2013 Pride Guide
“The New Normal”
- Page 14
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 3
4 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
“The New Normal” Official 2013 Oklahoma City Pride Guide FEATURES Page 14 - My Two Dads
One Oklahoma City gay couple, raising a set of twin boys, is proving their family is “The New Normal.”
Page 21 - Who is OKC Pride?
Oklahoma City Pride President Jeremy Crites explains the mission of the organization and what is in store for the community in the future.
Page 28 - Equality for All
Hundreds attended the recent open house of the new Cimarron Alliance Equality Center. Executive Director Scott J. Hamilton tells us how to get involved.
Page 42 - Cowboy Up
Members of the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association are gearing up for the 28th annual Great Plains Rodeo to be held at State Fair Park.
14
PRIDE FESTIVITIES Page 12 - The New Normal
The annual Block Party returns to kick off Pride weekend in OKC. Also planned: a gay wedding, Festival and Parade.
Page 27 - Calendar of Events
Here’s the scoop on all of the activities happening during OKC Pride.
PRIDE PHOTOS Page 50 - Proud. Strong. United.
Take a look back at photos from the 2012 OKC Pride. Perhaps you or a friend made our annual spread.
12
28 okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 5
6 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Greetings Pride Fans, Welcome to OKC Pride 2013! Your OKC Pride Board of Directors and team of volunteers have worked hard all year long to make this year’s Pride events appealing and fun for everyone in the community. This year you’ll find Pride Week events taking place across the metro, ranging from the new Equality Center at NW Expressway and the NW 39th Street Strip to downtown’s Myriad Gardens, Film Row and the Farmer’s Market, and continuing to the State Fairgrounds and Norman. It is so exciting to see our city’s growth and renewal and to realize what a pivotal role LGBT people play in this transition. It is our intention that OKC Pride provides safe and secure spaces where all people can gather together, learn about each other and bond as a community to celebrate our diversity. OKC Pride events are designed to promote the many active organizations and businesses that support and serve the LGBT community and to provide an opportunity to interact and network. Be sure to stop by all of the vendors and exhibitors. You’ll find many opportunities to get involved in helping your neighbors, find new friends with similar interests and empower our community. Enjoy the variety of events taking place during OKC Pride 2013. Please take time to thank the volunteers who give their time and energies to make Pride events possible. Be sure to take care of yourselves and each other. We wish you all a Safe and Happy 2013 Pride!
Respectfully,
OKC Pride Board of Directors
OFFICE PO Box 12240 Oklahoma City OK 73157-2240 PHONE 405-466-LGBT EMAIL info@okcpride.org WEB www.okcpride.org SOCIAL facebook.com/okcpridefan twitter.com/okcpride youtube.com/okcpride
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 7
8 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 9
10 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 11
Renee Hilton, co-emcee of the 2012 Pride Parade, recognizes Partners/Partners Too as Best Float recipient. (Photo by Michael Bratcher)
Pride celebration announced Numerous activities slated for Oklahoma City’s Film Row District and Gayborhood By Michael Bratcher Pride Guide Publisher Oklahoma City Pride is gearing up for a multi-day celebration, complete with a Block Party, the annual Festival and Parade, all of which are expected to draw thousands to the area. Festivities will be held throughout the city, including downtown’s historic Film Row District, the Myriad Gardens and the area around NW 39 and Pennsylvania Avenue, which many recognize as “The Strip” or “Gayborhood.” Pride Weekend 2013 is slated for May 17-19 with additional activities scattered across the metro area in the days leading up to the event and concluding with the annual Great Plains Rodeo in late May. Pride officially kicks off Friday, May 17, along NW 39 with the return of the Block Party. Festivities run from 7 to 11 p.m., said Jeremy Crites, president of OKC Pride. Live entertainment will scatter the 12 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
street as revelers partake in a crawfish boil and beer bust fundraiser, with proceeds supporting the LGBT organization. During recent Pride meetings, residents voiced opinions about wanting the return of the Block Party, which was absent in 2012. The 2011 event featured headlining band, The Pointer Sisters. On Saturday, May 18, attendees are encouraged to head downtown to the Myriad Gardens for the first-ever, “Love is Love” event on the Grand Lawn. The marriage equality rally and commitment ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Crites said many couples are expected to exchange vows to show Oklahomans that LGBT families are stable, long-lasting and committed. The event echoes this year’s Pride theme, “The New Normal.” The annual Festival returns to the historic Film Row downtown, just blocks from the Myriad Gardens. It will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and will feature more than 50 vendors, including a
children’s area sponsored by Expressions Community Fellowship. The weekend concludes Sunday, May 19, with the step off of the annual Pride Parade at 4 p.m. from Memorial Park, NW 36 and Classen Boulevard. The parade attracts thousands, who line the route, which runs from the park to the north along Classen and west on NW 39. Selected this year as the Parade Grand Marshal is long-time community advocate Bob Lemon. Lemon and his family have been supporters of the LGBT community for decades. When addressing the Oklahoma City Council in 2011, Lemon said, “If I were to say a prayer today, I would close it like this: ‘I would pray to God the day will come when people will respect all of God’s children, not just some of them, but all of them.’” For additional Pride activities that have been planned after publication of this guide, visit www.okcpride.org.
