Ooohhh La
La!
Look at our Awards!
|
"Frisk"
|
"Explore"
|
|
|
! Hold That Date ! |
|
MANHATTAN THANKSGIVING PRIVATE DINNER PARTY "Pardoning A Turkey Day" menu" Manhattan Empire Szechuwan restaurant Have a blast with our hilarious non denominational "ceremonies" reservations: Heart4u311@aol.com Beach Parties |
|
|
||
|
|
JERSEY CITY LAUNCHES ITS FIRST-EVER GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL ON
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH AT EXCHANGE PLACE
JERSEY CITY, has never seen the likes of this!
New Jersey’s second-largest city will host its first-ever Gay Pride Festival, celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) communities on Saturday, August 25th at Exchange Place in Jersey City, NJ, from 3-8 p.m., with
speakers and entertainment the first half and a dance party, the second. The Rainbow Flag Raising at City Hall in Jersey
City has been scheduled specifically to accommodate people coming home from work on Thursday evening, August 23rd at 6
p.m.
The festival’s theme, “Strength Through Visibility,” reflects the power, both personal and collective, gained
through being open and honest about one’s sexual orientation. The festival’s Hudson riverfront site encourages
participation from both New York and New Jersey since Exchange Place is a station on the PATH train system.
HX, a weekly gay magazine, joined as a major sponsor this past June. Community organizations, vendors and other
sponsors are welcome to participate. Both the New York and New Jersey Women’s Bisexual Networks, United in Grace, and
Personal Liberty Fund/New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition have already committed.
Known for its communities that are rich in performing talents, Jersey City’s First Annual Pride Festival will showcase
a variety of LGBT acts – from original singer-songwriters in jazz, contemporary, country folk and soulful R&B, to
wisecrackin’ wise “women,” The Latin Spitfire of NY, and even an appearance by “country singer Wynonna Judd.”
The New York City-based Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Band blasts open wide Jersey City’s First Gay Pride Festival
with a march to begin the proceedings.
Comedian Harmonica Sunbeam will serve as Master of Ceremonies (though in drag!). DJ Mike Cruz will provide the disco
sounds.
Keynote Speakers Jon and Michael Galluccio will tell of their successful fight – all the way to the New Jersey Supreme
Court – to adopt and have a family, making New Jersey the first state in the nation to do so. Jersey City Mayor Glenn
D. Cunningham, in office since July 1st as Jersey City’s first African-American mayor, will speak, as well.
Jersey City’s First Annual Gay Pride Festival is being convened by JCLGO, Jersey City Lesbian + Gay Outreach. JCLGO is
a Jersey City-based organization committed to bringing together the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities,
to ending discrimination and injustice, to becoming a vital Jersey City voice in LGBT representation, and to caring for
the health and well being of the LGBT community. JCLGO can be reached at jerseylg@aol.com
or 201-333-5725.
This effort is being widely supported by United In Grace, the LGBT ministry of Grace Church Van Vorst, a progressive
Episcopal congregation which is also the only organization in Downtown Jersey City displaying at its garden the symbol
of gay pride – a magnificent rainbow flag.
Fact Sheet – Program Entertainers
Harmonica Sunbeam / Master of Ceremonies – Yes,
this drag queen is definitely a master – at comedy. Called by his real name Dorian in real life. Bitten by the drag
bug in 1991, when she won the trophy in the “Best First Time Up in Drag” category at a voguing ball at downtown
disco Tracks. Warmed to both dressing in women’s clothing and in entertaining a crowd onstage. Progressed quickly from
drag ingenue to seasoned performer on the gay disco circuit. Improvised her act, weaving complex dialogue with the
audience on topical issues. “I try to pick material that people won’t think of doing. …. I’d rather make a joke
about myself. People don’t get all dressed up to go out and get humiliated.”
Laritza Dumont – Accomplished beyond compare. Made a career these last eight years as a
drag queen. Worked onstage with Madonna, Christine W; in the movie, To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar,
starring Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes; on cable TV, HBO’s The Sopranos and Sex & The City; on network TV,
NBC’s Law & Order. Nominated for the HX award, Best Drag Queen of the Year in 2000, the only Latina considered.
Hosts her own shows: Sabor
Latino on Mondays at The Monster in Greenwich Village, NYC; Casa Latina on Thursdays at Heaven, and had hosted Picante
on Fridays at Excalibur in Hoboken. Called “The Latin Spitfire of New York” by HX and Next.
DJ Mike Cruz – Cruised through his whole life disk jockeying music, yet only
professionally for the last seven years. Can be seen regularly at KRASH in Queens, New York for the past five years.
Revitalized the whole Queens disco club scene during his time there, thank you. Produces and remixes records with his
partner Brian right here in Hudson County, in a business known as
Cruz & Bagz Muzik. Made some of the best, sound the best, including Seal. Worked hard, played hard. Talented,
his efforts have been recognized by Billboard magazine, Papper, The New Yorker, Twist, HX, and Next. Coveted DJ
assignment: Serving up disks for Jennifer Lopez at her Record Release Party for her debut, On the Sixth.
