Power of One Award Dinner
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 recipient of the award.
Saturday June 5th, 6:00pm
Admission – -
$15 includes dinner
(please let us know if you require vegetarian option)
Purchase Tickets
Buy Online here
FREE, Rapid HIV Testing
The monthly rapid HIV testing clinic takes place in the Rainbow Pride of West Virginia office, located at 501 Elizabeth Street (back entrance) in Charleston’s East End. It is a private, safe location.
The OraQuick Rapid HIV Test, which requires only a quick swab of the upper and lower gums, and results are available while you wait. However, since your visit will require 30-60 minutes of your time (depending on the need for additional testing and counseling), you must call to make an appointment.
For more information or to make an appointment, you can call Chuck at home (304-768-1005) or at my office (304-558-6469). Please leave a message on my voice mail if necessary.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending that any adult who has never been tested for HIV ought to be offered an HIV test at least once as a part of any medical treatment. Gay men should consider getting tested for HIV at least once a year, although this may depend on sexual habits, condom use, relationship status, etc.
If you wish to be tested for HIV but are not able to come to my clinic this Saturday, please call me anyway, because I may be able to make alternative arrangements more convenient for you.
Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone you think may benefit.
This monthly HIV screening clinic is project of the West Virginia Division of Health & Human Resources, STD & HIV Program.
CHUCK ANZIULEWICZ
HIV Prevention Specialist
304-558-6469 (office)
304-768-1005 (home)
We’re Open
This Saturday, May 17th – Steven Tompa, 2010 Power of One Award Winner
As part of expanding our mission of education and social outreach, Rainbow Pride hosts an informal adult discussion group every Saturday afternoon at the Community Office located at 501 Elizabeth Street in Charleston. We invite everyone to come by between 1:00 and 3:00 pm for coffee, snacks, and conversation. We discuss “hot button issues” and LGBT history, or just hang out and chat. As often as possible, we have special guest speakers discussing their areas of interest.
“We’re Open” is completely casual and perfect for those of you who might not ordinarily join a more formal sort of organization and for anyone who would like a chance to socialize outside of a bar setting. Come as you are, pop in for a few minutes on your way by, or plan to hang out with us for the entire time. And if you have an issue you’d like to bring to the table, we’d love to hear about it. We do ask that participants consider donating a dollar or two to help us keep our fridge stocked, but other than that, all we want is for you to drop in, hang out, and be a part of our community. Everyone is welcome!
Miss & Mister Pride of West Virginia Preliminaries
Documents
2010 Contestant Application
2010 Contestant Packet
2010 Sample Contestant Contract
It’s that time of year again. with Pride2010 approaching, Ms and Mr Pride of West Virginia Preliminaries are being scheduled.
Winners of their respective preliminaries will preform on May 28th at the Clay Center, West Virginia’s premier Arts and Sciences venue in downtown Charleston.
If you’d like to schedule a preliminary pageant and have questions, please send us a message here and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Below is a list of currently scheduled preliminaries in West Virginia.
Miss & Mister Pride of West Virginia 2010 Preliminary Pageants
Mister West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010
WoodStarr, 322 5th St, Parkersburg
Fri, April 23rd
Mandatory Contestant Registration: 9:00 p.m.
Pageant Time: 10:30 p.m.
Mister Broadway Pride 2010
- 210 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston
- Fri, April 30th
- Mandatory Contestant Registration: 10:00 p.m.
- Pageant Time: 11:00 p.m.
Miss Union Square Pride 2010
- 703 Fife Street, Charleston
- Sat, May 1st
- Mandatory Contestant Registration: 4:00 p.m.
- Pageant Time: 7:00 p.m. if 5 or more contestants
10:00 p.m. if 4 or less contestants
Mister Union Square Pride 2010
- 703 Fife Street, Charleston
- Sat, May 2nd
- Mandatory Contestant Registration: 4:00 p.m.
- Pageant Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Note: At 10:00 p.m. Union Square has a separate pageant for Mister Union Square Pride 2010 MI (male illusionist) and winner will compete at WV L-Pride Pageant
Miss & Mister Jackhammer Pride 2010
Jackhammer, 2127 Manchester Ave, Huntington
Sat, May 8th
Mandatory Contestant Registration: 9:00 p.m.
Pageant Time: 10:00 p.m.
More Preliminary Pageants Coming Soon!
Contenders for Miss Pride of West Virginia 2010 (Photos & Bios Coming Soon)
- Morgan LeFay, Miss West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010 (Winner)
- Tearah Dezarea, Miss West Virginia Queer News Pride 2010 (Runner-Up)
- Donita Monroe, Miss Broadway Pride 2010 (Appointed)
- Dimitria, Miss Vice Versa Pride 2010 (Winner)
- Robin Hearts, Miss Vice Versa Pride 2010 (Runner-Up)
Contenders for Mister Pride of West Virginia 2010 (Photos & Bios Coming Soon)
- Daron Del Ray aka Tim Albee, Mister RWHG Pride 2010 (Appointed by Ron Wilson Hair Gallery)
For details, please contact one of our Pageant Directors
- Martina Dezarea at martinad_4u@yahoo.com
- Mila Rich at jeremye113@yahoo.com
- Steven Tompa at steventompa@yahoo.com
Pride 2010 Awards!
Winners Announced!
Each year, the PrideWV membership nominates individuals for their impact on LGBT West Virginians, the Power of One and Grand Marshal. These awards are then granted by vote of the general membership of Rainbow Pride of West Virginia.
The Power of One is an award that recognizes an individual’s ability to increase visibility, garner support for LGBT issues and overall fight for the cause.
The Grand Marshal is granted to an individual to recognize contributions made to the LGBT community in West Virginia. This individual leads the yearly Pride Parade in Charleston.