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 13
14 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
My Two Dads Story By Sarah Molina Photos By Michael Downes When 4-year-old twins A.J. and Eric Hayes-Milligan were allowed to plan a birthday party for their father, they knew exactly what they wanted to do. “It kills me, but they like ‘Star Wars’ better (than ‘Star Trek’). We watched ‘Star Wars’ with them one day, and that’s what they wanted to do,” said Damon Hayes-Milligan, 35, Eric and A.J.’s father. The fraternal twins, of Oklahoma City, planned the ‘Star Wars’themed party themselves, including decorations, food and gifts. But the birthday party wasn’t for Damon. It was for his partner of 13 years – Brad Hayes-Milligan, 38.
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 15
The Hayes-Milligan family feeds the ducks on a recent trip to the Myriad Gardens. “We talked about having kids on our first date,” Damon said. “(The twins) know that they have two daddies. I’m daddy, and Brad is Poppy. They get it.” Brad, a pharmacist, and Damon, a human resources manager, were married in 2002, although the Supreme Court later voided that marriage. Then, in 2008, they became one of the 18,000 same-sex couples to legally marry in San Francisco before voters passed Proposition 8 limiting marriages to those between one man and one woman. “We joke that we’re the only couple to be married twice but never have gotten a divorce,” Damon said. When they made the decision six years ago to finally add to their family, the couple decided surrogacy was the best option for them. A surrogate mother is one who carries a child for those unable or unwilling to conceive on their own, said Eli Reshef, medical director of the Bennett Fertility Institute at Integris Baptist Hospital. Gay couples, 16 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
infertile straight couples and even women who want children of their own but do not want to be pregnant often use surrogates. In traditional surrogacy, a woman is artificially inseminated with a man’s sperm. In gestational surrogacy, the child is not biologically that of the surrogate mother, Reshef said. “(It’s) basically when someone donates their womb for someone else’s embryos,” he said. Since surrogacy in Oklahoma sometimes is considered to violate the state’s child-trafficking laws, surrogacy procedures are not widely available in the state. This is the reason surrogacy is not an option at Integris, Reshef said. “They might do it at (another hospital), and, if they do, they’re playing with fire,” he said. “(In Oklahoma), there are no laws that condemn surrogacy, and that is the problem. Any payment to the surrogate over and above the customary legal and medical fees constitutes the violation of child trafficking.”
For his patients interested in surrogacy, Reshef said he refers them to agencies in other states that do have surrogacy laws, the closest of which is Texas. The Hayes-Milligans, however, selected Surrogate Alternatives in San Diego. The men decided upon gestational surrogacy and selected a separate egg donor and a surrogate, but the process was not without a speed bump. “Our surrogate, she decided she didn’t want to do it anymore. So our second surrogate was the one that ultimately worked out,” Damon said. “I think in a way it started out as a business relationship, and over time it grew into a friendship. The process lasted about two years from the time we signed on the dotted line until the time we got the boys.” The men then underwent psychological testing, financial and criminal background checks and complete medical histories. They also had one more important decision to make: which one of them would provide the other 50 percent of their child’s DNA.
”It’s one of those things we typically don’t talk about,” Damon said. “One of the things we love about it, we know which one of us is the dad. Our families don’t know; it doesn’t matter.” The couple stays connected with their surrogate through social media, however, she does not see the children. During the 38 weeks she carried the boys, Damon and Brad were able to attend most ultrasounds and were present during their sons’ scheduled cesarean section birth. Most importantly, both men are listed on the boys’ birth certificates. “Being a parent is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences anyone could ever have, and I would hope and wish everyone would have the same opportunity,” Brad said. “The New Normal” is the theme for this year’s Oklahoma City Pride. Brad and Damon’s story seems to parallel that of NBC’s hit show of the same name, a comedy which follows a California gay couple who enlist the help of a surrogate to have their baby. “The way the show started out, absolutely, we could completely connect with it. They do a good job going through the emotional aspect … how people react,” Damon said. “But they got pregnant on the first attempt, and that’s really nice, but usually it takes three or four attempts.” In fact, it took the Hayes-Milligans five tries to get pregnant, and five days after the last embryos were transferred into their surrogate, she called them and said she “had a feeling,” Damon said. “We were very fortunate and very excited when we found out we were having (a baby),” he added. But the couple wasn’t expecting twins. A pregnant woman carries a certain level of the hormone HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropic, in her blood. An initial level of about 10 indicates a woman is newly pregnant. A week after the Hayes-Milligan’s surrogate discovered she was pregnant, her HCG level was 140. “That shows more than one baby, so at that point, we were preparing for a litter,” Damon said with a laugh. “But, ultimately, we ended up with twins.” Eric Martin and Aubrey James were born in May 2009, weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces and 7 pounds 11 ounces, respectively. They were named after Damon and Brad’s fathers and grandfathers. “When we told them (our families) we were pregnant, their eyes lit up, and they realized they’re going to be grandparents and do all the things grandparents get to do, and they really looked forward to that,” Damon said. “Our families love spending time with the boys,” Damon said, whether that’s at his parents’ place at Lake Fort Gibson or on the family farm in Frederick. “We’re very big family people, which is a big reason we stay in Oklahoma, not because it’s the most welcoming place,” he added. The couple discussed moving the family – to either the East or West Coast - and whether that would make their lives easier, but they ultimately decided against the move. “(That’s) not the life we were meant to live. Family is important to us. It doesn’t matter where you go. Ignorance is universal,” Brad said. “You could live in the reddest of red states or the bluest (Please See “Normal” on Page 19) okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 17
