CincyPride 2010 + Apologies

Been busy these last two days with nothing of value. HA! But, before I headed off to work for the night, it was made official today that the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati will no longer be organizing Cincinnati Pride (as announced here) and has passed the torch onto the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber recently had huge success organizing EQUINOX to rave reviews. I wonder what it will be like for them, organizing two huge events within a month of each other?

From the Rainbow Cincinnati post:

This afternoon, Bill Abney, President of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati announced that the organization will not organize Pride 2010.

The announcement came at the Pride Appreciation volunteer party hosted by the Community Center and the Bar Monet of Willard Street in Covington, KY.

Concurrent with this news, Nigel Cotterill, President of the Greater Cincinnati Gay Chamber of Commerce says his organization will organize the event for Cincinnati in 2010. Their Vice President, George Crawford will have charge of the event. George was chair of the successful Equinox celebration held just last weekend.

Nigel Cotterill will be forwarding a "release" of additional details in the next few days.

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati had been the organizer for the past five years.

Also: don't forget the Cincinnati Drag Races tomorrow on Main Street, or next week's COOL SUMMER Cocktail Hour for Ronald McDonald House on Friday the 17th from 7p-10p at Below Zero Lounge.

RUMOR MILL REPORT: Pride

Word on the street is...

...the Greater Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Community Center, which has hosted Cincinnati Pride for the past five years, will be stepping down as the primary organizer of the event, allowing other local parties and organizations to take up the mantle and run the event. The Community Center will continue to support it, and help with the logistics of putting it together, but it will no longer be the primary spearhead.

Word is the announcement will come this coming weekend. No word on who is going to pick it up, but a few names are floating. I wonder who you guys should think should take it on.

Just to clarify: this is not the end of Cincinnati Pride, it's just being handed off...

..at least, that's what I hear.

And now for round 2...

Jeez. I can't believe we're already talking about this, but here it is folks. The official poster for Pride Night at King's Island in September. And, actually, the design is pretty hot. Information on Equinox coming soon, too. Too much queer for now, though.

OUTReels

Silly, man... Check the website :-).

I had asked if OUTReels is going on. It is, of course. Run over to the Center's website for information - they are currently accepting applications for films for the film festival on the 11th of October.

It's been added to the Community Events lift to your right.

Gay Pride News!

I am so thrilled and excited and pumped to announce this...

Oxford Gay Pride Parade

This Parade is for all members of the LGBTQ community and others who support not only our rights, but the civil rights of all human beings--better known as "Allies". This is an opportunity for us to display our Pride through a loving and peaceful march across campus.

Bring your fiercest pumps, beat your mugs (wear make-up), snatch your wigs, bring signs/posters, and get ready stomp like Naomi down the runway!

That's right, folks, Oxford is having their first ever gay pride parade!!! I couldn't be happier if I had planned it myself. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th between 4:30pm to 5:30pm. The parade will go through the Phi Delta gates at the corner of High and Campus, continue down the slant walk, and end at MacMillan Hall. It's a short route, but I have no doubt they have lots of stuff planned.

It's being organized by Spectrum and the gay grad group -- HAVEN. Check out the Facebook event page.

In other gay pride news, I might point this little bit out: I am officially killing the NKY Pride 2010 rumors until further notice. I just don't think it's happening, kids. This is how I imagine it went:

Person 1 at a meeting (P1): You know, we should do this in NKY.

Person 2 at a meeting (P2): Yea, that'd be great!

P1: But not this year.

P2: Nah... but we could start planning for 2010.

P1: YEA! What do you think about... (random details)

Later, at a bar:

P1 (or 2): Guess what we're doing?

Person three, a friend or acquaintance or potential trick
(P3): What?

P1/2: We're planning gay pride for NKY in 2010.

P3: OMG! What a great idea! I should tell people about this!

And so it goes. Usually my snoops have been able to dig up some dirt here and there, but nothing has come up, not even the most minor biscuit of information.

I am, thus, killing this as nothing unless you can prove otherwise.

Oh, and the new GLCC website launched. It's a lot easier to remember, this time around, rather than the five word address they used to have.

Pride Web Site?

...is there one? PrideIsAlive.com is not it.

In fact, searching Google for it turns up the above website (albeit Cincy related), but the only place I can actually find information on the dates of Cincinnati Pride is here.

