Pride Week 2002

Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Pride 2002 comprises nine days of social, cultural, educational, and charitable events sponsored by the Pride Committee of Houston and other GLBT community organizations.

While Houston Pride celebrations of the past several years have lasted a month or more, this year’s festivities are much more manageable and focused in what we on the Pride Committee hope will be a more meaningful series of events for Houston’s GLBT community.

Another change aiming toward a more meaningful celebration is in the scheduling of events. Between the Pride Kickoff Party on Friday, June 21, and the world-famous nighttime Pride parade on Saturday, June 29, is a week of community-sponsored events. Each day has a different focus to emphasize the wide diversity of our community: Saturday, June 22, is Health & Recreation Day; Sunday, June 23, Family & Youth Day; Monday, June 24, Community Awareness Day; Tuesday, June 25, Commemoration Day; Wednesday, June 26, Spirituality Day; Thursday, June 27, Pride Worldwide Day; and Friday, June 28, Arts Appreciation Day.

Arts Appreciation Day begins the exciting parade weekend with the very special presentation of the first annual Pride Cabaret, "Before the Parade Passes By," at the Alley Theatre. Then Houston Pride 2002 climaxes with the exuberant Pride parade on Saturday, June 29. There are several ways to take full advantage of all the festive activities being offered during this year’s parade weekend. Purchase bleacher seating—the best spot for watching the Pride parade—for yourself and your friends. Call 713/529-6979 for information. Visiting from out-of-town? Spend parade weekend at the Holiday Inn Select near Greenway Plaza, two miles from the parade site. Call 1-800/HOLIDAY for reservations and use group booking code PRI for a flat rate of $69 per room per night. And join us at Rich’s Houston, 2401 San Jacinto, host of the official Pride parties on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Listed here are the Houston Pride 2002 events scheduled as of press time. For a complete up-to-date listing, check out the Pride Committee website, www.pridehouston.org. All events are open to the public and attire is casual, unless otherwise noted. Since event details are subject to change, contact the individual event sponsors for any changes, cancellations, or additional information. –Troy Christensen, Houston Pride Committee

• FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Pride Kickoff Party

Meet and mingle with fellow community members and enjoy a cash bar and fabulous family entertainment at this all-ages event starting Pride 2002. 8 p.m.—2 a.m., Sonoma, 1415 California. $10 donation. 713/529-6979, info@pridehouston.org.

• SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Health & Recreation Day

Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center Art Festival

A number of local artists, including David Aylsworth, Patrick Palmer, Tori McMillan, and Vera Taylor, will have work in the community center art festival. Refreshments and live music. Proceeds from the silent-auction art sale will benefit the center. 7:30 p.m., 803 Hawthorne, 713-524-3818. $10.

• SUNDAY, JUNE 23

Family & Youth Day

Pride Family and Youth Fun Day

JPMorganChase sponsors a family picnic at Hermann Park for GLBT families and friends with an emphasis on activities for children, including a visit to the Houston Zoo. Special guests from the Houston Energy, our champion women’s professional football team, will be on hand to speak. 1—4 p.m., Hermann Park near Circle Drive, next to Harlon’s BBQ. Discount adult zoo tickets and special Harlon’s BBQ box lunches available. 713/216-0372, donna.h.rickard@chase.com.

• MONDAY, JUNE 24

Community Awareness Day

Grand Marshal Reception

The Royal, Sovereign, and Imperial Court of the Single Star of Houston, Inc., introduces the grand marshals of the 2002 Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Pride Parade, along with grand marshals of parades past. Meet some of the most heroic and inspirational members of Houston’s GLBT community and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

6-9 p.m., Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos. 713/529-6979.

• TUESDAY, JUNE 25

Commemoration Day

GLBT History, Houston’s First Decade: 1975—1985

Stonewall Lawyers Association of Greater Houston (SLAGH) presents a panel of speakers who will discuss their personal experiences on the front lines of the GLBT rights movement. Speakers include Ray Hill, citizen provocateur; Phyllis Frye, the transgender menace; and Donna Garrett, lesbian poet extraordinaire. Donations benefit Community Awareness for Transgender Support, Q-Patrol, Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of GLBT History, and SLAGH. 6—8:30 p.m., Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University, 3001 Clayburn. No charge, but donations requested. 713/227-1717, jerry@simoneaux.com, www.stonewall-lawyers.org.

• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

Spirituality Day

Interfaith Pride Worship Service

The diverse spiritual traditions of the GLBT community will be celebrated at this interfaith worship service. A reception follows the service. 7—9:30 p.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood. 713/466-4438, vschill@hcpl.net

Introduction to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism

Learn how to become happy in this lifetime by chanting "nam myoko renge kyo." Sponsored by SGI-USA Houston "Living Out Loud." 7—8:30 p.m., 3465 W. Alabama. 713/622-6181, rosewoman57@hotmail.com.

Comfort & Joy

Jack Heifner’s comedy is presented in a benefit performance for the Pride Committee and the Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of GLBT History. Join Scott and Tony, a happily married gay couple, in the midst of a Christmas disaster created by the arrival of zany members of their respective families and an unusual fairy who teaches the others about love, hope, and forgiveness. 8—10 p.m., Theatre Suburbia, 1410 W. 43rd. $10. 713/682-3525, tsuburbia@hotmail.com, www.theatresuburbia.com.

• THURSDAY, JUNE 27

Pride Worldwide Day

HRC Pride

Invite a friend for a introduction to the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club in this Pride celebration with cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. 6:30—8 p.m., Farrago Restaurant, 318 Gray. 713/416-8470, www.hrc.org. No cost.

"Love Knows No Borders"—A GLBT Immigration Talk

The Houston chapter of the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force presents a GLBT immigration talk by attorney-at-law John Nechman. An emphasis will be placed on the right of gay and lesbian binational couples to make a life together in the U.S. 7:30—9:30 p.m., Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold. Donation requested. 281/485-5097, sdryam@houston.rr.com, www.lgirtf.org.

National HIV Testing Day

The Montrose Clinic provides free HIV testing in conjunction with National HIV Testing Day. Testing is also available for syphilis and hepatitis C, and free condoms and lube are available. Testing will also be done at Montrose Clinic, 215 Westheimer, 10 a.m.—7 p.m., 8 p.m.—12 midnight, Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, and EJ’s, 2517 Ralph. 713/830-3000, eroland@montroseclinic.org, www.montroseclinic.org.

• FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Arts Appreciation Day

"Before the Parade Passes By"

Join us for this very special presentation of the first annual Pride Cabaret, just before the Pride parade passes by. Some of the finest entertainers of the Houston stage perform your favorite Broadway melodies in a musical celebration of our lives. Directed by Ken Williamson, "Before the Parade Passes By" is presented by the Pride Committee of Houston and benefits Houston’s Pride festivities. Also benefiting Houston Pride will be a silent auction. 8—10 p.m., Alley Theatre, 615 Texas, 713/228-8421, 713/529-6979, info@pridehouston.org, $25-$100.

Baile Internacional 2002

This black-tie celebration and dance is a fundraiser for gay and lesbian community groups. Formal attire. 9:30 p.m.—1:30 a.m., Ripley House Ballroom, 4410 Navigation, 713/522-9564, lindamorales77006@yahoo.com. $250 table, $25 advance, $30 at the door.

GoGirls Rock!

GoGirlsMusic, the Houston-based online community of independent women artists, is producing an all-Pride, all-women show, co-sponsored by the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. Liviya Compean, Carol Plunk, Astrogin, Amanda’s Waiting, and Beth Puorro will perform. Rhythm Room, 1815 Washington, 8 p.m. $7.

Dirty Little Showtunes . . . Encore!

Laughter was never this nasty . . . again . . . in this musical revue with new songs. 8—10 p.m., Theatre New West, 1415 California, 713/394-0464, joeleewatts@aol.com. $20.

• SATURDAY, JUNE 29

2002 Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Pride Parade

Experience the fun and excitement you’ve come to expect from America’s original nighttime Pride Parade and the Southwest’s largest GLBT event, along with new announcers’ stages, new lighting, and other surprises. 8:45—11 p.m., Westheimer, Woodhead to Whitney. 713/529-6979.