18 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Lemon named Grand Marshal By Jeremy Crites OKC Pride President A long-time supporter of LGBT equality, Bob Lemon is a believer in the intrinsic value of every human being, regardless of his or her personal characteristics. He and his wife stood up for LGBT individuals long before it was a mainstream issue and at a time when declaring their support elicited general disdain. That never deterred them from loving people unconditionally. In the spirit of this year’s theme, “The New Normal,” I believe Bob summed it up best when he addressed the Oklahoma City Council on Nov. 15, 2011, as the council considered the resolution to include “Sexual Orientation” in the city’s employment non-discrimination policies: “I first became acquainted with the fact
that there were those who really looked down upon people of different sexual orientation; that was back in 1977 when Mary and I were attending a church convention in Kansas City. That was where I first learned about such things as homosexuality and Stonewall Riots and gay/straight, LGBT and all the terms that now...are very common. We got very involved in that because Mary and I both felt that it was unfair to show any discrimination or bigotry towards any minority group. But you know, things go on, life goes on... I am 82 years old. I am the father of five children, 3 straight and 2 gay. And I love the gay children just as much as I do the straight children. That’s the way it’s been in our family. We have no internal strife between people of different sexual orientations. […] I stand here today and am totally convinced that there is nothing wrong with
homosexual people. They are not broken, and they don’t need fixing. But what does need fixing is the attitude of a lot of straight people with respect to gays. I am very, very much pro-gays. […] If I were to say a prayer today, I would close it like this: ‘I would pray to God the day will come when people will respect all of God’s children, not just some of them, but all of them.” OKC Pride recognizes that our straight allies are an integral component in our quest for equality and acceptance. The LGBT community must engage the general public in order to help overcome the fear and ignorance that impedes a culture of tolerance. We believe that Bob Lemon deserves the honor of Grand Marshal for his life-long work in promoting dignity, respect and equality for all people and, we thank him for his pioneering vision and continued support.
ity and to answer their sons’ questions and concerns if that ever happens. “One thing that has been a side effect of our family is that we have unknowingly affected the people we encounter,” Brad said. “By our observations, they have changed
their minds and their attitudes about same-sex families based on what they see from us and our dynamics and our love. When they see us as a family, it puts in their minds that this is a family. This is a new family.”
“Normal” (Continued from Page 17) of blue states; you are going to encounter ignorance.” Fortunately for the Hayes-Milligan family, most public reaction to this “New Normal” family in the Bible Belt has been positive. But they are prepared for negativ-
How is gestational surrogacy performed? 1. An appropriate surrogate is chosen and thoroughly screened for infectious diseases. 2. Consents are signed by all parties. This is an important step in surrogacy cases. All potential issues need to be carefully clarified, put in writing and signed. 3. The patient is stimulated for IVF with medications to develop multiple eggs. 4. The surrogate is placed on medications that suppress her own menstrual cycle and stimulate development of a receptive uterine lining. 5. When the patient’s follicles are mature, an egg retrieval procedure is performed to remove eggs from her ovaries. 6. The eggs are fertilized in the laboratory with her partner’s sperm. 7. The embryos develop in the laboratory for 3-5 days. 8. Then, an embryo transfer procedure is done, which places the embryos in the surrogate mother’s uterus where they will hopefully implant. 9. The surrogate delivers the baby. 10. The baby goes home from the hospital with the “genetic parents.” (Source: Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago)
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 19
20 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Who is Oklahoma City Pride? Pride President Jeremy Crites explains the future direction of the organization By Jeremy Crites OKC Pride President On Oct. 1, 2012, a new Board of Directors was elected for OKC Pride. All but one of the seven members had been involved with the organization for less than a year. As you might imagine, the learning curve was – and continues to be – steep for this fresh group of volunteers. What they lacked in experience, they more than made up for in commitment to community. Early on, the board looked hard at this question of where OKC Pride fits into the myriad of other LGBT organizations and the role it has and can play in supporting the community. While we are still evaluating and defining the how, several things are clear.
Pride should be of, by and for the community. In order to represent the community, the OKC Pride Board must be made up of the community. We are very proud of the fact that our current board and head volunteers are racially diverse, have both men and women, and include both straight and gay members. But we’re not there yet. We want to be better integrated with the lesbian and bisexual communities. We want to reach out to our racial minority groups and learn how to better serve and include them. In particular, we’d like transgender folks to get involved, as they are one of the most
misunderstood groups and face the highest instances of suicide and abuse. If the LGBT community is to move forward in the face of conservative Oklahoma, we must stand as one.
OKC Pride should be a platform to connect individuals and organizations for a community that is proud, strong and united – all year long. The Pride events each year are a place and time where people from all walks of life come together and celebrate diversity, where organizations throughout the city and state conjoin and engage the community, exchange information and provide channels to educate and empower individuals and groups. We’d like to take this spirit of collaboration and carry it forward throughout the year, becoming a hub for information and networking.
OKC Pride should be open, inclusive and transparent. Many seem to be of the opinion that Pride is run by a group of wealthy folks who make decisions behind closed doors. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your Pride Board is dedicated to making OKC Pride an organization without secrets, that welcomes everyone and involves
them in decision-making, and strives to host events that appeal to the broad diversity that exists within our community. We believe in working together for the best possible outcome. All of OKC Pride 2013 was planned by committees at meetings – all of which were open to the public. This will also be the case for Pride 2014.
