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.
meeting announcement
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia will be holding a full committee meeting on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00 pm in the Community Office at 501 Elizabeth St., Room 11, in Charleston. We would like to invite all members and concerned allies to attend. This will be the first formal meeting with the newly elected Board of Directors and we are all very excited about getting down to work. Among other business, we will be getting an update on the annual Pride Picnic which is coming up at Coonskin Park on October 11, receiving a financial report from treasurer Chris Bostic, and discussing possible fundraising opportunities. Please attend if you can. We hope to see you all there.
Covenant House benefit at Long Fork Campground
On Saturday, August 15, 2009, beginning at 3:00 pm, Long Fork Campground and the Mountain State Knights are hosting “The Red Party: A Party for the People” to benefit the Covenant House Food Pantry. If you plan to come, simply bring along some nonperishable food items to donate. But if you can’t make the party, there are several drop off points in Charleston where you can make a donation. These are: Visions Day Spa, Bluegrass Kitchen, Tricky Fish, and, of course, Covenant House.
Covenant House was created in 1981 by Charleston citizens and groups committed to helping those with the fewest resources. Their mission was to work for justice by offering direct services for West Virginians in need while creating social change through advocacy and education. Covenant House provides assistance to the homeless population of the Kanawha Valley and to people living with HIV and AIDS. They’re on the web at wvcovenanthouse.org.
Long Fork is a clothing optional retreat for the gay community located in the lush hills of West Virginia about 40 minutes north of Charleston. Visit them on the web at www.longfork.com for more information. Bring your own refreshments, but remember: no glass bottles around the pool.
Vacation Bible School / Block Party – Mighty Hand Fellowship
Mighty Hand Fellowship (an LGBT friendly Christian church in Charleston WV) will be holding two events in early August.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!
August 3rd –7th 2009
6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Singing * Dinner * Lesson * Arts & Crafts * Games
NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH BLOCK PARTY and GIVE-A-WAY
Saturday August 8th 2009 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Music * Free hot dogs, chips and drinks * Free clothing and more * Children’s Activities
Mighty Hand Fellowship is located at:
805 Bigley Ave. Charleston, WV 25302
Phone: 304-380-1792
Info for Pride Festival Vendors
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.
US House Passes Matthew Shepard Act
Just received word from the HRC that the US House has just passed Hate Crimes legislation, the Matthew Shepard Act. This legislation includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from bias-motivated hate violence.
As West Virginians, be aware of the following:
BOTH Representatives Nick Rahall and Allen Mollohan voted for Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill (HR 1913); Shelley Moore Capito voted with the Republican mainstream against the bill.
I repeat:
Shelley Moore Capito AGAINST the Matthew Shepard Act
This is far from over, we’re now awaiting a vote from the US Senate. Do your part.
Gay Families Invited to White House Easter Event
The Huffington Post reports that the “White House officials said that tickets for Monday’s Easter Egg Roll event were distributed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations, but did not specify how many or to which ones. Representatives from Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other groups confirmed they were invited and encouraged to have their members participate.”
“The Obama administration actually reached out to us as an organization, and said we want gay families there, and they are an important part of the American family fabric,” said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Boston-based Family Equality Council, which is helping spearhead the effort to organize families to attend.
Chrisler said Tuesday she expects more than 100 gay and lesbian-headed families to take part in the egg roll.
This might not seem like a big deal but a little bit of recognition and validation goes along way. For once, we’re are being included. THIS is how you make progress.
Gay in the USA
OK. Here’s the scoop.
The Employment Non-Discrimination legislation failed in the WV legislature. While this is terribly disappointing, we need to keep our heads up and realize a few things.
1) We’ve successfully defeated a ban on gay marriage through an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution (amazing!). Thanks House of Delegates!
2) Vermont overrode the Governor’s veto on a bill allowing gay marriage! This victory is a FIRST in the United States wherein marriage was passed via the Legislative process (which is optimal) and not through a court decision.
3) The District of Columbia voted now to recognize gay marriages from other states!
While we’re all disappointed about WV ENDA, we’ve made significant progress towards toward validation and equality.
So, do you want to get involved? There are two groups in West Virginia that are leading the fight.
Statewide – Fairness West Virginia
Want to stop smoking? Covenant House Can Help.
Did you know members of the LGBT community smoke at rates that are more than twice as high as the general population??? Tobacco causes more deaths in the U.S. than HIV, illegal drugs, alcohol, car accidents, suicides, and murders COMBINED.
If you smoke and are considering quitting, please let the Covenant House help.
Step one: Take a quick information survey. We can help you QUIT once and for all!!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=YIAS_2faEU87THpNlTLxZ1WQ_3d_3d
Fight Discrimination- Tell the ACLU your story.
Being LGBT shouldn’t be a hazard to your employment or cause you to be denied housing or services from businesses like supermarkets or hardware stores. Help end unfairness by encouraging anyone you know who may have been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity to complete our online survey at: http://www.aclu.org/fairnessforwv.