By Ove Overmyer and Susan Jordan
Over 1,000 LGBT people and allies marched down Park Ave. and Goodman St. on July 17, and, according t
o organizers, around 12,000 watched, as Rochester celebrated its 21st Pride.
While the Parade boasted over 75 units of various sizes and subject matters, the theme of the parade, “21 Years of History,” was not lost on those who marched or lined the route.
“A lot of people who came before us made it easier for people of my generation,” said Stephanie Maurizio. Just before the parade began, Maurizio was walking up Goodman St. toward Park Ave. She and her large crew of friends took turns pushing her mother in a wheelchair. She added, “We understand that older gay and lesbian people broke down barriers, so we can enjoy the freedoms we have right now.”
Parade Committee co-chairs Jo Meleca-Voigt, Bill Schaefer and Michael Hardy say things went off without a hitch, although two people were treated for heat exhaustion.
Sue Cowell, the executive director of Pride organizers the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, said that while the weeklong events are fun and there is something for practically everyone, the community still needs to understand their history and shouldn’t take things for granted.
She told The Empty Closet, “Gay kids still face a lot of the same issues: higher rates of dropouts, teen homelessness and suicide. The Gay Alliance is working very hard toward minimizing the impact of these life altering events.”
Gerry Mason and Tim Stallman, who have been partners for over 20 years, came from the Plano-Dallas area back to Rochester to enjoy the festivities that they and the Business Forum organized for nearly 15 years.
Mason and Stallman were selected as the Grand Marshals, and told The Empty Closet, “We are so honored and proud to be leading the parade this year. To be remembered for all the work we did all those years ago on behalf of the greater Rochester community is very touching.”
Equal=Grounds won the Show Stoppers award; Pride at Work won the Stonewall award; Tilt won the Rainbow award; Rainbow SAGE won the Community award and Flower City Pride Band took the Ruby Slipper award. Honorable mentions: ImageOut, RGMC.
The Festival
The Festival site was located again in the parking lot behind the Auditorium Center near College Ave. Around 3,000 Festival-goers enjoyed hot music, cold drinks, grilled food and the LGBT specific goods and services on sale at vendor booths. Drag star Kasha Davis served as emcee and eight Rochester drag queens performed, while the Syracuse band Square Pegs and German diva Amber entertained thousands of revelers late into the night.
Gay Day at Seabreeze
Several family-oriented events took place during Pride Week. July 10 was Gay Day at Seabreeze amusement park, which drew around 90 people, many from out of town, and numerous children (who got in free).
Sue Cowell said, “People had a great time and were impressed by how clean it was and by the rides and water park.”
Brian Doran, Gay Alliance Development Director, said, “We want to repeat this next year and enhance it.”
Pride Flag-Raising at City Hall
Even though Wendy Falzoi and Sam Santiago arrived a few minutes after the giant rainbow flag unfurled in the City Hall atrium on Sunday afternoon, July 11, it didn’t seem to dampen their spirits or enthusiasm about what was to come.
Falzoi, who is the mother of Gay Alliance AmeriCorps volunteer Sean Soper, said that they came to the event to support him as well as the entire Rochester LGBT community.
“My son fights hard for basic civil rights, and how the federal government treats the gay community is just plain wrong. In light of that, I couldn’t be more proud of our city today,” she said.
The giant 30 x 60 rainbow flag hung proudly from the fourth floor in the atrium at City Hall, while more than 200 people listened intently to Gay Alliance Executive Director Sue Cowell and City Councilman Matt Haag refer to the City of Rochester as “one of the best cities in New York for LGBT families.”
Haag was joined by City Councilman Dana Miller, Monroe County Legislator Harry Bronson and a host of other notable dignitaries from our community who listened to Pride officials list the upcoming events for the week. Sounds of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus serenaded the crowd as the flag bounced rainbow colors of light around the building’s atrium. Several couples embraced and some people said tears came to their eyes as the flag was unfurled.
This was the third year that the City of Rochester has flown Gay Pride flags throughout the building and around 30 Church St. during Pride Week.
