Features

Stonewall Street Festival 2010

June 10, 2010

2010 Stonewall Street Festival & Parade – The Stonewall Riots are considered by many to be the birth of the gay rights movement. The Stonewall riots, a spontaneous series of demonstrations against unfair police raids and many other injustices that were done to the GLBT community, occurred at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969.

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The Stonewall Riots are considered by many to be the birth of the gay rights movement. The Stonewall riots, a spontaneous series of demonstrations against unfair police raids and many other injustices that were done to the GLBT community, occurred at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969.

The Stonewall Inn was owned by the mafia and catered to an eclectic group of people including transvestites, hustlers, effeminate young men and homeless youth. For several nights after the raid there were protests and within week’s activist groups were organized to establish places where the GLBT community could be open about their sexual orientation without the fear of being harassed or arrested. One year later, on June 28, 1970, the first gay pride marches took place in Los Angeles and in New York City commemorating the anniversary of the riots. Today, 41 years later, gay pride events are held all over the country. Whereas a lot of them are celebrated in June, you can find gay pride events in every month of the year.

Never before has Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale used the entire Wilton Drive for its annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade, making this year’s the largest gay pride festival in South Florida. That’s one full 1/2 mile of partying, fun, celebration and pride. With more to do, see and enjoy this year, you’ll want to spend your entire day on The Drive celebrating with your friends and family. This year both the festival and parade take place together on Sunday, June 20th, with the parade starting at 11 am and running through the festival, which officially starts around noon. At 7 pm the festival transforms itself into a giant street party which will run through 9 pm.

The annual Stonewall Parade (presented by 42BELOW Vodka) is the oldest gay pride parade in South Florida. The half-mile parade route runs from N.E. 20th Street east to 5-Points on Wilton Drive, moving right through Wilton Manors famed arts and entertainment district, the heart of South Florida’s LGBT community and through the festival. Watch for some surprises and perhaps a history-making moment or two. You and/or your business or organization should come out and show your pride or support for the LGBT community by becoming a walking group, jumping in your car or entering a float.

This year they will feature 2 entertainment venues, 2 dance venues, a family friendly area, carnival amusements and games, food and drinks as well as some top notch entertainment. Some of the highlights of their entertainment are:

Jennifer is a singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as “Dreamgirls” and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the “Dreamgirls” showstopper and Grammy-winning R&B/Pop hit, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”

KEVIN AVIANCE does not fit into one category of entertainment. He is at once an entertaining performer, a recording artist whose songs top the charts and vibrate through the club world, an innovator of fashion and style, a model and muse of top designers, a talented and studied dancer, or, as he likes to call himself, an “entity.” Aviance has been called many things: “the hardest working performer in New York clubland” (Spectrum Magazine), “an artist who commands attention” (Miamiago Magazine), “an entity” (Genre Magazine). One thing is for sure, as reported in Time Out New York, “Kevin Aviance isn’t your ordinary, average, everyday (performance artist).”

DON PHILIP is a musically-gifted vocalist with an unstoppable dynamic range. Don is the only other artist to record and release a duet with superstar Britney Spears. Don’s first dance record, “Rainsong,” debuted with a critically-impressive bullet on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Don’s melodic adventure continues to R&B, Hip-Hop, and Spiritual. A Miami native, Don Philip is an independent artist. He is currently working on his self-produced album, as well as developing a roster of eclectic artists for his production company.

ERYN WOODS is an pop/alternative-rock/new wave songstress. Hearing the one time background singer for Chrisette Michele belt out her musical messages of empowerment for women is like hearing a medley of great rock divas of the past like Janis Joplin and Carly Simon. The 21-year old Shreveport, Louisiana native’s vocals are reminiscent of the pop-like, playful vocals of Cyndi Lauper over up-tempo tunes and the rock-like sounds of Pat Benatar when she pours her sultry vocals over her “stay strong with or without a man” ballads. Her music whisks you away on a journey across musical genres by combining 80’s wave synthesizers with hard rock guitars and contemporary industrial hip-hop drums to create a unique and unmistakable sound.

Be Part of the Fun!

Stonewall Street Festival and Parade is looking for volunteers to march in this year’s Stonewall Parade Extravaganza presented by 42BELOW vodka. You will be wearing costumes by famed designer Sean de Freitas, this year’s Stonewall Parade Coordinator. To volunteer to be part of the parade or for more information, email Parade@pgfl.net. They also need volunteer to assist in this year’s Stonewall Street Festival and Parade. An event like the SSF&P requires hundreds of individuals. If you would like to volunteer, please email your name and phone number to StonewallVolunteers@gmail.com.

Market Expo & “Marching Proud”:

The Market Expo and Community Corner are your ways to spotlight your products, services and organizations. You can sell your products, hand out brochures concerning business or organization or just have some kind of display or activities.

If you would like more information on anything involving The Stonewall Street Festival and Parade go to PGFL.net.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 19, 2010

9AM Parade setup begins at the GLCC/Pride Center.

10AM Parade line-up on N.E. 20 Street.

11AM Stonewall Parade starts and scheduled to be over by 12 noon.

12PM Stonewall Festival officially opens. All three stage venues open.

PARKING

– Fort Lauderdale High School (east and west lots, north of 1600 N.E. 4 Street, Fort Lauderdale)

– Hagen Park (behind Wilton Manors City Hall on Wilton Drive, use N.E. 21 Court entrance)

– Richardson Park (N.E. 20 Street and Wilton Drive)

– GLCC/Pride Center (N. Dixie Highway and N.E. 20 Street, for parade participants only)*