OKC Pride needs community involvement. If you’ve never planned a party for 60,000 attendees at multiple venues across the city, done the fundraising, arranged the permits, contracted the services and enlisted an army of entertainers, vendors and volunteers, you may not realize how overwhelming it can be – especially with zero paid staff. The Pride Board knows that OKC Pride events can always be improved, and we welcome the community to get involved and share their ideas with us. We can’t make it happen without your active participation, though. Anyone can join a committee, and everyone is encouraged to get involved. Committees for Pride 2014 will form beginning in August, and services of all kinds – from graphic design to communications and bookkeeping – are of vital importance. Help us grow and support your community by joining OKC Pride and getting involved. You’ll find it a very rewarding experience. okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 21
22 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Block Party kicks off Pride Gayborhood gathering to feature entertainment, crawfish fundraising event The OKC Pride Board of Directors held several meetings that gave the community opportunities to share their ideas on how to improve Pride. There was a great call to bring back the Block Party – last held in 2011 – so that’s what we did. OKC Pride 2013 will kick off with a Block Party blowout from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 17, on NW 39 and Pennsylvania Avenue, known to many as the “Gayborhood.” Cars will give way to Pride revelers as they take over 39th Street for a massive party. Starting at 7 p.m., a Heads & Tails
Crawfish Boil and Beer Bust fundraiser is planned in the parking lot of The Boom. Proceeds will benefit the Pride organization. Grab a seat under the party tent and enjoy some Cajun goodness. A DJ will be setup in the street for a real party atmosphere. A myriad of live entertainers will put on a show on the OKC Pride stage in the parking lot of Angles Club. For those who don’t like mudbugs, other food vendors also will be present. (Don’t worry, the OKC Pride Beer Bust applies here, too!) Music, drama and drag will accom-
pany the Block Party atmosphere, so have a seat, grab a bite from the food vendors and enjoy the show. Also, get ready for a big Foam Party in the middle of the street near the intersection of NW 39 and Barnes Avenue. Join the crowd, and dance in the bubbles. Pride officials note there will lots to do during this special event and encourage revelers to wander The Strip, check out the entertainment at all the venues, grab a drink al fresco in the Biergarten of your favorite bars, and celebrate your Pride!
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 23
24 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Pride goers enjoyed last year’s Festival, which was held for the first time in downtown Oklahoma City. (Photo by Beau Michael-Ray Bohanan, of OUTadv a beaubrands.com company. ©2012-2013, Beau Brands.)
Festival returns to city’s historic Film Row District This year’s OKC Pride Festival is planned for May 18 in the historic Film Row District in downtown Oklahoma City from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. With more than 50 multi-faceted vendors participating, the Festival will offer fun for the whole family. Expressions Community Fellowship has assembled a children’s area with games and prizes for the kids, as well as a few surprises for the adults. The Bella Foundation and the Central Oklahoma Humane Society also will be in attendance with plenty of pets looking for love. The entertainment line-up this year includes some unique performers and artists that are sure to satisfy each attendee’s tastes. And, speaking of tastes, the assortment of food trucks and vendors are sure to make your mouth water as you enjoy the outdoor festival and celebrate Pride in our community! This year’s theme is “The New Normal,” and this is expected to be the biggest celebration of diversity OKC has ever seen! okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 25
26 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Pride calendar at a glance Friday, May 17 Cimarron Alliance Equality Center Open House 5613 N May Ave. 5 to 7 p.m. On the agenda: Happy Hour refreshments and Equality Center Tours Pride Block Party NW 39 and Pennsylvania Avenue 7 to 11 p.m. On the agenda: crawfish boil and beer bust, live entertainment and street vendors
Saturday, May 18 Cimarron Alliance Equality Center Breakfast 5613 N May Ave. 9 to 11 a.m. On the agenda: Grab a bite to eat before hitting the Festival
Love is Love Marriage Equality Rally and Commitment Ceremony Myriad Botanical Gardens, downtown 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On the agenda: Numerous couples expected to exchange vows to show fellow Oklahomans they are “The New Normal”
Sunday, May 19
Pride Festival Historic Film Row, downtown along Sheridan Avenue 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. On the agenda: More than 50 vendors on display, food trucks, animal adoption sites and a children’s play area
Pride Parade Kicks off at 4 p.m. at Memorial Park, NW 36 and Classen Boulevard; Parade runs north to NW 39 and west to The Strip. On the agenda: Thousands expected to line the streets in support of the LGBT community
Other Options’ 2nd Annual Walk This Way Fashion Show Farmers Market Event Center, 311 S Klein Ave. 7 p.m. to midnight On the agenda: Fashion, entertainment, food and fun. Emcees are KFOR’s Scott Hines and Lyric Theatre’s Jeffrey Meek
Cimarron Alliance Equality Center 5613 N May Ave. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the agenda: Gift shop open for lastminute celebratory presents
May 25 & May 26 28th Annual Great Plains Rodeo State Fair Park, near I-44 and NW 10 8:30 a.m. start time each day On the agenda: More than a dozen events attracting hundreds from across the country
Oklahoma City’s Finest Pizzeria als i c e Sp ri h c n u n-F L o M
Mon-Thurs: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
www.JoeysPizzeriaOKC.com 405-525-8503 • 700 W. Sheridan
Ha p 4 to py Ho 7 p ur .m.
