Senate Bill 238 Passes in West Virginia State Senate
Senate Bill 238 has passed the state senate. With a vote of 23 in favor and 10 against this bill will now move to the West Virginia House of Delegates.
We expect this bill to be a hot button issue for those opposed to true equality in West Virginia.
Take action now! We need each of you to make a phone call, email, or postal mail contact with each of your Delegates.
To find your delegates visit the West Virginia Legislature web page at:
At the lower right side of the screen you can type in your zip code to determine who your elected officials are.
If you need to know your zip+4 code you can find it at the United States Postal service website at:
http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
Let’s stay positive, and move West Virginia forward on the path to equality.
2009 Pride Parade & Festival
***ALL DATES / EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE & CANCELLATION***
This year Rainbow Pride of West Virginia’s Pride Parade and Festival celebrates it’s 13th anniversary. This yearly event allows our community show everyone that we DO exist in West Virginia and are PROUD to be gay West Virginians. This is not about ’shoving it’ in anyone’s face, but a command that we at the very least deserve respect and recognition.
Calendar
Dates will be added as confirmed
***ALL DATES / EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE & CANCELLATION***
If you have questions, click on Contact at the top of the page or drop us an email to contact@pridewv.org
5/29/09
Miss Pride of West Virginia
The Clay Center, 1 Clay Sq, Charleston WV 25301
6:00 PM $70/table of four (buy tickets online @ www.pridewv.org)
5/30/2009
WV Rainbow Run – Covenant House Benefit
(5K Race, 5 Walk and 1 Mile Walk) 8 AM registration, 9 AM race begins
Covenant House, 600 Shrewsbury St, Charleston, WV 25301
Minimum donation of $25 per person – ($10 for children under age 18)
The Dance for Those Who Can’t a Benefit for The Living AIDS Memorial Garden
21+ – The Broadway Lounge, 210 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301
7:00PM $35/person –>
5/31/2009
The Huntington Pride Picnic
All Ages, Rotary Park Pavilion, Huntington, WV
Noon- Dusk $5.00, 12 and under, FREE
Mountain State Bear Contest
21+ – The Broadway Lounge 210 Leon Sullivan Way Charleston, WV 25301
10:00PM $5.00
6/1/2009
Interfaith 2009
Asbury United Methodist Church, 501 Elizabeth St, Charleston, WV 25311
6:00 PM FREE. Donations Accepted.
Pride Open House
Pride Community Office 501 Elizabeth St. Room 11 Charleston, WV 25311
7:30 PM FREE
6/2/2009
Rainbow Talk Picnic Pot Luck – Women Only
Coonskin Park, Shelter 18, Charleston, WV
Bring Covered Dish for Entrance
6:00PM. FREE
Primetimers Wine Tasting
502 Elizabeth St, Charleston, WV 25311
7PM – 9PM, FREE, Donations Accepted
6/3/2009
A Pie Social- Presented by Ignition – A Social Group for Men 18-32
Ignition Office (formerly MPowerment – 501 Elizabeth St. Charleston, WV 25311
Open to All
6PM-9PM FREE
Documentary Night – For the Bible Tells Me So
An award-winning documentary, which brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and
Biblical scripture – and reveals that religious anti-gay bias is based almost solely
upon a misinterpretation of the Bible.
Taylor Books, 226 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301
All Ages – 6:30 PM FREE
6/4/2009
Pride Doggie Day – Bring Your Dog!
Ruth Raferty Peyton Dog Park – Corner of Washington & Maxwell St, Charleston
$5.00 – Entry Fee In to Doggie Competition and Free for other dogs!
