by my friend over at Gay Jamaicans United's Page

Also it is LGBT History Month for all of October more posts to come on that in the meantime see the LGBT History tab below this post or go HERE from GLBTQJA Wordpress

CLICK HERE for posts from GLBTQ Jamaica

or HERE for previous entries on this blog