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 27
Visitors mingle during the recent Cimarron Alliance Equality Center Open House. (Photo courtesy Cimarron Alliance)
Cimarron: Equality for all Equality Center attracts hundreds to open house, promises fight for LGBT rights By Scott J. Hamilton Cimarron Alliance Executive Director
Cimarron Alliance Executive Director Scott J. Hamilton and Laurette Taylor share a hug during the recent Open House. (Photo courtesy Cimarron Alliance) 28 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
The poet said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. The wind blowing through Oklahoma City this March was neither lion nor lamb; it was the wind of change. Culminating decades of planning, hoping, discussing and working together, central Oklahoma’s LGBT community celebrated as the doors were opened to Oklahoma City’s first LGBT equality center. With high visibility on May Avenue, the rainbow flag flew overhead as nearly 600 LGBT Oklahomans and allies gathered to raise a toast to equality for all Oklahoma citizens. Amid tears and hugs, the community came together to realize that equality really is within reach. The Cimarron Alliance Equality Center offers a place from which LGBT advocacy can spring forth like a stream. It is a place where friends can gather to celebrate and mourn, to plan and work, to talk and think and laugh and cry together. The Cimar-
ron Alliance staff and Board have opened wide the doors of opportunity. Rather than planning lots of groups and activities, they are seeking the input of the community. And the ideas are coming down like a spring rain. The Cimarron Alliance Equality Center has already begun or soon will begin AA and Debtors Anonymous groups, seniors’ self-defense, open studio time for artists, Proud Peddlers cycling group, a discussion group about race and racism in and out of the LGBT community, a MAsT group, groups for gay and lesbian parents and their children, spirituality-based groups, fitness programs, trans support groups, a discussion group for men coming out later in life, youth programs and more. Cimarron Alliance uses the Equality Center as a home for its weekly Internet broadcast, Oklahoma: Inside Out and will soon be producing a weekly online video. The Center also houses Stop Hate in the Hallways, the only statewide anti-bullying initiative. Diversity Business Associa(Please see “Cimarron” on Page 33)
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 29
Jezebel Banks performs for attendees at the 2012 Pride Parade. (Photo by Beau Michael-Ray Bohanan, of OUTadv a beaubrands.com company. Š2012-2013, Beau Brands.)
30 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 31
www.PartyGalaxy.com
32 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Cimarron (Continued from Page 28) tion (DBA) calls the Center home and the popular LGBT 411 Series will gain an even greater audience in the new Center. Your Equality Center also provides meeting space to other LGBT and allied groups and offers numerous volunteer op-
portunities for people who want to work together toward equality. Visit the Cimarron Alliance LGBT Equality Center during Pride Week—and every other week of the year. Conveniently located at 5613 N May Ave., just north of
Northwest Expressway, in Oklahoma City, the Cimarron Alliance LGBT Equality Center is in the center of Oklahoma, the center of Oklahoma City. And is here to be the Center of your life.
Hundreds from the LGBT community and its allies attended Cimarron Alliance’s open house for the Equality Center in March.
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 33
34 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Celebrating Pride Worldwide Oklahoma City is not alone when it comes to celebrating Pride in May. In fact, events happen year-round across the globe. Traditionally, Pride festivities are held in June to commemorate the Stonewall Inn riots of June 28, 1969, in New York City. Though for a variety of reasons (i.e. weather, city functions), many communities choose to be “proud” elsewhere in the calendar year. Below is a look at major Pride celebrations planned for the remainder of 2013. How many will you attend?
May
4-12: Maspalomas Pride, Canary Islands, Spain 18-19: Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Long Beach, Calif. 24-26: Moscow Pride, Moscow, Russia 25-26: Birmingham Pride, Birmingham, United Kingdom 25-June3: Pride Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada 28-June 3: Gay Days Orlando, Orlando, Fla. 29-June 9: Capital Pride, Washington, D.C. 29-31: LGBT Festival, Gothenburg, Sweden 30-June 3: Sao Paulo Gay Pride, Sao Paulo, Brazil 31-June 9: Boston Pride Week 2013, Boston, Mass. 31-June 2: Utah Pride Festival, Salt Lake City, Utah 31-June 9: Oxford Pride, Oxford, United Kingdom
June
1: Honolulu Gay Pride, Honolulu, Hawaii 1-2: Pride 2013, Buffalo, N.Y. 1-2: LGBT Festival, Gothenburg, Sweden 1-2: Tulsa Pride, Tulsa, Okla. 1-7: ShanghaiPRIDE, Shanghai, China 2-7: Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, Tel Aviv, Israel 5-9: Key West Pride, Key West, Fla. 7-16: Edmonton Pride Festival, Edmonton, Canada 7-9: PrideFest Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis. 7-8: LA Pride, Los Angeles/West Hollywood, Calf. 8: Long Island Pride, Long Island, N.Y. 8: Spokane Pride Celebration, Spokane, Wash. 8-15: Saskatoon Pride Festival, Saskatoon, Canada 9-10: Motor City Pride, Detroit, Mich. 9-10: Blackpool Pride, Blackpool, United Kingdom 11: Capital Pride 2013, Albany, N.Y. 11 & 22-24: Gay Pride New Orleans, New Orleans, La. 14-16: Zurich Gay Pride, Zurich Switzerland 15: Nashville Pride Festival, Nashville, Tenn. 15-23: York Pride Fest, York, Canada
15: Lyon Lesbian and Gay Pride March, Lyon, France 15: LGBT Pride March Toulouse, Toulouse, France 15-17: Denver PrideFest 2013, Denver, Colo. 18-23: Vienna Pride, Vienna, Austria 20-23: Augusta Pride, Augusta, Ga. 20-21: Colorado Springs PrideFest 2013, Colorado Springs, Colo. 21-22: Columbus Gay Pride, Columbus, Ohio 21-30: Pride Toronto, Toronto, Canada 21-30: Oslo Pride, Oslo, Norway 22-30: NYC Pride, New York, N.Y. 24-30: Helsinki Pride 2013, Helsinki, Finland 28-30: PRIDEChicago, Chicago, Ill. 29: Cleveland Pride, Cleveland, Ohio 29: NWA Pride Parade, Fayetteville, Ark. 29-30: Pride Barcelona 2013, Barcelona, Spain 29-30: SF Pride, San Francisco, Calif. 29-30: Pride St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo. 29: St. Pete Gay Pride, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. 29: Pride Scotia, Edinburgh, Scotland 29: Pride Houston, Houston, Texas 29: Lexington Pride Festival, Lexington, Ky. 29-30: Twin Cities Gay Pride, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. 29-30: Albuquerque Pride, Albuquerque, N.M. 30: Seattle Pride, Seattle, Wash.
