The Best Valley Pride Ever

by Dan Waterhouse, NewsLink

Well, Fresno Rainbow Pride 2006 is a wrap!

And, this year’s rendition was probably the best one since Community Link was asked to assume the responsibility of organizing the event four years ago.

In 2003, Community Link stepped in and pulled a very successful parade and festival together in just six weeks after the previous organizing group collapsed.

In 2006, an organizing committee of just seven, headed up by Community Link’s Chief Executive Officer Jeffery Robinson, put together “Out In The Valley.” This year’s theme was chosen to mark the evolution of Fresno’s event into the premier Pride event between the Los Angeles area and Sacramento.

There were a lot of “firsts” this time.

There were roughly 60 groups in the parade—the largest according to Robinson since the event began. There were 60 plus exhibitors at the Festival this time—again the largest number ever.

A contingent of LGBT veterans marched in the parade for the first time ever. Note to Fresno mayor Alan “Bubba” Autry: two years ago you said that, if there were veterans in the parade, you would make sure a Proclamation in honor of Pride was approved by the full City Council and that all city fees would be waived.

Veterans—gay and lesbian veterans— marched, Mayor. Now, it’s time for you to fulfill what you promised two years ago. Thank you.

And, the first-ever celebrity grand marshal—Matthew Fashion. The youthful “Fashionality”—he just turned 21—was warmly received by the crowd at the parade and at the festival.

Speaking of youth--the future of the queer community—its young people— was well represented in this year’s event. Fresno City College’s Diversity Club turned out. Visalia’s College of the Sequoias’ Pride Club was there. The Youth Alliance walked down Olive along with the Gay Straight Alliance Network and OUTLOUD. Over 100 young people participated.

A contingent from Bakersfield marched. We would have had other groups from the north end of the Valley if not for conflicting events in the Bay Area.

Ellos Latinos, Carmen Miranda Maraca Cha Cha Band and Deja Vu had the most colorful groups or floats.

All in all, another successful event.

But, then some reality set in.

This is not an easy event to put together. In the past few years, planning has become a year-round endeavor!

Individual community members need to step up to the plate and help keep this jewel shining brightly. It takes more than seven people to plan Fresno Pride! People to serve on next year’s organizing committee are urgently needed. If you’re curious about helping, please email clinkinc@aol.com or call (559) 486-3464.

The date for next year’s Fresno Rainbow Pride has been set. Pride will be on Saturday, June 2, 2007.

Community Link throws a $20,000 plus party for the whole community

by Jeffery Robinson, Fresno Rainbow Pride CEO

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who helped make this year’s Valley Pride a huge success.

Community Link took over the management of Pride four years ago and has worked hard to grow and improve the event into a Pride that everyone can be PROUD of. I feel we have accomplished this.

This was the largest, best attended, and the most festive Parade and Festival we have ever witnessed in the Valley in the 16 year history of Pride.

What did it take to put on such a remarkable event?

• Well over $20,000 in small donations and large corporate sponsorships.

• Hundreds of hours of planning, weekly meetings, and networking.

• Three weeks of advertising in the Fresno Bee, a month’s display of a billboard on top of the Chicken Pie Shop, advertising in the Community Alliance Newspaper, CCA’s newsletter, in the Door Step Ads, and a direct mailing from Reel Pride.

• Posting and promotions on QueerFresno.com, GayFresno.com, and Fresnofamous.com, 250 commercials on Comcast channels, promotional spots on several radio stations.

• Posters, flyers and postcards. GLBT Pride banners displayed down the Tower District.

• Almost fifty volunteers the day of the event, and we could have always used more.

TIME, ENERGY, MONEY, PEOPLE, and PROMOTION! That's what it took to make Pride an event to be proud of.

A special THANK YOU to the small handful of people who worked so hard to make Pride the Party it was.

Only seven of us gave the hundreds of hours of time. Those individuals were: Juan Bustamante, Kirk, Kevin Caldwell, Dan Waterhouse, Tom Hayhurst, Rachel Bowman, and myself. A huge heartfelt thank you to my fellow organizers.

This year the Fresno Police Department and City Hall were a joy to work with. We truly appreciated Sergeant Tome Rowe, Officers Jennifer Horsford and Darrell Nichols.

Rae Duke with Fresno City Hall’s License Division was always professional and very helpful. As was our Honorary Grandmarshal councilmember Cynthia Sterling and her office staff.

A big thanks to several volunteers who have taken on a bigger role in the Pride event, such as Patty Colucci, Elizabeth Dayton-Williams, Mark McKay, Andrew Strambi, Faye and Richard.

And the BIGGEST THANK YOU goes to the out, loud, and proud community members who showed their Pride.