As every one is well aware Pride is upon us. The Miss pride pageant will be the kick off to our week long celebration on May 29,2009 at the Clay Center. With this being said deadlines have also been set for sponsorship into the Mr and Miss pride competitions. The Miss pride deadline for sponsorship is May the 27, 2009 and the Mr pride deadline for sponsorship is June 3, 2009. If pride has not received your sponsorship form and $150 fee by the above mentioned dates the contestant will not be allowed to participate in the competition. Thanks to all that have been apart and supporters of Pride. Happy 2009 Pride to all.
Alright gang!
We’re 16 days out until the 13th Annual West Virginia Pride Parade and Festival! Get your calendars ready and your hotel reservations booked.
Click event banner below for Calendar listing
Keep in mind that we have two events that will sell out! Tickets are now available for purchase online and we highly suggest that you reserve your tickets now.
Miss Rainbow Pride of West Virginia 2009
The Clay Center, One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301
May 29th 2009. 6:00pm
That’s right. Ms RPWV 2009 will be at the Clay Center this year! Join us in our largest venue in RPWV history at West Virginia’s premiere facility to the Arts and Sciences. This WILL sell out!
$15/person Order Ticket
$70/table (includes admission for 4 attendees) Order Ticket
Power of One Award Dinner
Charleston House – Holiday Inn, 600 Kanawha Blvd East, Charleston WV
Each year, Rainbow Pride of West Virginia recognizes an individual who has proven invaluable to the LGBT community in West Virginia. Join us for dinner and a keynote speech delivered by this year’s reciepient of the award.
$35 includes dinner with vegetarian options – Order Ticket
**Purchase of tickets to this event includes admission to the After Party, The Rainbow Party, in the lounge from 9pm to 12pm.**
The Rainbow Report recently sat down to speak with Clayton Stover. Clayton is a member of the Saint Albans High School class of 2009. He is the 2nd District Coordinator for the West Virginia Young Democrats and founded the first Young Democrats Club at SAHS. Last fall, he interned at the Obama headquarters in Charleston. In April, Clayton addressed the Kanawha County School Board on the issue of adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the school system’s cultural diversity policy.
Rainbow Report: Hello, Clayton. And thank you for agreeing to talk with us.
Clayton Stover: Thanks for having me.
RR: Overall, how would you describe your experience as an “out” teenager in St. Albans, West Virginia?
CS: I’m not sure “out” would define me, but maybe it does. My friends and my mother know. And other students assume, but I do not “flaunt” my sexuality around. I am Clayton and happen to be homosexual. And my friends and mom have been more than accepting. Of course you have a couple rude people, but you’ll have that anywhere.
RR: But giving a presentation to the Board of Education and appearing in all the local news media is hardly the act of someone who is in the closet. Not a lot of people in a rural state like West Virginia, much less someone who is still a student, would have the nerve to stand up and do something like that. How difficult was it for you once it was actually your turn to step up to the podium and speak?
CS: My nerves were shot minutes before I went up and spoke, but I remembered what I was talking about and why and I felt confident. You start to think how little being nervous means when you know what is at stake.
RR: How old were you when you initially came out and what has the process been like for you?
CS: Well, there wasn’t a specific event or day that I “came out”. I started to realize and accept myself in 10th and 11th grade. It was a long process though.
RR: Have your fellow students been generally accepting of your decision to live openly?
CS: Yes. My fellow students have been great. Every now and then you may hear a rude comment in the halls, but that is expected and I don’t pay attention it now.
RR: How did you come to address the Board of Education on the issue of sexual orientation and diversity? What sort of response have you gotten so far from your teachers and classmates?
CS: I was reading through the handbook and policies and noticed “sexual orientation” was never mentioned, so I thought it would be a good thing to leave behind after I graduate. The response has been really great from everyone.
RR: Most of our readers, and any GLBT person much over the age of 30, will have come of age without the benefit of the internet or of many positive gay role models in the media. How do you think things might be different for GLBT youth today than they were 15 or more years ago?
CS: I think the GLBT youth now, because of the Internet, can be “out” and be more active. Fifteen years ago, no one [in West Virginia] really wanted to address this issue and it was swept under the rug. These teenagers now realize that this is who they are and they are going to demand the respect and acceptance they deserve.
RR: Are there any books, tv shows, movies, or media figures that have been particularly influential in your life?
CS: Hm … I think Rachel Maddow is really great. She is out and very successful with her TV Show. And she doesn’t make her being gay a big deal, like some do. She is a TV Host and she happens to be gay too. A book that I loved reading too was “Leave Myself Behind.”
RR: Last I heard, you were expecting to attend Shepherd University in the fall to study political science … is the still the plan? What are you hoping to do after college?
CS: Yes, that is the plan. I am not quite sure what I am going to do after. I am trying to take it day by day right now. My life has gotten very busy with everything going on now.
RR: What advice would you give to other GLBT students in your age group?
CS: Hm. Some advice I would give is to be yourself, no matter what. Do not be afraid of doing that. It is simple but it was helpful for me.
