Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009
red, white & pride
Happy pride everyone. Myrtle Beach Pride is finally here again and it is time to come out and celebrate our lives, stand up for our equality, recognize our families and honor those in our community and beyond who fight for our future.
Scheduling problems affected this year's Pride event dates which landed it on the Fourth of July weekend. Last year's Pride was held on July 12 and future celebrations are planned for that same weekend. However, it's an interesting time to ponder both our nation's birthday and the gay rights movement here in the U.S.
Right now, our nation only recognizes same-sex marriage in six states. Same-sex unions are recognized in other forms such as domestic partnership registries in a few more. Adoption rights for gay couples are not valid in all states. The Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy still prohibits gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the U.S. military. Our nation has yet to pass legislation that prohibits discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender people in the workplace and equality for immigrant same-sex couples is being debated, too. Recently an effort to extend hate-crime legislation to include gay victims has produced further disappointments in our own state, as Sen. Jim DeMint (R) sent a letter to S.C. clergy arguing that passage of the bill would be destructive to "faith, families and freedom."
To top it off, as I reported last week, recent statements from the Obama administration have left us wondering if the prospect of a brighter future promised during his campaign is as close at hand as we had originally hoped.
On a promising note, however, Obama invited some 250 gay leaders to join in the East Room to commemorate publicly the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which sparked the modern gay rights movement, on Monday.
Our visibility and the recognition of our fight for equality have definitely improved through the years, but we have a long way to go. As we celebrate Pride this week in Myrtle Beach, let's not forget that we must continue to come out in our communities, stand up for ourselves in the face of our enemies, fight against the likes of Sen. DeMint and other anti-gay politicians and activists and demand that our leaders pass legislation to guarantee our rights as full citizens of this country. On America's birthday, let's choose to celebrate our successes and our continued fight to make this country equal and just for all.
Below is a full list of events going on this weekend - and make sure to come by the Weekly Surge booth at M.B. Pride Festival to say hello, pick up some swag and enter to win concert tickets to the House of Blues.
out & about
Friday, July 3 - The Gay Professionals Happy Hour will meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Pomodoro's Trattoria & Bar, 364 Robert Grissom Parkway (corner of Pine Island Road) in Myrtle Beach. For more information e-mail FirstFriday@GambleLivingston.com.
Friday, July 3 - Mr. and Ms. Pride 2009 Pageant will take place at Time Out!, located at 520 Eighth Ave. N., in downtown Myrtle Beach on Friday, officially kicking off the Myrtle Beach Pride events. Registration is from 8-8:30 p.m. and the pageant starts at 10:30 p.m. There is a $100 entry fee, which the first - place winners will get back along with a crown. Second place receives a $75 cash prize and the event is open to contestants 18 and older. For more information, visit www.timeoutmbsc.com or call 448-1180.
Saturday, July 4 - Myrtle Beach Pride Festival 2009, this year's theme is "Red, White & Pride"' and will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Myrtle Beach Train Depot, 815 Broadway, downtown Myrtle Beach. The event is free and open to all ages. The pride festival will feature live music by Jaynie Trudell and Jessie Ward, a deejay, performances by Mr. and Ms. Pride 2009 and other local drag performers, games, food and more. For more information, visit www.myrtlebeachpride.com.
Rock Church Myrtle Beach will perform private commitment ceremonies at M.B. Pride Festival on Saturday. For more information, visit www.RockChurchMyrtleBeach.com or call 283-0918.
T-Time, the local transgender group, will host a "High Heel-a-thon" at 4 p.m. Saturday at M.B. Pride Festival. Come out and compete or watch the hilarity as men and women compete in a 100-yard dash in 3-inch minimum heels. Registration is $10 and proceeds benefit The Center Project and T-Time.
Pride at Night kicks off at the two long-standing LGBT watering holes in downtown Myrtle Beach - Time Out! and Rainbow House - as the sun goes down. Both bars offer local drag entertainment, pool, dancing and more. Time Out! is at 520 Eighth Ave. N. For more information, visit www.timeoutmbsc.com or call 448-1180. Rainbow House is at 815 N. Kings Highway. For more information, visit www.rainbowhousemyrtlebeach.com or call 626-7298.
Sunday, July 5 - Keep pride going and head out to the beach at 65th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach for Pride at the Beach. Although not officially associated with M.B. Pride, this community day at the beach has drawn participants for many years now on the July 4th weekend. People start to arrive around 10 a.m. to enjoy sunning together, taking in the waves, beach games and more.
This year's Farewell Event will feature Derrick Barry, nationally recognized Britney Spears impersonator, who performed as Spears on season 3 of "America's Got Talent" and appears in "An Evening at La Cage" at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Barry will perform at Club Kryptonite, 2925 Hollywood Drive near the corner of U.S. 17 Bypass and 29th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. For more information, VIP services and advanced tickets, visit www.club-kryptonite.com or call 839-9200.
Till next week, have fun and be safe.