Jon & Michael Galluccio / Keynote Speakers – Entitled, An American Family, authors
Jon and Michael Galluccio chronicle their journey to obtain legal status as adoptive parents in New Jersey. Acting as
Lead Plaintiffs, they were part of a class action suit against the State. New Jersey is now the first state in the
nation to allow gay couples to adopt jointly, equal to married couples. Adopted their son Adam, one of the first
children adopted jointly by a NJ gay couple. Have since adopted Rosa and Madison. Experienced worldwide media attention.
Began a public education campaign, lecturing at colleges and social interest groups, allying themselves with national
organizations (GLAAD, ACLU, HRC, NGLTF).
Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Band – Founded in 1979, considered NYC’s premier
symphonic and marching band, having just entered its 22nd season of bringing great band music to the heart of the New
York metropolitan area LGBT community. Became the first openly gay organization to perform for a President of the United
States a decade later when the group appeared at the bicentennial celebration of Washington’s inauguration. Played
also at both inaugurations of President Clinton in 1993 and 1997. Profiled recently in an award-winning documentary,
“The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps: We’re the Marching Band Your Mother Warned You About,” which was shown on
PBS. /
Pictures available through electronic image.
Sharon Allitt – “Her voice pulled me right up into the mood of the song …perfectly
suited … pleasant and soothing,” by Bob Porri, Mp3ArtistArchive review. Reflects “a near perfect hybrid of Joni
Mitchell and Tori Amos … her songs are both beautiful and bitterly honest,” The Banner 2000. Described
genre: folk rock. Considered a genuinely original singer-songwriter. Performed at various venues throughout the
tri-state area. Recorded one CD, with a second over the horizon. “Playing through the music is my way of sorting
things out and finding the good in almost anything. And sometimes
facing things that are not good is also good.” Smart woman. / Picture available.
Beat – Swiss born, American made. Born in a family that was academic and pragmatic,
Beat’s creative spirit encountered opposition from the outset. At the age of sixteen, he came to the U.S. through an
exchange student program and landed in the Midwest. Got his first taste of R&B and sweet Soul Music, courtesy of
Missouri radio. Returned to Switzerland to immediately form an
original funk band. Enrolled in the Swiss Jazz School, where he supplemented his burgeoning performance practice with
theory and technical knowledge. Called “delicious and deep” by Switzerland’s Workshop Magazine, and
“Brilliant!” by Alexa Rodrian, M.M./Lalla recording artist, Germany. / Picture available.
Dani – “I always felt I was born gay, but it always felt like a dirty secret.” Writes
songs reflective of the trials and tribulations that have come to pass, songs of strong convictions about drug
addictions and violence in the African-American community written without preaching. Fell into a bad crowd and substance
abuse during a time of low self-esteem – about the time she came to grips with being a lesbian. Rooted in New York
with a musical style is similar to that of Meshell N’Degeocello, her prominent parents lived in Sugar Hill, an
upper-middle class community in Harlem. Released in 1999, her first CD, entitled, “One N, One I,” has sold over
3,000 copies on the underground.
Janine Iofrida – Hails from Hawaii, the island-state of the first challenge to
heterosexist marriage laws, and has been living in New York City for several years. Performed two cabaret shows in New
York City in the last fiveyears, singing Broadway tunes and contemporary music. Attended UCLA and majored in opera,
showcasing her full range and perfect pitch in which to sing our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
Tony Mona – Presenting a wicked version of Wynonna (Wynonna Judd, that is). Performing
female impersonations for the past 19 years, he recently won the title of Ms. Gay New Jersey 2001 at the last PrideFest
in Asbury Park. Performs every Friday at Feathers in River Edge, New Jersey, and in every imaginable gay club in
the Garden State.
Moss – Jumps genres wildly from one song to the next – rock, pop, punk, cabaret –
producing music that is decidedly unconventional. Characterized by a playfulness not frequently encountered in popular
music. Spent 10 years playing in various bands (notably, A Daring Few and 17-inch Crash) before refocusing his energies
on writing, recording and performing his own material. First CD, “Sodomy,” 1996 – a queer punk manifesto,
attacking homophobia and the religious right, with lighter topics. The title track of his new CD, “Scotch Tape and
Spit,” sums up his overall philosophy that our
‘secure’ world is actually held together with scotch tape and spit, and must be faced with humor and abandon.
Someone Different – Creates a sound of unmatched originality and explosive stage
performance. Born in Manhattan, raised in Brooklyn, now residing in New Jersey. Strong passion for the performing arts,
such as singing, dancing and acting, fueled his efforts. Started at the age of 15, and has performed in such clubs as
Miracles, Octagon, and Hot Throbs in New York City, Coliseum in
Sayreville, Excalibur in Hoboken, and Spectrum in Brooklyn. Signed, in 1995, with a small independent label and released
a 12” dance record (Sex Moments/Reflections). TV performances, include Diamante Show, and Trippin’ Out Video by
Prince Marky Dee. Featured at the Hoboken Puerto Rican Day Parade.
… and possibly more!
CONTACT: Michele M. Dupey, 201-433-8404,
PR Wittywoman@aol.com
Anahi
Galante, 201-626-5933, Programs anahigalan@visto.com
to