RR: What do you think Rainbow Pride of West Virginia could be doing to better serve the GLBT youth of our community?
CS: That is a hard task, because the GLBT youths are just now figuring out who they are and they are unsure about a lot of things. So you can’t push things on them, but you still want to encourage them and help them. I think just getting the word out that Rainbow Pride is there would be great.
RR: On a lighter note, now that you’re 18, have you been out to the gay clubs at all? How would you rate the “scene” here in the Charleston-Huntington area?
CS: I have been to Trax and Stonewall. I am not much of a party person myself but it was a nice experience. [laughs] I’m the person that enjoys dinner and a movie much more than the clubs.
RR: Thanks again, Clayton. Everyone here at Rainbow Pride is very appreciative of your activism. And we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
CS: Thank you very much. It was great talking with you!
Ignition an Mpowerment Project
The Project is run by a “Core Group” of 3-5 young gay/bisexual men from the community with the support of paid staff. The Core Group, along with other volunteers, design and carry out all Project activities. The Project has its own physical space where most outreach events and meetings are held. The Project space also serves as a drop-in center where young gay/bisexual men meet and support each other. The Project relies on a set of four integrated activities:
Formal Outreach - A team of young gay/bisexual men goes to popular community locations to discuss and promote safer sex in a fun and engaging way. They distribute appealing HIV prevention material that they have developed themselves. Additionally, the team creates its own outreach events to attract young gay/bisexual men (e.g., dances, video parties, picnics, discussion groups) where HIV prevention is promoted in various ways.
Informal Outreach – Through their participation in the Mpowerment Project, young men develop the necessary skills and motivation to effectively support and encourage their friends about safer sex.
Ongoing Publicity Campaign – The campaign attracts young gay/bisexual men to the project through word of mouth, articles in gay newspapers, advertisements, web sites, e-mail notices, and other targeted strategies.
M-groups - These peer-led, 3 hour meetings of 8-10 young gay/bisexual men discuss factors contributing to unsafe sex (e.g., misconceptions about safer sex, beliefs that safer sex is not enjoyable, poor sexual communication skills). Through skills-building exercises, the men practice safer sex negotiation and correct condom use. Participants receive free condoms and lubricant and are trained and motivated to conduct informal outreach with their friends.
The Project mobilizes young gay/bisexual men to shape a healthy community for themselves, build positive social connections, and support their friends to have safer sex. The Mpowerment Project can reach large numbers of young gay/bisexual men in a cost-effective manner because it is a community level intervention. It focuses on the entire community of young gay/bisexual men instead of targeting men individually or solely through small groups. The Mpowerment Project is designed to be tailored to the needs of every community; it is based on a set of interrelated core elements that each community adapts to its own unique characteristics. The Charleston area has been defined by the DHHR as MSM ages 18 to 32.
Although elements of the Mpowerment Project may seem familiar to people who have worked in HIV and AIDS prevention previously, how this Project works is different from what typically comes to mind in conducting HIV and AIDS prevention. While the Mpowerment Project includes safer sex promotion, the program is not defined solely by a focus on condoms or HIV and AIDS prevention but peer networking as well.
Please contact the Project Coordinator at (304)437-2927 or at jelswick@pridewv.org for further information or questions.
Also the PDF research papers will lend to further knowledge and information on Mpowerment.
r1_ajph_paper1
r2_mobilizing
r3_cost_effectiveness
Dear Friends of Pride,
With the 2009 Season upon us we are hoping that you might consider donating your time to volunteer at an event this year. Volunteering at a pride event is a great way to make new friends, give back to your community, and provide help to our modest core of volunteers. I do hope you will consider giving your time to help create a better community.
Below are the events that are produced by Rainbow Pride of West Virginia. Don’t see the event you want to work at below? Chances are the event is produced by one of our partner organizations. For clarification please feel free to contact me at crouse@pridewv.org
Thanks,
Charlie Rouse
2009 Volunteer Signup
Event: Miss Pride of WV/ Charleston
Date: 5/29/09, Friday
Time: (5PM setup)-11PM
Number of volunteers needed: 10
Volunteer staff needed for ticket booth sales, pride merchandise table, backstage assistance, and other activities to be determined by the Pageant Director. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2-4 hours of their time or more to the event. Contact pageant director Jeremy Elswick at jelswick@pridewv.org for more information
Event: Rainbow Run for Covenant House/ Charleston
Date: 5/30/09, Saturday
Time: Setup time (7:30 PM) take down time (Noon or 1PM)
Number of volunteers needed: 2
Volunteers needed to staff pride merchandise table and informational booth. Primary responsibilities include selling flags and tee shirts, distributing informational flyers, and answering questions about 2009 Pride Season Events. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2 to 4 hours for this task. Contact Charlie Rouse at crouse@pridewv.org for more information.
Event: Huntington Pride Picnic/ Huntington
Date: 5/31/2009, Sunday
Time: Setup time (9:00AM- tear down time 5PM)
Number of volunteers needed: 15
Volunteers needed for ticketing sales, merchandise and informational booth, grill staff, entertainment staff. Volunteers needed to donate their time to do, ticket sales, provide general information about events, cooking and setup and take down of equipment. Contact Charlie Rouse at crouse@pridewv.org for more information.
