Up to 15,000 people are expected in the city next week to celebrate the culture and community of LGBT people of color.
The 11th annual Philadelphia Black Gay Pride kicks off April 18 and features events throughout the week, culminating in a weekend full of activities.
The lead-up to the weekend celebration will feature several hits from previous Prides, such as the third annual Mr. and Miss Philadelphia Black Gay Pride Pageant — an LGBT-themed talent show at 7 p.m. April 18 at Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. — and the second annual One Night Stand Spoken Word and Poetry Slam, at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at Marathon Grill, 1818 Market St.
At 6 p.m. April 19, COLOURS will host its monthly town-hall meeting, which will focus on homosexuality and religion; and also that night, LGBT youth of color and their supporters will participate in a roundtable on black entrepreneurs and professionals from 6-9 at the University of the Arts Hamilton Hall, 320 S. Broad St. The focus on youth will continue April 21 with another roundtable, on cultural competency in the classroom setting, from 4:30-6 p.m. at 112 N. Broad St., fifth floor.
The weekend will head into full swing with the official opening reception at 6 p.m. April 23 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., the host hotel for the week.
PBGP president Chris Alston said the evening will feature live performances by last year’s Sing Out Strong winner Josh Middleton, as well as R&B performer Alyson Williams, and participants can meet and greet the PBGP board of directors as well as special guest Mayor Nutter.
Beginning 10 a.m. the following day, participants are invited to a series of free workshops at the hotel that run the LGBT gamut, with topics such as spirituality and sexuality, lesbian issues, LGBTs in Greek campus life, ballroom culture and the transgender journey.
Alston said the workshop topics were selected through surveys and conversations with LGBT communities of color, which led to the more “robust roster” this year.
From noon-5 p.m. April 24, youth and service providers who work with this community will participate in their own workshops at The Attic Youth Center, 255 S. 16th St., with such offerings as “Sex, Tech and Social Networking” and others that focus on the importance of community service and maintaining multiple identities, such as LGBT, youth and religious.
Although PBGP aims in part to raise awareness of the LGBT of color community and empower members, it’s also a time for socializing and celebration, which will be in abundance at such parties as the Fire Island Black Out launch party, 10 p.m.-4 a.m. April 23, and the Decades Dance Party from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. April 24, both at the hotel.
After a day full of community discussions on April 24, participants can get to know one another on a more personal level with Speed Dating starting at 5 p.m. in the hotel, which will be open to both men and women and will feature a cash bar.
Youth will have their own celebration with the Mini Ball, starting 8:30 p.m. April 24 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Alston noted the concept of ballroom culture will be woven throughout many of the youth events this year, and organizers decided to continue that theme through the final youth-centered event.
Alston said this year’s PBGP was fueled in large part by the local LGBT community, which pitched in to support the organization despite widespread city funding cuts.
“The financial support from the community has been overwhelming,” he said. “When we, along with many other community-based serving organizations, were hit with the loss of city funding due to the many budget cuts faced by the City of Philadelphia, the community stepped up to the plate to help sustain the programming that they have become accustomed to.”
Alston said that enhanced community involvement will give participants an even greater sense of connection with this year’s events.
“I think that the way the community has invested in this year’s project, both financially as well as volunteering their time, will make this year the best yet because our patrons will now attend with a feeling of ownership and investment, knowing that it’s because of them and their generosity that Pride 2010 was made possible.”
In one of the final events of the weekend, PBGP will pay tribute to a host of LGBT honorees at its annual Legends Awards Ball, 6 p.m. April 24 at the hotel. This year’s Legend Honorees are HIV/AIDS activist Hassan Gibbs, educator and ally Denise Pressley and community organizers Christopher Hunter and Nate Pace. PBGP will also recognize its Organizational Honoree, The Attic Youth Center; the Business Honoree, The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation; Mother’s Circle Honoree Geneva M. Smith; and the Next Generation Leaders, COLOURS deputy director Robert Burns, Mazzoni Center community-relations manager Tony Daniels, and community organizers Roberta Galloway and Deacon BJ Tillman.
For more information and a full listing of events, visit www.phillyblackpride.org.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].