2010

The 2010 Fresno Rainbow Pride has come and gone with a huge BANG!

It is estimated that close to 5,000 people lined Olive Avenue or sat in Tower restaurants, coffee and tea houses to watch the largest parade (over 70 contingents) in the annual event’s 20 year history. Flags flew high and proudly in the newly created Rainbow Parkette/Pride Plaza inside the Pride festival area where the crowds measuring close to 2,500 came to together to join in queer culture at its best. This year saw the host organization, Community Link, expand its borders to accommodate so many merchandise vendors, food and information booths - the largest participation to date (over 90 booth spaces).

Activities included the Interpretations’ Dance Pavilion, an entertainment pavilion featuring the Raging Grannies, California Ground Pounders, Ballroom LIVE, and Drag sensations: Diva-Licious, Ariel, Anna Conda, Mizz Monique Moore, and Edison High School teenagers MATA.

Thank you and see you next year!

Photos can be found in June issue of NewsLink on pages 1, 14, 15 and 28; on gayfresno.com and queerfresno.com and probably many others - and videos of the Parade have also been posted on Youtube!

Grand Marshals for 2010 Pride were:
Kay Vanderford and Jules Mastro.
Thank you for your service to the community!

• 2010 Sponsors -

  PURPLE level -
  
  
  
  BLUE level -
   

  
  
  
  
  

  
  GREEN level -
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  YELLOW level -
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ORANGE level -
  
  
  
  RED level -
  
  
  
  

  

  
   

  COMMUNITY LINK BOARD in 2010:

  Jeff R. CEO, Co-Chair

  Lorraine W. Co-Chair

  Kevin C. Secretary

  Juan B. Treasurer

  Renee P. Gray Alliance representative

  Kay T., Kirk C., Mark McK., Andrew S., Adam A., Ron & Jerry Members at large

  FRESNO RAINBOW PRIDE 2010 COMMITTEE:

  Jeff R. event coordinator

  Rachel B. secretary

  Juan B. treasurer

  Sara M., Josh K. vendor coordinators

  Jaymi M. volunteer coordinator

  Zoyer Z. public relations

  Kevin C. & Kirk C. program, website, printing & design

  Rick & The Rock - Members at large

  FRESNO RAINBOW PRIDE 2010 DAY OF EVENT CREW:

  Jeff R. parade emcee

  Peter R. parade emcee

  Patty C., Cindy W., Elizabeth W., John P. parade setup

  Tom H. parade flow

  Dan W. photography

  Nigel M. roving reporter

  Rachel B. equipment coordinator

  Zoyer Z., Jaymi M. stage managers

  Kevin C., Kirk C., Bryce T. gate

  Juan B., Lorraine W., David M., Kat & daughter, Sherilynne Community Link booth

  Mark McK., Andrew S., Ron & Jerry, Roy R. beer & wine

  Sara M., Josh K., Julian, Ray, Sara C., Reggie L., Teresa, Sabina vendor setup

  Cisco M., Terry S. dance tent 

  Lady Hit - festival emcee
   

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2009

Logo designed by Bryan Beckstrand of Woodpecker Studios.

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The sponsors of Pride that year were:

PURPLE level - MAIN SPONSOR

 

BLUE level -



 

 

GREEN level -


The Official Wine & Bubbly of Fresno Pride

 

YELLOW level -






 

RED level -

And thank you for personal Pride 2009 donations (totalling $3,255!!!) to:

Donald Passmore in memory of Mildred Passmore $1,000
Ron Wilson $500
Terry Story $250
Susan Kuhn $200
Lillian Faderman $200
Dan Waterhouse $100
Tom Hayhurst $100
Peter Robertson $100
Rachel's Project $100
Ruben Hunter $100
Lee Palmer $100
Larry Schiller $75
Richard Stone & Avigdar Adams $50
Michael Butler $25
Cynthia Callaghan $25
Victor Kral $25
Eric Biglione $25
and Central California Alliance members:
Rainbow Lock & Key $50, Jim Daggs $100, Robin Greiner & Ellis Vance $100, Sue Stone $30.

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Emcees included:

Jeffery Robinson, Peter Robertson and Brandon Nicole Smith (parade); Jeffery Robinson, Rey Pulido, Paris Nicole, Brandon Nicole Smith (festival).

Entertainment included: Fresno Gay Men's Chorus, Hop Skotch Heroes, Dragity Kane, Shannon Price, Crystal Vera, Alifah Ali, Andrea Paquin, Asian Dance Troupe, Ejector, Dance Fuzzion, Julie F*****g Potter

Please visit the entertainers' websites above for more information, photos and music samples!

The entertainers below don't have a website:

Shannon Price

Crystal Vera

Dance Fuzzion

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2009 PRIDE GRAND MARSHALS

TONI HARRISON

   “I was born and raised in NY.  I lived there off and on for most of my life.  I was raised in a conservative, conventional Italian Catholic family and their value system was mine until I was 18. At 18 I became a "hippie" went to Woodstock, traveled around the country, living in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Connecticut.
   How did I get started in the field of HIV? GRID had grabbed my attention with the little information that was on the News. This gay cancer that was killing gay men. Even though it was said it was no health threat I felt it would affect many people.
   When I became pregnant with my daughter I suggested I be tested for the virus, my Doctor refused telling me I had no risk factors. I was not in the risk group, even confessing to multiple sexual partners did not change his decision. His refusal to test me scared me, and I could not find anyone else to test me. My child was born healthy so I forgot about it for a little while. 
   HIV/AIDS came out again in a conversation with my father who made a remark saying it was a disease of gays and drug addicts and it was GOD’s revenge. His remark angered and amazed me and  is probably the reason I am on this journey.
   I made myself very aware of  both GRID in the early days and now HIV/AIDS. It hit close to home, when I went back to school and work. My boss was a gay man, promiscuous gay man. I also worked with some people that believed they were not affected by this disease. My first truly personal encounter with the virus was my boss’s ex lover, who died of AIDS. I also did my internship for college in a drug rehab center. This all took place in the late 80’s early 90’s in Rhinebeck, New York. The program director of the rehab facility was HIV positive and an HIV+ counselor's son went to the same pre-school as my daughter. More than 50% of other staff and clients were HIV positive. Some of the acts of courage and compassion I saw surrounded my heart. My world became more closely involved with HIV/AIDS.
   I have now worked a total of 15 years in the field of HIV and 9 of those years within Fresno County at The Living Room.
   Since then I have been involved with the following:
* 6 years on CPWC (Community Planning Working Council) and co-chair for 5 years on this committee,
* 4 years on the planning committee for WAD (World AIDS Day),
* 1 ½ years on CHPG (California HIV/ADS Planning Group), the State Advisory Group, including one year as a co-chair,
* 6 years as an invested member with IDC (Imperial Dover Court de Fresno/Madera Inc.) where I also served as a board member,
* active in events to benefit the community such as: Gay Pride Parade, Reel Pride, GSA Events and other public events centered around the community!
   What keeps me going? I still believe there is a disparity in how people with this disease are perceived, treated and taken care of. I want to see a day when there is a cure for this disease or at minimum a preventative vaccine. I want see a day for those that are HIV positive and that they are not discriminated against in any way, shape or form.“

MIKE SCOTT

   “I was born in Seattle, Washington, but lived all over the world growing up (my Dad was in the Air Force, and we moved a lot!). I consider Las Vegas my home town, since that's where my family settled down after my dad left the military.
   How did I end up in Fresno 26 years ago? I was working at a TV station in Bakersfield, when a weatherman friend of mine at Channel 47 (KJEO back then, not KGPE) told me about a weekend anchor opening. I applied, and two weeks later, I started on the air here! It's been a great ride ever since. I've had the chance to do some amazing things:
* I flew with the Navy's Blue Angels!
* I rode from Hong Kong to Japan for three days on board the Aircraft Carrier "Constellation."
* Covering the big Coalinga earthquake in 1983. We flew out there in a helicopter, then raced around town like madmen grabbing whatever footage we could get! I loved it!
* Live shots from Disneyland several times a year... especially fun at 5:00am when the park is completely empty! And how about broadcasting live while riding “Space Mountain” - sitting next to Michael Giacchino, the Academy-Award nominated composer? He'd written new music for the indoor coaster, and more recently - he wrote the music for the new "Star Trek" movie!
* On another Disney trip to Anaheim, I rode the new "Toy Story Mania" 3D attraction with John Lassiter, the head of Pixar! When the ride broke down while we were on it, I got to chat with him for about half-an-hour until we were finally rescued. This was right before Pixar's "Wall-E" was about to open in theaters, and he talked about how much his kids loved the movie, and how he hoped American audiences would react the same way!
* Yet another Disney story: because of the relationships I've built with Disney's P.R. people over the years, I was given first shot at interviewing Disney CEO Michael Eisner during the park's 50th anniversary. I remember the crew from CNN glaring at me, as they waited for their turn. They were no doubt thinking - "Why does this guy from FRESNO get to go ahead of us???" Ha!
* I interviewed Julie Andrews that same day at Disneyland . Can you imagine sitting next to Mary Poppins? Amazing!
* I did live shots from the openings of Mandalay Bay & The Monte Carlo, and from the top of the Stratosphere! Interviewed some of the Sin City's best magicians too, including David Copperfield &  Lance Burton.
* I help find homes for hundreds of animals during our weekly “ Pet Place” segments on the noon news.
   Those are just a few memorable moments from my years at 47...
   What do I love most about my job? Helping to raise money for various charities or worthy causes. Whether it be the AIDS team, the Imperial Dove Court, the Living Room, the SPCA, local Kiwanis Clubs, Fresno/Clovis schools... whatever!  If I can help with fundraisers, I'm more than willing to be there.
   Thanks for allowing me to be part of Fresno Pride 2009!”

KAY TAUS & RENEE POTIK

    Kay & Renee have been together and “out” for over 23 years. They remind me of the older lesbian couple in Holly Near's song “Hattie and Mattie”, who live their lives to the fullest celebrating all the lives they touch and loving every moment.
   Over 9 years ago Renee and Kay stepped forward and offered to co-facilitate Community Link's Gray Alliance, a social support group for older gays and lesbians. They have done this with much love, care and good humor, turning the group into an extended family. They are much beloved by all of the folks whose lives they have touched.
   Renee and Kay are mothers, grandmothers, and feminists. Both are professional women with a heart, who have worked in the healing and caring fields.
   Renee is a retired Nurse Practitioner, who was the first to go into private practice in Los Angeles. She managed and provided clinical services at the Westside Women's Clinic, a feminist organization. She has been published in a prestigious medical journal and was a contraceptive researcher in an FDA study.
   Kay is a former teacher and is currently a social worker in the field of foster care and adoptions. She speaks several languages, including Spanish and is fluent in American Sign Language. Kay was a co-writer for the first anti-bias curriculum for young children.
   Both are practicing Buddhist meditators with a combined experience of 57 years. Renee is currently leading meditation groups in Fresno and Clovis.
   They are active in many social justice causes including the lesbian, feminist, gay, bi, transsexual, health care, civil rights, women's and anti-war movements in politics in Los Angeles and Fresno, and say they will “FOREVER BE.” 

by Jeffery Robinson