July
1: Bogota Gay Pride, Bogota, Colombia 1-7: Summer Camp/Independence, Provincetown, Mass. 1-8: Budapest Gay Pride, Budapest, Hungary 3-7: Madrid Gay Pride, Madrid, Spain 5-7: Cologne Gay Pride, Cologne, Germany 6-14: Munich Gay Pride, Munich, Germany 12-14: San Diego Pride, San Diego, Calif. 20-21: Colorado Springs PrideFest 2013, Colorado Springs, Colo. 27-Aug. 4: Amsterdam Pride, Amsterdam, Netherlands 27: Nottinghamshire Pride, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom 29-Aug. 4: Stockholm Gay Pride, Stockholm, Sweden
August
3-4: Gay Pride Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom 4: Capital Pride, Salem, Mass. 8: Leeds Pride 2013, Leeds, United Kingdom (Please see “Celebrations” on Page 40)
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 39
Celebrations (Continued from Page 39) 8-12: Reykjavik Gay Pride, Reykjavik, Iceland 12-18: Montreal Pride, Montreal, Canada 16-27: Manchester Pride 2013, Manchester, United Kingdom 18: Reno Gay Pride Festival, Reno, Nev. 24: Copenhagen Pride 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark 28-Sept. 2: Southern Decadence, New Orleans, La. 31: Reading Pride, Reading, United Kingdom
September
1-30: Brisbane Pride Festival, Brisbane, Australia 3-9: Gay Days/Las Vegas Pride, Las Vegas, Nev. 21: Austin Pride, Austin, Texas 29: Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco, Calif.
October
4-6: Gay Days Anaheim, Anaheim, Calif. 10-13: InterPride 2013, Montreal, Calif. 19: Sarasota Pride, Sarasota, Fla. 27-30: Eureka Springs Pride, Eureka Springs, Ark.
November
3-4: Greater Palm Springs LGBT Pride, Palm Springs, Fla. 10: Hong Kong Pride, Hong Kong, China
40 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 41
42 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 43
The Rodeo begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday in Barn 6 and 7. Tickets are $15 each day or $25 for the weekend. Children under 12 are free. Saturday evening, the Texas Gay Rodeo Association will be hosting the Texas Tea Party at the Copa starting at 6 p.m. The show is a fundraiser for Other Options, Inc., and features present and past royalty from TGRA. Sunday after the rodeo, a barbecue dinner will be served at Gusher’s Restaurant for $10 per person from 6 to 9 p.m. The awards ceremony will be held at the Copa starting at 8 p.m. The Great Plains Rodeo is the primary fundraiser for OGRA. Money raised from the event is given to the charity partners of the OGRA, which include Other Options and Expressions Community Center. Anyone wanting more information about volunteering, sponsoring or becoming a member of OGRA should send an e-mail to the organization at: president@ogra.net. More information about the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association and the Great Plains Rodeo can be found online at www.ogra.net.
ABOVE: A bull rider takes a tumble during a recent Great Plains Rodeo event. (Photo © CowboyFrank.net)
The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association is hosting the 28th annual Great Plains Rodeo on May 25-26 at Oklahoma State Fair Park as the conclusion of Oklahoma City Pride Week. OGRA has hosted the Great Plains Rodeo since 1986 at Oklahoma State Fair Park since becoming a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association in 1985. The rodeo consists of 12 events: Roping on Foot, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, Flag Racing, Pole Bending, Chute Dogging, Junior Bulls, Bull Riding, Goat Dressing, Steer Decorating and Wild Drag. These are all amateur events and are intended for anyone who wants to participate to be able to do so. Events begin Thursday, May 23, with a Welcome Party starting at 6 p.m. at the Habana Inn. In addition, there will be the Stick Horse Rodeo at 9 p.m. in the Finishline. On Friday afternoon, there will be an International Gay Rodeo Association Pool party at the Habana Inn with a cookout starting at 2 p.m. Registration for the Great Plains Rodeo will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the State Fair Grounds. Following registration there will be a Royalty Show held at P Too Mix.
Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association presents 28th annual Great Plains Rodeo
Cowboy Up!
