Pridefest: More Than A Parade

BY: COLIN MURPHY - SENIOR WRITER

As the rainbow flags and bunting go up along Grand at Tower Grove Park, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and allied community prepares for its biggest weekend of the year—St. Louis Pridefest, June 27-28.

The annual event, which is produced by Pride St. Louis, celebrates 30-years in the Gateway City and the buzz surrounding the destination event is palpable.

"We’re feeling very excited about the festival coming up," said C. J. Saenz, president of Pride St. Louis. "I think this is going to be the year that really and truly marks the entire community coming together."

Since their inception 40-years ago following the Stonewall Riots in New York City, the GLBT Pride celebration has been part carnival, part political protest and part family picnic. Indeed, it is a beautiful coming together of a diverse and prismatic community the last weekend each June.

St. Louis Pridefest is considered one of the top ten celebrations of its kind in the nation and is but one of a handful that hold the distinction of having never charged for the event. According to Saenz, it’s been a struggle to keep the $250,000 celebration free to all.

"We are one of the very few festivals within the nation that do not charge," explained Saenz. "This is going to be the first year that we are fencing the park off and not allowing coolers. We’re doing that as a way to be able to maintain the free status for the festival. We’ve been encouraged by city officials and other festival producers to go this route and it’s been a process that’s long overdue."

According to Saenz the change should increase revenue and allow the festival to continue to grow each year with respect to the entertainment and activities that are provided.

"Fortunately, we’ve been able to do that and offer more and more each year," offered Saenz.

 The Grand Parade

The annual Pride parade has grown considerably since the early days of winding through the streets of the Central West End toward Forest Park. What was once a concentration of pick up trucks with sound systems and parade marchers holding hand-made signs has morphed into two hours of floats, bands and street theater.

Over 120 groups, organizations, churches, businesses and corporate sponsors will be manning floats or marching down South Grand. It’s an explosion of color and excitement—from dance music and choruses to shirtless men and dykes on bikes—and the entire GLBT community will be represented.

The fabulous Sandra Bernhard is this year’s Grand Marshall and will be featured on the main stage following the parade. Local Grand Marshalls are Jan and Bonnie of Attitudes fame.

The third annual Pet Parade brings new meaning to that old phrase, "putting on the dog." After all, a man should never be forced to march down the street in booger drag alone. The Tower Grove Business Association in conjunction with Pride St. Louis will hold Pridefest’s newest tradition, the Morgan Ford Pet Parade.  Advance registration is highly encouraged.  Pet Parade festivities begin at 10 a.m. at Morgan Ford and Utah, and the Parade begins promptly at noon. The parade is a veritable rainbow of pets from purebreds to muts to boas (constrictor, that is) all accompanying their owners while donning stylish outfits, costumes and pride regalia.

Organizers anticipate over 200 participants for the parade which travels from Utah down Morgan Ford to Tower Grove Park at Arsenal, ending at Pridefest.  For more information and to register, visit www.morganfordpetparade.com.

When Saenz first joined the Pride Committee seven years ago he remembers the early Commitment Ceremonies at Pridefest being a small, intimate event quietly held on stage.

Last year over 60 couples said "I do" and the annual Pride Commitment Ceremony has become one of Pridefest’s most popular (and moving) events under the guise of Treasurer Debbie Smith.

"We were just at Kansas City’s Gay Pride and they only had six couples get married and we already have over 60 registered this year," boasted Saenz.

The Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis will preside over the ceremony. Each couple will receive a certificate commemorating the event and MCCGSL will also provide free pastoral counseling sessions for each couple. To pre-register for the ceremony email: ceremony@pridestl.org.

Local bands and performers will grace the main stage throughout the weekend providing an array of entertainment from music to comedy. Also on hand will be headline performers Thelma Houston, Sandra Bernhard, Jen Foster, Well Hungarians, Ian Harvie, Eric Himan, Josh Zuckerman and Brendon Valsequez.

Traditionally, Pridefest has showcased two emcees (one for each day) but is shaking things up a bit this year with a total of 27 hosts. Seven well known drag personalities will take turns on the mike and be joined by one of 14-community leaders who will take their turn as co-host.

Another new addition will be closing out Pridefest with a 30-year drag review. St. Louis is well-known for having produced some of the finest female impersonators in the nation and a marquis of divas from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and present day will take the stage culminating in only what can only be described as a once-in-a-generation group number.

A number of Pride kick-off parties have become popular in recent years, and are growing in popularity. Pride St. Louis hosted a kick-off party on June 12 at the Mad Art Gallery, the Vital Voice is having its inaugural Pride "Unity" kick-off party at 7 p.m. at the Mandarin Lounge, girlfriday’s "Ultra" white party will be held at Novak’s on June 27 at 7 p.m. and the Bad Dog Bar (new address-3960 Chouteau) is hosting a "Studio 54" party at 9 p.m. on June 27 as well.