La Gente Unida was kind enough to feature Denver PrideFest Blog in their most recent newsletter. Here's what they had to say:
"DENVER PRIDEFEST HAS A BLOG that provides updated information on PrideFest 2008, including news, announcements, history, commentary, interviews, photos, videos, and more. Updated Monday through Friday, the blog is where you can find everything you want to know about Pridefest. The blog includes an interview with longtime Chicano gay activist Donaciano Martinez who, as an elder, shares his recollections about the early days of Pride 1975-on. Produced by the nonprofit GLBT Community Center of Colorado, Denver’s PrideFest is recognized as one of the top ten GLBT Pride celebrations in the country, with over 210,000 people expected to attend this year. BlogPro, Colorado’s premier professional blog-content service provider, is the official blog service for this year's PrideFest event. The founder of BlogPro is Drew Wilson, a professional journalist and longtime ally of La Gente Unida. To access the blog, go to: www.DenverPrideFest2008.blogspot.com."
Be sure to check back later this week for my interview with longtime GLBT activist, Donaciano Martinez.
Monday, April 28, 2008
PrideFest blog featured in latest La Gente Unida newsletter
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A conversation with DeMarcio Slaughter, Main Stage Entertainment Coordinator for PrideFest
Well, this is actually a little bit more of a Q&A since I had some technical issues with the digital recording of our original conversation and had to fall back on good old-fashioned email. It's still good stuff, though, DeMarcio really brings a lot of energy and attention to detail to PrideFest and he does it all while looking really good in his white spandex (see pic below!):
Drew: So what is it exactly that the main stage entertainment coordinator does?
DeMarcio: My “job” is to review all the acts and bands that want to perform and create the best and most entertaining roster possible. Every now and then, I get lucky and can pull in a major headliner like Tiffany or CeCe Penniston. I also emcee the day, to make sure things are on track and keep the crowd jazzed (as I am) about who’s on next.
How did you come to be involved with PrideFest?
It started six years ago when a close friend of mine asked me to emcee her drag queen set. I got asked back year after year and,each time, I’d host a longer portion of the day. Before I knew it, I’d volunteered to put the whole thing together. I never expected to still be involved all this time later.
Why is this year's PrideFest going to be the best ever?
I want a big show! I want people to be entertained by a diverse group of performers who offer a bit of something to a vast group of people. We increased the budget this year – I raised several thousand dollars personally and pulled some strings so that we could have TOP names and quality performers. The parade will be bigger, the festival will be over two days and it’s going to be one of those shows people talk about until the next year. We get better because the volunteers work harder, seeing what was accomplished the previous year and doing whatever it takes to make it bigger and better.
Who have you booked as performers this year?
The local favorites will be there; James Roy, Nina Montaldo and Royal Rush ALWAYS wow the crowd. There will be some new bands and other fantastic local acts like Laurie Damron from Boulder and Court Clark, who is a regular at a local Karaoke bar.
Headliners will be Sophie B. Hawkins, who agreed to perform a full concert on Saturday and Martha Wash, (performing on Sunday) who I’ve been trying to book for three years! Amazing performers and the singing will be OUT of this world!
I’ve also been talking to Matthew Rush on a regular basis, and although he won’t be able to perform, I’ve emceed a show with him before and he is simply great to look at on stage. I am hoping that he can make it …
Why is it important to have celebrities at PrideFest?
Celebrities are like the icing on a REALLY good cake. You may like cake and know where to get the best cake in town, but if there’s no icing – it may not catch your eye and you may skip it, despite knowing that you’ll enjoy it. With our entertainment in Denver, I’ve got to have the best icing on our PrideFest cake!
If you could bring anybody to PrideFest, who would it be?
I like people who can sing and draw a crowd. If money were no object, I’d have Whitney open with the Star Spangled Banner and close with the Scissor Sisters. However, we are the only PrideFest around where you don’t have to pay $$ to see the entertainment. I’d love to get $15 for every person who saw Tiffany last year, then I could afford Beyonce or Madonna. I met Leona Lewis last week, and I immediately thought to ask her to perform (after she got in her limo and drove off…!)
What does PrideFest mean to you?
PrideFest means unity. It means love and togetherness. Pride has been embraced and championed by our community, however it is something that is completely celebrated and over the top for a few days in June, in the Denver. I am fortunate and thankful that I am able to do my part to contribute to such a positive celebration of positive change and acceptance!
What is your message for readers of this blog?
When you come to Pride: Number one, apply sunscreen and, number two, bring water. We are preparing the BIGGEST & BEST cake that Denver has ever seen and we don’t want you to miss out on one single bite!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A conversation with Sue Anne Michaels, Community Stage Coordinator for PrideFest
Drew: The name Sue Anne Michaels sounds very familiar to me, I believe through ICRME, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Sue Anne Michaels: Yes, I’ve been involved with the Imperial Court since the 27th reign and have served on five lines of succession. I was elected to the board of directors several years ago and served as their chief financial officer for two years. I now serve on the board of parliament.
And how long have you been working with PrideFest?
This is my third year now.
How did you get started?
They called me about three years ago about two months out from PrideFest. The person who had taken it on couldn’t continue for personal reasons and they asked me to step in and take it over because I had done a lot of volunteer work for The Center over the years. I was more than happy to do it. We were a little bit rushed but it all came off really well thanks to the fact that we have a wonderfully talented community.
Speaking of which, what kinds of talents can we expect to see on the community stage at this year’s PrideFest?
Gosh, we have just a little bit of everything, any part of our community you can possibly think about is represented. We really try to put a big variety on the community stage. We have square dancing and female impersonators and male impersonators and the Two-Spirit Society ... the list just goes on and on.
Where can we find the community stage?
We are right at 14th and Broadway where we’ve been for many years now. We usually start about a half hour after the keynote speaker and we usually go on until, gosh, I think last year we had like 40 some performers so our time commitment is pretty full.
Which are your favorite types of performances?
As far as a favorite? Oh, boy, that would be so unfair to pick one because they each bring something so unique to the community. Anybody who is willing to share so much of themselves; to me that’s just amazing.
How can people apply to appear on the community stage?
We are taking applications right now so go online and download the application. That is submitted to me and we try to do it on a first-come first-served basis and we do fill up so get those applications in as soon as possible. Last year I had to turn away about 10 people.
What would you like hopeful performers to know about the event ahead of time?
Oh, well, our community, God love them, they tend to put things off to the last minute. You know, there’s gay time and drag time and I’m really easy to work with and we work extremely hard to accommodate everybody we can but timing is very important.
What is your message for Denver’s GLBT community regarding PrideFest?
My message about PrideFest would be that we are one diverse community and love and feeling of goodwill for all aspects of our community is something we need to keep in our lives every day of the year whether we are gay, bi, lesbian or trans.