Below is a list of nominees as proposed:
Power of One Award
Steve Tompa - is an active fund-raiser in the Bear and Leather communities. He resides in Charleston, West Virginia where he earned his master degrees in banking, business, and computers. He has helped raise money for local and national charities within the communities using the focus of “Unity in Diversity” during his titleholder years as Mr. Mountain State Bear 2004, Mr. Kentucky Bear 2005, Mr. West Virginia Pride 2006, Mr. All-Ohio Bear 2007, and Mr. Mountain Leather 2007. He was the recipient of the International Hospitality Bear Award 2006 at IBR in San Francisco and the recipient of International Leather Volunteer Award 2007 at CLAW in Cleveland . In December 2008, he was “birthed” into Mama’s Family (Mama Sandy Reindhardt of San Francisco’s national leather charity organization) as “Mama’s Mountain Bear”. He is now on the CLAW Board and the Living AIDS Memorial Garden Board. He is a member of Rainbow Pride of West Virginia, the Mountain State Knights, and a staff writer for West Virginia Queer News. He now continues his fund-raising endeavors across the Nation as the CLAW Nation Tour Manager. CLAW has donated over $200,000 to various community charities. Host a CLAW Nation party in your town. You pick the date, location, and charities. Steve will help you plan the party. CLAW, Mr. S Leather, and Recon will help you make it a success!
——————-
Grand Marshal
Seth DiStefano – submitted by Seth DiStefano – “Thank you. Truly its an honor to even be considered. About me, I am orginally from Randolph county, WV where i started my work in politics as an organizer for the Kerry/Edwards presidential campaign. I continued my politcal work as chairman of the Randolph County Democrat Executive Committee during the 2006 midterm elections. In august of 2007, I moved to Charleston to begin working for the ACLU of West Virginia. My first and most enduring assignment was building and maintaing a coalition of organizations supportive of amending West Virginia’s Human Rights Act and Fair Housing laws to include protections for West Virginia’s LGBT community. The measure has seen traction in two successive sessions. That coalition has also played a key role in stopping the homophobic ‘marriage amendment’ from passing. I am a proud alum of WVU and proud to be affiliated with Rainbow Pride because it is unquestionably welcoming of the straight ally community from which I come.”
Out at the Movies – February ‘10
Out at the Movies with Rainbow Pride
We’re trying a new little social event with Rainbow Pride and we’d like you to join us.
On Thursday, February 18, we’ll be getting together at Park Place Stadium Cinemas in Charleston to see “The Wolfman,” starring Benicio del Toro in the title role. Showtime is at 7:35 pm. We’re also planning to meet up at Tricky Fish at about 6:30 for dinner and drinks before the movie. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors and kids under 12. If you’re on Facebook, RSVP here. Otherwise, just show up and look for the people in Pride shirts!
It ought to be a lot of fun and we hope to see you there!
Next month, we’ll be going to see “Alice in Wonderland” at the Cinemark Huntington Mall theater.
Help Decide Pride2010 Theme!
Alright, here we go! The Festivities Subcommittee is looking for ideas from the LGBT community for the PrideWV2010 theme.
There will be a Festivities Subcommittee meeting this Thursday 2/4/10 at 7pm in the Pride Office in Charleston.
Got any?
Some great ideas we’ve come up with are
- Power in Numbers
- Unity & Diversity
- One in Pride
- Come Together
- Ain’t Stopping Now!
- Don’t Stop Believing
- Don’t Stop Thinking about Tomorrow
- Believe
- Power by Numbers
World AIDS Day in WV
Tuesday December 1st is World AIDS Day and we here at PrideWV hope that you can do your best to show your support for those affected by this disease.
Below is a list of events in West Virginia that we are currently aware of. If you know of an event in your area, please feel free to reply to this email and we’ll do our best to spread the word.
Charleston
Covenant House
5:00 PM YogAID with Dan Connery
Asbury United Methodist Church
501 Elizabeth St
Charleston, WV
$10 suggested donation
6:00 PM Service – Asbury United Methodist
6:30 PM Candlelight procession to the Living AIDS Memorial Garden
1600 Block Washington Street East
Refreshments provided by Food Among the Flowers
7:00 PM -Adjourn
Morgantown
Caritas House
7:00 PM – Candlelight Vigil/Walk
Meet at Mt. Lair. Proceeds to County Courthouse Square at 7:30.
Speakers and refreshments provided.
Huntington
Tri-State AIDS Task Force
Open house
11:00am – 5:00pm
1038 6th Avenue
Huntington, WV
Come and get to know the Tri-State AIDS Task Force
Come celebrate with us!
Can’t make it to Washington, DC, for the National Equality March on Sunday, October 11? Then come join Rainbow Pride of West Virginia at our annual Pride Picnic at Coonskin Park’s Riverside Pavilion just ten minutes from downtown Charleston. We can’t all make it to the big event, but we can show our solidarity and lend our voices to millions of others wherever we happen to be. So come party with us as we celebrate Equality, Diversity, and Unity.
October 11 is also National Coming Out Day. What better way to celebrate than to get together with your LGBT brothers and sisters from around the state and let everyone know that you’re proud to be who you are!
This year’s picnic will feature live music from the great Charleston-area band, the VooDoo Katz, who will be playing from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. After that, there will be a drag show starring several of your favorite local gender illusionists. Admission is free and your Pride committee will be providing free food and soft drinks. Plenty of free parking is available, but there are LIMITED reserved parking spaces near the Pavillion. To reserve a space, you MUST become a sponsor by clicking here or by writing us at contact@pridewv.org. Sponsorship also includes two free t-shirts and a mention from the stage.
The picnic begins at noon and continues until dusk. You can click here for more information on Coonskin Park, including directions.