OUT
AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNIJuly 22, 2016 | Volume XIV, Issue 6
BALTIMORE PRIDE 2016 Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (2nd from right), Pride 2015
(GLCCB). At 7 p.m., the GLCCB’s annual Pride cocktail party fundraiser, “Twilight on the Terrace,” is set for Gertrude’s restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive). The event includes hors d’oeuvres, a four-hour credit: Anja Saine open bar, silent auction, music by Arturo, dancing, and art. For tickets: Twilight2016.eventbrite.com. At 9 p.m., the Baltimore Hard Rock Cafe will host “Love All, Serve All,” presented by Baltimore’s Queen of Pride, Chastity Vain, and King of Pride Tyger St. James, a night
of fabulous performances by local drag artists. Tickets available at Loveallserveall. eventbrite.com. On Friday night from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., head to Grand Central Nightclub (1001 North Charles Street) for “Lust,” the official leather / bear / fetish event for Baltimore Pride. A Pride Week favorite is the annual Pride Parade, to be held rain or shine at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 23rd at Madison Street, continuing up Charles Street to Chase Street. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Car / Motorcycle, Best Float, Best Walking Group, Best Marching Band, and the Best Overall Contingent. After the parade ends on Saturday, Baltimore’s biggest LGBT party of the year runs rain or shine, from 4 to 10 p.m. The “night-
Pride event digest!
BALTIMORE PRIDE WEEK 2016 runs July 17th to 24th. Here are some highlights. On Friday, July 22nd, three very different events will raise funds to support Baltimore Pride and the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland
Meet Ta’von Vinson
By Jacob Pierce Ta’von Vinson, an African-American gay playwright and Baltimore native, decides to take a break from writing and hops over to The Drinkery for a much needed stress reliever. One can find him frequently at the Bun Shop or in passing with a friendly demeanor and colorful locks in the community. An outreach specialist with Johns Hopkins, he has many accomplishments, including his book Positively Me (about his experiences with HIV/AIDS) and being producer / director of the play What We’re Taught at the Arena Players under his company,
Writer & director Ta’von Vinson
Theater Coven Productions. He personifies through his writing the celebration of diversity with black gay characters in real life. Baltimore OUTloud caught up with Ta’von briefly to ask him some questions about his character choices, works in the future and the imagery of black gay men on television. Jacob Pierce:Tell me what inspires your characters to be so versatile and different in the black community. Ta’Von Vinson: I personally don’t care for one-dimensional characters because we all have multiple layers that make us
Reimagining black & gay
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Rodney Burger, Pride 2015
credit: Anja Saine
club without walls” known as the Baltimore Pride Block Party takes place in Mount Vernon between Cathedral, Read, Eager, and Charles Streets. The party will be hosted by Baltimore’s own Queen of Comedy, Shawnna Alexander, local artist Kevin Lei, and nationally known artist Jacob Kohinoir. The Block Party will feature regional artists throughout the evening, leading up to this year’s headliners George Lovett and Band, Crystal Waters, and CeCe Peniston. On Saturday night, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., head to “Heat,” the official Baltimore Pride Women’s After Party at The Attic at Flavor (15 East Centre Street #2). Prizes for best swimsuit! A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the GLCCB and Baltimore Pride. On Sunday, July 24th, the week’s highlight, the Baltimore Pride Festival, will take place rain or shine at northwest Baltimore’s beautiful Druid Hill Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will feature regional and local vendors and performers, the Lady Lisa Drag Stage, a Family Zone, a Park Dance Stage, and fun for all the community. For more information on this and other Pride events, visit Baltimorepride.org. t