Rochester residents Judy Johnson and Mary Ann Sanford said that being at City Hall for the event “means a lot.” The couple married in Rochester in 2009 and has come to the flag-raising ceremony every year since, saying they have tremendous pride in our city for recognizing the LGBT community in this way.
Johnson said, “Soon enough, our day to pass marriage equality will come. Right now — this week — we should all be celebrating who we are, our accomplishments and contributions to the greater Rochester community.”
Tea Dance held at Boulder Coffee
Immediately following the flag raising ceremony at City Hall, participants and others gathered at Boulder Coffee on the corner of South Clinton Ave. and Alexander St. in the Southwedge neighborhood for cool drinks, socializing and sharing information.
Many folks met up and planned strategies to match calendars for the week. The crowd danced to a DJ, a 50/50 raffle was held and hanging out on the patio under a warm summer sun was a high priority.
Youth Pride Dance and Pageant
The Youth Pride Queen and King, Kelly Delish and Tye Herdown, were chosen in a pageant at Tilt on July 12.
Jess Cohen, Youth Services Coordinator, said, “Bill Levy was so helpful. We thought we would just use a spotlight, but we were able to use the real Tilt lighting, smoke, etc., for the Youth Pageant.”
Kickoff Party at Strathallan Hotel thrills nearly 400
On Friday, July 16, Pride Week volunteers, GAGV staff and board and hundreds of community members and allies convened at the Strathallan Hotel for a kickoff party of major proportions. Organizers estimated that over 400 people attended the event.
Christine Bryan and Gary Van Horn of the Delta Foundation, who organize and produce Pittsburgh Pride, sat at a lounge table munching on fresh fruit and sipping cocktails as partiers swirled around them. Bryan and Van Horn were in town to check out Pride weekend, picking up some organizing tips by networking with GAGV staff.
“Rochester is a great city for Pride. It appears that you have done a great job here over the years,” said Bryan.
At the party, volunteers picked up the week’s job assignments, the Grand Marshals and Pride Queens were “sashed,” and attendees nibbled petits fours and were entertained by Aggy Dune and Kasha Davis’s clever Big Wigs show.
Families Gather at Memorial Art Gallery
According to Karen Goulet, spokesperson for Pride and Joy Families, around 95 people, including 30 kids, came free of charge to the Memorial Art Gallery for arts and crafts plus a guided tour on Saturday afternoon, July 17.
Goulet and the coordinator for community programs and outreach for the Memorial Art Gallery, Debora McDell-Hernandez, said families of all shapes and sizes stopped by the museum on University Ave. to enjoy face-painting and pinwheel making and learn about art.
Goulet added, “This event gives LGBT families another chance to enjoy Pride week in a wholesome, fun and creative way. Patrons also get to see families just like theirs.”
McDell-Hernandez lauded the first collaboration between the Gay Alliance and the Memorial Art Gallery for this year’s Pride events. “Any time we can reach out and attract more families to the museum, well, that’s a good thing,” she said.
Jenny Gaul, who brought her daughters, Ellie, 3, and Katy, 6, loved the clowns and the face-painting activities. “It’s a very welcoming place here,” said Gaul.
Brian Doran said, “It was a huge success its first year out and should be grown next year.”
Picnic at Genesee Valley Park
Evelyn Bailey, co-chair of the Pride Picnic, said that approximately 27 food and information vendors and nearly 2,000 people attended on a picture perfect day at Genesee Valley Park on Sunday, July 18.
Judy Johnson and Mary Ellen Sanford say that their favorite part of Pride Week is the Picnic. Sanford told the EC after the flag-raising ceremony, “We love the picnic. It’s our favorite event of the week. We always entertain family and friends from out of town. It’s just a great time and we always create lasting memories.”
Sanford came in second in the picnic site decorating contest. Kate Sweeney took first place with a Luau theme.
Dogs, children and adults of all generations mingled on the riverside and devoured hots and burgers, Abbott’s Custard and iced coffee from Equal=Grounds, among other treats. Frisbees and volleyballs flew through the air and the beat of disco music resounded from the Roundhouse, as the close came to over a week of Pride events.