Event: Interfaith/ Charleston
Date: 6/1/2009, Monday
Time: Setup time (5:30 PM and event ends at 7:30)
Number of volunteers needed: Varies
Volunteers needed for ushering and reception setup. Please contact David Shumate or Andy Ragland at maragland@citynet.net
Event: Pride Open House/ Charleston
Date: 6/1/09, Monday
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Number of volunteers needed: 2
Volunteers needed to distribute information in the Pride Office space. Contact Charlie Rouse at crouse@pridewv.org for more information.
Event: Womyn’s Night At Appalachian Power Park/Charleston
Date:6/5/2009
Time:7PM Setup- until event end
Number of volunteers needed: Varies
Volunteers needed to assist with admission area, and show staff. Contact Caroline Starr-Wills at cstarrwills@pridewv.org.
Event: Mister Pride of WV Contest, Charleston
Date: 6/5/2009
Time:Varies
Number of volunteers needed: Varies
Volunteers needed for back stage staff, and informational table. Volunteers asked to donate 4 to 8 hours for this event. Please contact Jeremy Elswick for more information at: jelswick@pridewv.org
Event: Power of One Dinner
Date: 6/6/2009
Time: 6PM to 9PM
Number of volunteers needed: 2 to 4
Volunteers needed for ticketing and admission area for event. Volunteers are asked to dontate 3 Hours for this event. Contact Charlie Rouse at crouse@pridewv.org for more information.
Event: The Rainbow Party
Date: 6/6/2009
Time: 9PM to Midnight
Number of volunteers needed: 2 to 4
Volunteers needed to assist with admission area for event. Volunteers are asked to donate 2 to 3 hours for this event. Contact Charlie Rouse at crouse@pridewv.org for more information.
Event: 2009 Parade and Festival
Date: 6/7/2009
Time: 8AM-5PM
Number of volunteers needed: 15
Volunteers needed to assist with festival staging and setup, informational and merchandise tabling, providing assistance to attendees, and assistance with Parade lineup. Volunteers are asked to consider donating a hour of their time to assist with this event. For more information contact Charlie Rouse at: crouse@pridewv.org
Friends,
Despite the fact that just last week, the House of Representatives passed a transgender inclusive hate crimes Bill (Special thanks to Representatives Rahall and Mollohan), and
Despite the fact that last week the Maine State Senate voted out a Marriage equality bill for their state’s LGBT community, and
Despite the fact that a growing number of Americans support equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and
Despite calls from moderates within the Republican party to bring an end to the exclusionary principles that got them creamed in the 2006 and 2008 elections, what does the WV State Republican Party do?
http://wvgazette.com/News/200905040128
That’s right. State Republicans in the House of Delegates have called on Governor Joe Manchin to add to the upcoming special session, legislation that would create a special election referendum defining marriage.
You may remember the promoters of this initiative trying to pressure the Governor like this before. He didn’t give in then, and we need to make sure he doesn’t give in now. Please, call the Governor’s office and ask him not to include this legislation in his special session agenda.
The number is 1.888.438.2731
Email: Governor@WVGov.org
Be sure to keep a polite and civil tone with whomever you speak with and in your email. Additionally, it will go a long way to point out that the Governor did not give in to this demand last fall, and he should remain consistent in NOT putting this issue on a special session agenda.
Thank you,
Seth DiStefano
Organizer, ACLU of West Virginia
Come join rainbow pride as the LGBT Community comes together for a picture event at Olan Mills.
They will have several portrait collections to choose from. AS well as be available to photography Groups, Drag Promo, Couple and Families.
The Event will take place on May 7th at 10am until 8pm. Please call Christen at Olan Mills at 304-347-9408 for an appointment.
The following rules are in effect for vendors at this year’s Pride Parade & Festival:
- Vendor setup is from 8AM to 11AM. Vendors will not be permitted entrance to the festival grounds for setup after 11AM.
- Vendors are responsible for cleanup and maintenance of their assigned space.
- Vending of sexually explicit materials and drug paraphernalia will not be permitted.
- Rainbow Pride of West Virginia and the City of Charleston will not and can not provide electricity to vendors. Vendors may use quiet generators. Power sources must be self sustaining, quiet, and properly maintained. Generator use is only permitted between the hours of 9AM and 2PM. All generators must remain off during the festival program.
- Vendor teardown is permitted at 4:00. Vehicles will be permitted at 5:00PM for transport of vendor items.
- Vendors are only to operate in their assigned space with respect to other vendors.
- Vendors spaces are assigned upon arrival at the discretion of Rainbow Pride of WV beginning at 9AM. Vendor assignments are final.
- The use of recycling bins by vendors and patrons is encouraged. Vendors will be assigned bags to assist with this process.
- Prior to departure vendors must check in with Rainbow Pride staff for site inspection.
- Vendors are responsible providing all tables, chairs, awnings, and all needed supplies.