Pride's been added to the list to your right.

Pride Comedy Show!

Yea! One of my dearest and favorite events of the entire Pride season has been announced -- the Court's Pride Comedy Show!!!

Thanks to Miss Chanak for the update...

Folks - Just chatted with Gene Sell of The Court (I.S.Q.C.C.B.E) - and the Court is doing a fundraising event - for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati. Enjoy a night of comedy, live singing and drag...

Pride Alive Show
Location: The Syndicate
18 East 5th Street
Newport, KY

Date: Wed May 27th
Time: Door open 5:30 pm - show begins at 7 pm

Contribution:
Reserved Seating - Tables of 8 - $100
Open seating - in non-reserved section - $10 per person

Money raised at this event will be given to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center to support the Gay Pride Celebrations in June. Some of the money raised may be set aside by the Community Center for the building fund for future growth.

The restaurant at the Syndicate will be open if you wish to arrive a little early for dinner.

For tickets/information, contact Gene Sell at 859-781-3299. All Checks must be made out to the I.S.Q.C.C.B.E.

Now, I'll admit, the last two years I went were kind of so-so, but I don't think Gene was involved. In fact, last years' was so bad, I even performed and I'm hardly worth squat in a performance. But, it's moved locations and Gene seems to be back on board, so it should be an amazing event!

Lancing the Boil -- Rainbow Cincinnati Post

Here goes, kids. I would say one of my more controversial posts, no doubt, but one I promised to write.

It is no secret that there is no love lost between me and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati, but someone whose opinion I genuinely respect called me out this morning on being perhaps a bit mean-spirited towards them in the past.

To the charge of being mean-spirited: duh. It's what I do best.

To respond, however: they need it. I have said that journalism in town is cheerleading, and I knew, going into this project of blogging, that my writing and my person would be sprayed for my opinions, as more divisive than helpful. And despite the rolled eyes as to my qualifications as media, well, I'm a blogger, not a journalist. I've taken it upon myself to be the critic; if people choose not to listen, then that's fine. Seriously. But I have never once stated that I was going to fill the roll of any of the journalists in town -- these are my opinions, unedited (usually).

That said, perhaps there has been some unexplained mean-spiritedness in my past posts, so we came to a deal: I was allowed to write one more post attacking the Community Center and then I would stop the nasty, indirect commentary.

And this is my post:
(click here to read the rest)

I can't wait. :-)

Anyways, make sure you check out the rest of the fabulous content over at Rainbow Cincinnati by clicking on the link below.

Of all the idiocies...

...Bill Abney as the President of the Community Center?

Really? I have every respect for Michael Chanak, Rusty Lockett, and Adam Reilly. Don't get me wrong. (I don't know the two women.)

But the Board seems to be dwindling -- again. And they elect Bill freakin' Abney as the President.

That's lunacy.

That's like... well, it would be like electing me as the President of the Board. I'm flaky and strange; I have unusual, crazy nights out; I can be found on gay.com late at night; I have insulted and condescended to about every person in the community; I have an occasional problem with drinking; I have a background that can be described as "murky" at best; I can sometimes be described as incompetent and unintelligible; and I can be a downright bitch.

Apparently, I, too, am qualified to be the President.

What happened to Joe Penno? Did we jade someone that quickly? Did he, as he may have indicated, become too annoyed with the process and the processes that he was tired of the attempt? Did he move completely over to organize Pride -- see my previous post?

Of all the idiocies, of all the incompetencies...

...this one tops the list.

CINCY GAY SCENE: Outreels and a new gay blogger???

I've been on a "quiet blogging" mood these days. Between the move, the fireworks party, the Goober, school starting, work, and my new place not having internet... you might say I've been a little busy :-). I promise I'm not gone, just a little quiet. And I'm trying desperately not to post every little absurd thing the McCain-Palin ticket is saying at the RNC (did anyone else watch the absurdity that was Mitt Romney's speech???!!!!).

BTW---> I'm gonna give Palin some props. That was a good speech, but I think it was more impressive that Barack said "family's off the table."

Oh, and the "Why I don't support the Streetcar" series is not dead. I just haven't had the time to write.

Via their Myspace page...

OutReels returns!!!!