All Ages – 6PM FREE
6/5/2009
Womyn’s Night At The Park – Appalachian Power Park
Corner of Morris and Lewis St, Charleston WV
9:00PM – Women Only – Ages 18-20 $7.00 – Ages 21+ $5.00
Sponsored by the National Organization for Women
Ms and Mr L Pride – Appalachian Power Park
12:00am – Corner of Morris and Lewis St, Charleston, WV
FREE with Wymen’s night or $5.00 (21+ Ages All Sexes), $7.00- (Ages 18-20 )
Mr Pride of West Virginia – Broadway Lounge
210 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301
$10.00 – 10pm – Regular Admission (21+ M and F)
Bear Pride 2009
USA All Star Performance -Presented by Bear Men of WV- Robb Shinn and Bob Williamson – Jackhammer Bar. Emcee: Miss Gay United States Ashley Adams 2009-2010
2008 Mr. USA Bear Tim Allen and others
11:00 PM 2127 Manchester Avenue, Huntington, WV
$5.00 donation suggested benefiting Mr WV Bear Contest
(21+ M and F)
Rocky Horror Picture Show – DownHome Decadence – Gay Night
Dance party – 9:45 pm., Preshow – 10:00pm Showtime -10:20 pm
$3.00 Admission – 1021 4th Ave, Huntington, WV
6/6/2009
Track and Field Day – Volleyball Tournament – Bring Your Team
Coonskin Park, Charleston – Volleyball Courts
Team Signup begins at Noon – FREE- Donations Accepted (All Ages M and F)
Power of One Award Dinner
Charleston Holiday House – Holiday Inn
6:00 PM – $35.00 Per Person (All Ages M and F)
Rainbow Party – Power of One After Party
Charleston Holiday House – Holiday Inn
9:00 PM FREE with Power of One ticket – $10.00 – 18+ M and F
Bear Pride 2009
Mr. West Virginia Bear Contest 2009 – USA Unlimited Bear Presented by Bear Men Of WV Robb Shinn and Bob Williamson Jackhammer Bar
First Ever for WV – 10:00 PM
The Jackhammer
2127 Manchester Avenue, Huntington, WV
$5.00 – Admission benefiting Bear Men of WV and Contest (21+ M and F)
Leather Pride 2009 – Mountain State Knights
$5.00 – 10pm Longfork Campground and Resort. Walton WV
www.longfork.com
6/7/2009
13th Pride Parade and Festival
Haddad Park – Capitol St – Davis Park. Charleston, WV
Sunrise Prayer
7:00AM Davis Park Pavilion – Corner of Lee and Capitol Street
Group / Vendor Setup
8:00AM – 11:00AM
Capitol St between Lee and Washington St
Must be setup by 11:00AM – Streets Closures in effect at 11AM All supporters welcome. No Electricity Provided.
Parade Lineup
12:30PM-Parade lineup. Parade steps off at 1:30PM
Parade
1:30PM- Get Your Spot Early! Parade moves from Haddad Park, to Davis Park via Capitol Street.
Festival
11AM – 5PM
Davis Park Corner of Lee and Capitol Streets, Charleston, WV
Join us as we celebrate our 13th year and honor our community
Leaders enjoy entertainment, vendors and information booths galore!
Senate Bill 238 Out of Judiciary Committee
Yesterday afternoon Senate Bill 238 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Regrettably, protections for our Transgender brothers and sisters were removed from this bill. The bill originally defined the Transgender community in this bill as “Gender Identity-Actual or Perceived.”
Senate regulations require SB238 to be read on the Senate floor on three consecutive days before a vote. Therefore, the vote should take place sometime Thursday.
We encourage you to call your elected official in the Senate and encourage the passage of any bill that moves the GLBT community forward in West Virginia. You can find a list of Senators at http://www.legis.state.wv.us.
What’s next? Once this bill is passed by the Senate it then moves to the House of Delegates and it will be assigned to a committee. We assume that it will move to the Judiciary committee. Please take the initiative to contact your legislators in the House as well.
Thank you for being a part of the community and taking the courage to come forward and help.
Think Charleston is slow since the Kanawha County smoking ban?
Well,we are happy to report things are going quite well. I hear the Broadway is adjusting to the smoking ban. The outdoor patio is full, and everyone inside the bar is breathing much easier. From what I understand the non smokers are happy to leave the club at the end of the night without smelling like an ashtray.
It has been recently reported to me that the Broadway has now started a You Tube channel. You can check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/user/BroadwayCharleston
Trax had a rough time with the ban. Roger Legg, owner of the facility, reported that his business declined 40% at the start of the ban, and has had some trouble staying open. The popular rumor in town is that Trax is closed. I am happy to report that they are in fact open. I had the opportunity to visit last Thursday, and the staff was polite and the place was open. The current cover for those 21 and up is only $3. If you are 18 and up the cover is $5. Check it out for those of you too young to get in to the Broadway.
Are You Tired?
“You don’t need that promotion. You’re gay, and you don’t have kids.”
“I can’t rent to lesbians. Your lifestyle sickens me.”
“I’m sorry; I don’t serve faggots in my restaurant.”
Ever hear any of these things at work, in a restaurant, or when trying to find a place to live?
I bet at some time many of you may have heard a something similar to the above. For those of you who haven’t maybe these things sound extreme. Maybe they sound far fetched, but they have happened at some time to a member of our community.
Some of us are brave enough to live openly as a member of the GLBT community, and some of us are so petrified of losing everything they have worked so hard to obtain during the coming out process.