44 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Equality Run set for June Dear Pride Goers, You have seen them everywhere. Mud runs, glow-stick runs, color runs, etc. Have you heard of the Equality Run? On June 29, Oklahomans from all walks of life will race in the state’s first-ever Equality Run 5k/10k. More will watch, volunteer and witness from the sidelines as history is made. The Equality Run is for everyone regardless of abilities, race, national origin, color, age, gender identity/expression or sexual orientation. Some will cross the finish line in a wheel chair, some will walk and some will run. I want everyone of every background to attend and support this race. So why do we people race? Why do people put their bodies through torment for 1, 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles? It’s internal. It’s causal. It’s purposeful. As an avid runner, when I cross the finish line, no matter the distance, I am overcome with an amazing feeling of euphoria. My motivations are personal, but the point is that I am motivated. I am motivated to run, to fight for equality and to motivate others to do the same. I recently finished the 26.2-mile OKC Memorial Marathon. I ran for two local charities. Mission accomplished. So why should you race for equality? The social and political environment in Oklahoma is arguably the most oppressive in America. Our leaders continue to try and control the uteruses of women, most poor people of color are shoved into neighborhoods and setup for failure, individuals with variant abilities are ignored, discriminatory legislation for the LGBT community continues
to advance and a lot of our elderly veterans are still living on the streets. Meanwhile, our politicians are spending tax dollars honoring Dog the Bounty Hunter, who has been married five times and is on record using racial slurs, just to name one example. But we continue to persevere. We continue to fight. We continue to push on. This is why we all must race for equality. It’s not about finishing first; it’s about finishing. It’s about Carrying the Torch for Equality. Recently, in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, President Obama spoke at a memorial. He spoke about perseverance and overcoming fears. He said, “And that’s what you’ve taught us, Boston. That’s what you’ve reminded us -- to push on. To persevere. To not grow weary. To not get faint. Even when it hurts. Even when our heart aches. We summon the strength that maybe we didn’t even know we had, and we carry on. We finish the race. We finish the race.” Will you finish the race on June 29? Go to www.EqualityRun5k. com or www.Facebook.com/EqualityRunOK and signup today! All the proceeds benefit your new Cimarron Alliance LGBT Equality Center in Oklahoma City.
Onward! Joshua Sauer 2013 Equality Run Race Director Cimarron Alliance Board of Directors
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 45
Gay wedding set for downtown Pride to kick off Festival with Marriage Equality Rally and Commitment Ceremony The national debate on gay marriage equality reached epic proportions recently as the Supreme Court heard arguments on Prop 8 and DOMA. While many opponents of same-sex marriage talk about how one-man, one-woman matrimony is “the way it’s always been,” people must understand that love between members of the same sex has always been, too. Thousands of LGBT couples call Oklahoma home. Some are Sooner State natives; others moved from elsewhere (often from places where their union is recognized). Some have been together for decades. Some have children, and many have at least fur-children. They all have one thing in common, even with their heterosexual counterparts: they love each other and they are families. Further, these families deserve the same rights and privileges that any family is granted. After all, love knows no gender. Whether or not the institution of marriage is important to you, having government recognize our partner as a family member is important to every one of us. Discrimination against LGBT families places unfair financial burdens on them. Heterosexual married couples can file taxes
46 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
jointly, include their spouse (and their spouse’s children) on their employer’s insurance plan and enjoy numerous tax incentives based on marital status. As if the death of a partner isn’t traumatic enough, LGBT survivors are faced with estate taxes, are not eligible for social security or veteran’s benefits and do not have the same protections for IRA accounts that heterosexuals do. Beyond the financial aspects, marriage equality means eligibility to sponsor a foreign partner, aids in the ability to adopt children and provides a formal framework to protect the interests of your spouse and family. Further, recognizing gay marriage legitimizes same-sex partnerships, paving the way to end employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, for example, and puts us one big step closer to achieving true equality. In support of our LGBT couples and their families, OKC Pride is hosting the “Love is Love” event on Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. on the Grand Lawn of the Myriad Gardens, directly across the street from the Devon Tower. Love is Love is a marriage equality rally where we will publicly recognize our couples in an effort to show Oklahoma that (Please see “Wedding” on Page 49)
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 47
48 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Wedding (Continued from Page 46) our LGBT families are stable, long-lasting and committed. Following guest speakers, a mass commitment ceremony will be held for couples who wish to celebrate and proclaim their bond with one another in the beautiful park setting. This event will kick off the 2013 Pride Festival, which will be held just two blocks away on historic Film Row. Ample free parking is available.   Everyone is encouraged to attend and wear red in support of marriage equality. For more information and registration, visit www.okcpride.org/love or join on Facebook at www.fb.com/okcpridefan.
www.cox.com/oklahoma
The Hilo Club 1221 NW 50 hiloclub.net 405-843-1722
www.sandburgersokc.com
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 49
“Proud. Strong. United.” A look back at Oklahoma City Pride 2012
(Photo Credit: Beau Michael-Ray Bohanan, beaubrands.com. ©2012-2013, Beau Brands & OUTadv.) 50 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 51
52 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 53
LGBT facts and figures * 9 million LGBT people live in the U.S., 3.8 percent of the adult population. * LGBT people are racially, ethnically and geographically diverse: 1 in 4 are people of color and same-sex couples have identified themselves on the Census in 99 percent of U.S. counties. * A substantial percentage of LGBT people are raising children: 1 in 5 same-sex couples and 6 percent of children in foster care are being raised by LGBT people. * The annual divorce rate for same-sex couples and different-sex married couples is similar – about 2 percent. * If all 50 states and the federal government recognized marriage for same-sex couples, the federal budget would benefit by more than $1 billion annually. * An estimated 1 million lesbians and gays are military veterans.