OutReels is Cincinnati GLBT Film Festival. It has introduced me to movies like Veiled and Meth, and I was disappointed not to see it on the list of things to do this past year for Pride. I'm really happy to see it coming back. However, it will not be part of the Pride celebration but will be hosted in March of 2009. Per the website, you can get involved by meeting at the Community Center @ 12pm on the 13th of Sept (that's a Saturday). I think you should all check it out.

Also...

A quick email came over to me via my Myspace... apparently there may be a new "raunchy" gay blogger picking up in the city :-). . . per the email, it will be "about day to day life as an 'easy' kid in cincinnati."

Very exciting. Will keep you updated.

Anyone heard anything more about the Cincy Gay Life website??? No? No?

CINCY GAY SCENE: Two events of interest...

I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't talk about these. Kind of funny how I hadn't even thought about them...

1) From Miss Chanak here:

Joe Penno, Cincinnati GLBT Pride Chair 2009 and Community Center President - reminds you the first planning meeting for Pride 2009 in the Greater Cincinnati Area is Tuesday August 26, 2008 at 7 pm.

The location of the meeting is the Community Center at 4119 Hamilton Ave, Northside (Cincinnati), Ohio.

Please make a note of it.

I may actually go to it, although my explosive personal behavior and subsequent disappearance on the day of the parade may make my role there somewhat questionable.

If I do go, though I'm somewhat outspoken, I may try to keep my mouth shut and listen for a while first.

2) It's that time again... Pride Night at King's Island...


I'm not going, but I feel I should announce it. I'm not much of a rollercoaster person.

And, when I get a moment, I'll talk about the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in greater depth before the event. But, also, I don't have the money and it's the first week of classes, so I will not be going.

Sad. But not really.

CINCY GAY SCENCE: QueCin @ Pride is Alive 2008

We'll be at Pride is Alive 2008 this year, guys and gals!!! (The official Pride is Alive website doesn't seem to be working.) My dear friend LV over at Juliet and Juliette, also the founders of Generation Pride (their company) have asked me to man their table Saturday, June 14th.

So I'll be there with my camera. Stop by and see me. Because if this year is like the last few...

...well, there are new faces running the show, let's give them a chance, yes?

PS This is also your opportunity, my dear four or five readers, to have input on a flyer design. Whether it be a new image for QueerCincinnati, or a review of the blog... yes, I'll even use "pointless queer drivel..." so that I can get some advertising out of this :-).

CINCY GAY SCENE: Follow-Up on Previous Blog

1) Serpent, per a good friend, "has always been for sale," at the $1m price mark. So, in effect, it's not officially for sale. My house, too, would be for sale if someone offered me five times the amount it was worth.

2) Rumors of a new gay club opening? I can't seem to track this rumor anywhere.

3) Oh, goodness, the owner of Below Zero actually read the blog and responded. I have still yet to go, so I am retracting original statements regarding the crowd or the bar -- apparently, I am not speaking as much into the darkness as I thought (the more than triple traffic I have enjoyed since I last blogged is an indicator, too) -- and I will, in fact, make it my goal to visit Below Zero before gay pride and give it a fairer review.

4) Also, kuddos to Joe Penno on becoming the new president of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center -- darling, if you read this, I'm hearing rave reviews about you from all over town. Very, very impressive. And this whole schtick of trying to rebuilding relationships with agencies -- BEAUTIFUL! I think a reinvigorated gay pride committee meeting (I've heard) should be indicative of people's desire to invest time and effort. Maybe I'll even stop on by one day, to pay my respects, of course.

(Side note --> Community Center's board also expanded quite a bit. Well done. It was getting monotonous with only four or five people on it. The entire crew, truly, was always dedicated, but, after a few years, fresh blood needs to be brought in. Yes, Ms. Chanak, I even consider you "fresh," though I feel that it'll be the first time in years anyone has. :-) Much love)

5) Looking for some gossip on OUTReels, btw. If you have any...

6) Golden Lions, also, is not shutting down "at least not in the next year," per the bar owner. Again, I think, it seems that, like the Serpent, it's probably always "for sale," but it's a wonderful little hub there in Clifton. Would be sad to lose it. Although, as I pointed out to Shante Marcelle the other night -- the building itself is falling apart. And that's why we love it, right?