[Durham INC] PrideFest parade draws thousands (articles & slideshows in N&O, Herald-Sun and Pam's House Blend)

[John Schelp]

PrideFest parade draws thousands
By Luciana Chavez, News & Observer, 27 Sept 2009

--> See Chuck Liddy's slideshow (21 images)... http://www.newsobserver.com/185/gallery/116071.html

More than 4,500 attendees celebrated the 25th gathering of the North Carolina Pride Festival, the state's biggest event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Duke University's East Campus.

Several dozen vendors hawked food, merchandise and causes near the Campus Drive end of the parade route -- and nearly a dozen people protested the event at Swift Avenue on the other end.

Blogger Pam Spaulding, of PamsHouseBlend. com, talked about racism within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community during her keynote address. The parade of 1,224 people representing 114 groups ended with the Cackalack Thunder drum corps starting an impromptu dance-off for the multigenerational crowd. 

--> See the Old West Durham Jeep... http://media2.newsobserver.com/smedia/2009/09/26/17/PrideFest_Parade_in_Durham_09.standalone.prod_affiliate.156.JPG

The PrideFest event began in 1981 as a protest to the beating death of a local man someone thought was gay. Back then Durham resident Mary Margaret Graham couldn't have imagined a diverse crowd of young and old partying together as they did Saturday.

"It's so different now," Graham said. "That first one I remember as being a little stressful. I remember being a little bit afraid. I find it very emotional to see all the high school kids [in the parade on Saturday]. That was unheard of back [in 1981]."

Keith Hayes, spokesman for the N.C. Pride Committee, which organizes the annual event, said the enthusiasm for the celebration, rain or shine, is its biggest selling point for attendees.

'It's powerful'

"When we're at church or work or school, we're such a small minority," Hayes said. "So it's powerful to see about 4,000 other gay people and another 1,000 or so straight people and see we're all in this together.

Regina Brundage, 17, of Raleigh by way of San Jose, Calif., attended the event for the first time with friend Laine Sanchez. "We made a few friends and talked to a lot of churches here who support LGBT kids," Brundage said.

Seven high school and eight college LGBT groups, along with groups from churches and local businesses, marched in the parade.

Protesting the parade

Patrick O'Connell, a little hoarse after protesting at a Muslim prayer rally in Washington, D.C., on Friday, came to the event to talk to people about the Bible and voice his opposition to homosexuality.

"My message is what Jesus says," said O'Connell of New Bern, who also attended the 2008 PrideFest to protest. "People need to refrain from sin and believe what's in the Gospel."

Raleigh's James Habourn has attended PrideFest for the past six years.

"This is one of the few places I feel I fit in," Habourn said. "Pride isn't just about drag queens and dancing in the street. Even in the gay community, you have stereotypes. ... But at Pride, we all get along." 

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A DAY OF PRIDE
By Cliff Bellamy, Herald-Sun, 27 Sept 2009

North Carolina took some important legislative steps in the past year to advance the rights of gays and lesbians, but more work needs to be done to advance what speakers at this year's 25th N.C. Pride Rally and Parade called the civil rights issue of our time. 

"We have lots to celebrate" in the past year, said Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, at a rally on the main quad at Duke University's East Campus. She praised members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community gathered for their advocacy that made certain legislative successes possible. "This is the civil rights issue of today ... that must be decided for our country to become what it is going to be," Kinnaird said. 

Kinnaird and Chapel Hill Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt, who also served as parade marshal, cited an anti-bullying bill that specifically mentions sexual orientation, and a sex education bill that moves away from an abstinence-only curriculum. "We now have a seat at the table, an effective seat at the table," Kleinschmidt said. 

More work needs to be done, speakers and organizers said. Keith Hayes, spokesperson for N.C. Pride, said the military's don't-ask-don' t-tell policy and laws barring gay marriage were examples of the "huge regulatory prejudice against the LGBT community. ... That's why we have to keep having events like this." 

Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez also spoke briefly to the crowd. "I'm going to be very proud to be riding in this parade," Lopez said. 

Saturday's event was held under cloudy skies with the threat of rain, which spared the festival and did not dampen the spirits of those who attended. The rainbow balloons, flags and banners contrasted sharply with Saturday's cloudy skies.

Justin Boucher, a student at N.C. State University, was attending his first N.C. Pride parade. "I just like being around an accepting group of people," Boucher said. Julian Arrington, also from N.C. State, was at this second Pride event. "It's nice to have our day for once ... our chance to have a parade and have a show."

And visitors got a show, in addition to speeches and information booths. There were several marching bands in the parade -- the N.C. Pride Marching Band, Cakalak Thunder drum troupe from Greensboro, and Durham's Scene of the Crime Rovers. One parade participant showed his skill with a hoola hoop, and one man on roller skates dressed like a certain religious teacher from ancient Palestine carried a cross. Diverse organizations carried banners or rode floats. Among the churches participating were St. Mark's Episcopal in Raleigh, Watts Street Baptist of Durham, St. Philip's Episcopal of Durham, and Durham Friends Meeting. One group calling itself Raleigh-Durham Atheists Meet-Up participated. 

There were numerous signs as well. Among the messages: "Real sex ed saves lives," "Gay rights are human rights" and "marriage is a human right, not a heterosexual privilege."

One group chanted throughout the parade, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, homophobia's got to go." 

--> See Erin Smith's slideshow (8 images)...
http://www.heraldsun.net/pages/full_story/push?article-A+DAY+OF+PRIDE%20&id=3722114-A+DAY+OF+PRIDE&instance=homefourthleft

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--> See Pam Spaulding's slideshow on Pam's House Blend (50 images)... http://picasaweb.google.com/pspauld/2009NCPride9262009#5385915161445308658

--> City Councilman Mike Woodard, prosecutor Stormy Ellis, Keynote speaker Pam Spaulding, Durham Police Chief Lopez and Old West Durham Neighborhood Association president John Schelp... http://picasaweb.google.com/pspauld/2009NCPride9262009#5385915271829528482

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