Either way you are tired. Tired of having to prove yourself to your coworkers or tired of having to hide a very important piece of your identity as a human being.
When you are out you fight to earn your place in the working world. People at times will label you as being “out there” or too flamboyant. You work harder in order to be liked, and respected.
When you are in the closet you are emotionally battered and so afraid that your work product will be overshadowed by what you do in your free time and in the privacy of your own home.
How can you build a life to be proud of when all you get the chance to do is fight or hide?
This year West Virginia State Senate Bill 238 and West Virginia House of Delegates Bill 2925 help get you the relief you need.
If these bills pass and make it to Governor Manchin’s desk you will be able to enjoy a workplace where your sexual orientation can not and will not be a issue.
If you aren’t too tired please try to contact your legislators and tell them how you want to contribute to a better West Virginia.
If you can’t call for fear of being outted please consider donations to one of the various organizations that support our issues. All of the GLBT friendly not for profit organizations can use your financial donations to help make equality a reality.
West Virginia Open for Business… Open for All! TAKE TWO
West Virginia. Open for Business… Open for All!!
West Virginia Open for Business… Open for All!!
What happened ?
On the second day of the 2009 Legislative session five brave West Virginia legislators introduced Senate Bill 238.
Senators Brooks McCabe (D-Kanawha,) Dan Foster(D-Kanawha,) Eric Wells (D-Kanawha)Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall,)Herb Snyder (D – Jefferson,) all have signed on as sponsors of this legislation.
What this bill means for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community?
This bill will amend existing legislation to include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to existing employment and non discrimination laws.
We expect this bill to move quickly through the Senate and move to the House of Delegates. From that point it may move to the Judiciary or Rules Committees.
You can view a copy of the proposed legislation online at:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb238%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=238
As a GLBT West Virginian or as a supporter of GLBT civil rights in West Virginia; what can I do now?
1. Contact the Senators listed above and thank them for taking the lead on advancing fairness in employment, housing and public accommodation in West Virginia for GLBT West Virginians.
2. Contact your legislators and tell them you support this bill.
You can find your legislators at the homepage for the West Virginia Legislature at: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/
3. Once you contact a legislator email us so we can track the number of people signing up to support this bill.
Email us at rainbowpridewva@yahoo.com. You can also email the West Virginia Foundation for Equality at WVFE@yahoo.com
Let us know who you spoke to, and what they said. One of the common things that we hear is that nobody from outside of Kanawha County contacts their elected officials on our issues. We need to keep track of the various regions where contacts come from so we can deliver a statewide and community response.
What are the next steps?
We will keep the community notified as to the status of the bill and keep you aware of any public hearings on this issue. Part of getting this legislation through is educating elected officials about our issues, but we need your help. If you would like to get involved in community planning in your area please let us know by emailing us.
Thanks,
Charlie Rouse
PrideWV Benefit @ Polo. We Thank You!
Martina Dezarea graciously organized a benefit for Rainbow Pride of West Virginia at the Polo Club in Huntington on Friday. Without the community, PrideWV would not exist and we are very grateful to Martina, The Polo and all patrons who donated to YOUR organization. We look forward to attending future events in all parts of the state and hope you will attend our annual festival in late May-early June (we’ll post event dates soon!)
Check out some pictures from the Benefit!
PrideWV will be @ Our Place & Woodstarr tonight!
Join Rainbow Pride of West Virginia this evening at the Woodstarr and Our Place! Look for us in the white Rainbow Pride of West Virginia tshirts and say Hi!
322 5th St
Parkersburg, WV 26101
(304) 422-3711
Get Directions
671 7th Street
Parkersburg, WV
Get Directions
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Hello,
With pride season just around the corner I would like to announce
some meetings.
1. There is a pageant subcommittee meeting tomorrow at 6:30PM.
2. The following regular meetings have been scheduled.
2/10/2009 at 6 PM
2/24/2009 at 6 PM
3/10/2009 at 6 PM
3/24/09 at 6 PM
4/7/09 at 6 PM
4/14/09 at 6 PM
3. The following board meetings have been scheduled:
2/15/09 at 2:30 PM
3/1/09 at 2:30 PM
3/29/09 at 2:30 PM
4/26/09 at 2:30PM
All meetings are held in our office at 501 Elizabeth Street Room 11
Charleston, WV 25311.
If you have questions on how to get to the office please call (304)
345-9938 or email us at rainbowpridewva@yahoo.com
With the recent bad weather, meeting times may change. Please consult
the yahoo group, pridewv.org or the voicemail line for up to date
meeting information.
Thanks,
Charlie Rouse