Whoever needs a good excuse to visit West Hollywood just got one! (Or as the locals and the queer in-crowd like to call it, WeHo, aka Boys' Town, and there's a genuine reason to see it that way, too.) But, wait, this time it's all about books! The Lambda Literary Foundation, purveyors of all things LGBT literary, will be hosting the 20th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, beginning at 6 p.m., May 29, at West Hollywood's famed Silver Screen Theater, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., in the heart of the queerest neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Presented by Lambda Literary Foundation's executive director Charles Flowers, this year's event will feature Michael Corbett as Master of Ceremonies with the who's who of the nation's current LGBT literary world as Award Guest Presenters, including Calpernia Addams, Denise Penn, Bernard Cooper, Felice Picano, Lillian Faderman, Anne Stockwell, Alice Y. Hom, Michelle Tea, Michael Nava, Linda Villarosa, Torie Osborn and Patricia Nell Warren. Special Guest Performances will be presented by the celeberated Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Tim Miller, and the Gay Mafia, directed by Richard Hochberg and produced by Karen Ocamb.
The evening's event schedule will be: 6:00 p.m., Gala Buffet Reception, 7:30 p.m., Lambda Literary Foundation Awards Ceremony and 9:30 p.m., Dessert Reception. The one-of-a-kind national LGBT annual event is not to be missed, according to Flowers. "It's the one time each year that our LGBT voices gather together from all over the country to network, recognize and honor the best creative writers in our community from the publishing industry," he said.
Tickets are just $150 per person, with all proceeds from the event to benefit Lambda Literary Foundation, a non-profit national organization.
For more information, visit lambdalit.org
Capital Pride takes over Washington, D.C.
There's a definite reason why it's titled Capital Pride but the annual LGBT festival and parade, not to mention the untold parties hosted throughout Washington, D. C., over the period, June 6-15, attests to the fact that we're "queer and proud of it" in the nation's capital city. Marking its 33rd year, Capital Pride is celebrating DC Metro Area LGBT Community and its Friends and Allies with observance of this year's theme of "History. Vision. Legacy."
Revelers abound at the fourth largest gay and lesbian pride parade and festival in the country (estimated attendance of more than 200,000 people) is completely run by volunteers, funded by corporate and individual donations, and overseen by the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Beyond the receptions, special events and dance parties, the week-long calendar of events also focuses on educational, civic and social events for the entire queer community.
Highlights of the weekend includes a landmark parade on June 14 (excuse the expression, but it seems that all of Washington "comes out" on this weekend, populating both sides of the street, along the parade route) and the extensive festival on June 15 also features a pageant, drag contests, film screenings, panel discussions and a full range of parties. Organizers said that this year's pride events will be focusing on issues like same-sex marriage, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS, queer youth, women's issues and other health concerns, and serving openly in the military.
For more information, visit capitalpride.org
Boston likes to show its Pride
Well, it's not surprising that you have to make choices about what cities across the country you're going to celebrate pride (and party hard, too!) since there's only four weeks in the month of June.
This year, Boston Pride Week is the exact same dates as Washington, D.C., June 6-15. Their theme is "Sustaining our Community, Conversing our World." Their lineup includes Celebrity Marshal Leslie Jordan, Honorary Marshal Captain Ciara Durkin and Grand Marshal Tim McFeeley.
Jordan is an actor known for his memorable roles in everything from the celebrated queer feature films, "Sordid Lives," to his memorable role in the popular queer television sitcom, "Will & Grace." Durkin is a community activist from the US Army Reserve. Lawyer McFeeley is a political community activist who founded the Boston LG Political Alliance and Baystate Democrats.
During the week leading up to the annual pride parade and block party, there are a number of different types of events. The weekend is the finale of the pride events with the annual pride parade, at Copley Square at noon, and the annual pride festival, at Boston Common at noon, on June 14.
The annual Boston Pride Block Party at Stuart St. between Arlington and Berkeley St., 2 to 9 p.m., and the crowds show up! The finale to everything pridewise is the annual pride closing party with Junior Vasquez, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., on June 15. (Queer Bostonians can party like it's the last day on earth!)
For more information, visit bostonpride.org
Providence hosts PrideFest
Who could have predicted that the quieter (almost forgotten) City of Providence, Rhode Island, would have created such a non-stop party celebration for PrideFest 2008? "Many Faces, One Voice" is the theme of this year's pride celebrations at the second largest pride celebration in New England (after Boston), the festivities begin at noon with the RI PrideFest at Station Park at the State House, across from the Providence Place Mall.
The outdoor festival will feature live entertainment from recording artists, a LGBT marketplace, a business exposition, a beer and wine garden, an arts and crafts show and sale, a kids' pride zone and community organizations information booths.
Unique to Providence (or maybe most other points of the nation's map), organizers boasts hosting New England's only night time pride parade beginning at 8 p.m. on June 21 with headliner, 1980's Pop Diva, starring Tiffany, at the Bank of America City Center, Burnside Park, across from the Biltmore Hotel and Providence City Hall..
Rhode Island Visitors Packets are available for travel, lodging, sightseeing and admission to special pride events. All events are organized by the Diversity of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community of Rhode Island and Southern New England.
For more information, visit prideri.com