54 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
* In some American Indian cultures, having a same-sex attraction was called being Two-Spirited. The tribe honored such people as being especially blessed. * In 1629, the Virginia Court recorded the first instance of gender ambiguity among the American colonists. A servant named Thomas/Thomasine Hall is officially declared by the governor to be both “a man and a woman” and ordered to wear articles of each sex’s clothing. * In 1860, Walt Whitman published the homoerotic Leaves of Grass, which later inspired numerous gay poets. * The first U.S. novel to touch on the subject of homosexuality is Bayard Taylor’s 1870, “Joseph and His Friend.” * Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in 1978. The flag is the most prominent symbol of lesbian and gay pride. (Sources: Advocate.com, The Gay Almanac and Homosexuality & Civilization)
WISHING MY FRIENDS A HAPPY PRIDE CELEBRATION!
I have never backed down from my beliefs that everyone is equal. Willa Johnson County Commissioner Oklahoma County District One
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 55
56 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
DBA returns to Oklahoma City Business association anticipates membership of more than 300 by end of 2013 By Monty Milburn Contributor Diversity means Business. There is no denying that the view of Oklahoma City’s skyline has changed significantly over the last several years. Modern architecture, a new skyscraper and old buildings with a fresh look are everywhere. However, nowhere has a change in our city been more obvious than in business climate. New business brings new people to our city–many from more liberal environments around the world. With that comes a new outlook on business as a whole. Because of this change in climate, there was no better time than 2013 to reinvent the The Diversity Business Association.
DBA originally began in Spring 2005 after I had tremendous success with a booth at the previous year’s Oklahoma City Pride Festival. While talking with a dear friend and client, Rob Howard, who had just moved here from Minneapolis, where they have a large LGBT business association, like many around the country, he suggested that we look at launching one here. After several conversations, we recruited 12 like-minded people who then spread the word to other business owners and professionals. It was wildly successful but almost to a fault. Our dues were too low to give any of our members anything of value, and we were a 100 percent volunteer effort. So, in 2010, DBA faded out after many attempts to get other members involved in board positions failed, largely
due to the downturn in the economy and our members’ focus on their own jobs and businesses. However, it was missed greatly and the talk of its return never faded. In early 2012, Cimarron Alliance, under the guidance of Scott J. Hamilton and an amazing board came to me to discuss reviving DBA. It was a very slow process because we wanted to do it right, and we knew that we had some former members who were displeased with the way DBA ended its first time around. The Cimarron Board looked to Add Us In. Add Us In is a new initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The initiative is designed to identify and develop strategies to increase employment (Please see “DBA” on Page 62)
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 57
58 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 59
Meet your OKC Pride board The following individuals, along with countless other volunteer committee members, are responsible for this year’s Pride festivities:
Jeremy Crites President, Parade Chair Born and raised in rural Arkansas, Jeremy Crites is familiar with the struggle of coming to terms with sexual orientation in the very conservative environment of the Bible Belt. After graduating from Hendrix College in 2004 with a degree in German and International Business, he spent seven years working in Austria and Germany, where he witnessed an entirely different culture and lifestyle. Family brought him back to the United States in 2010. “Never dreaming I’d end up in Oklahoma, I found a city with good people, com-
60 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
mercial and cultural growth and a bold vision for the future. I’m very excited about the tremendous progress and the opportunity to help shape a better Oklahoma City for everyone who calls it home.” Professionally, Crites helps people buy and sell homes as a Realtor with Keller Williams. Crites joined the OKC Pride Board in February 2012 to be more involved with the LGBT community. After co-chairing the first downtown Festival for Pride 2012, he was elected President on Oct. 1, 2012. His goals for Pride are to instill a culture of inclusiveness and transparency and to engage the community to participate and actively shape their city’s Pride events. “Pride must grow and step outside its comfort zone if we are to properly represent the diversity of OKC’s LGBT community and effectively enlist our straight allies.”
Heather Herrera Vice President, Festival Chair, Director of Volunteers and Membership Heather Herrera has been involved with OKC Pride since 2011 and currently serves as the Board of Director’s Vice President. Beginning as a volunteer, Herrera quickly realized that the organization would be a long-term priority that she was honored to address. Herrera comes from a long history of non-profit work. From an early age, her family instilled the importance of volunteer work and commitment to a cause larger than yourself. She has volunteered with many charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Red Rover Responders, The Oklahoma City Rescue Mission and many animal welfare organizations. Herrera has served numer-
ous positions for the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, most recently facilitating a national mentorship program for organizations around the United States. She is an active foster parent and volunteer for pets in need in Oklahoma City. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her pets, shopping and laughing with her family. Herrera is now a Volunteer Services Professional with the Red Cross of Central and Western Oklahoma and is currently the Director of Volunteers and Membership for OKC Pride.
David Heath Holt Board Member, Secretary David Heath Holt has extensive experience in the mental health and addiction field. Holt worked for NorthCare as a clinician serving the homeless community and co-founded a local non-profit organization serving LGBT youth in Oklahoma City. Currently, he works for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services where he serves as the Coordinator for Community Advocacy and Wellness.
Holt received an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in Psychology, a graduate degree in Human Relations and a Women’s and Gender Studies graduate certificate from the University of Oklahoma. In addition, he is a published author, a Center for Social Justice Research Fellow and enjoys spending time with friends and family. This year marks Holt’s second term on the OKC Pride Board.
Tim Pesch Board Member, Treasurer Tim Pesch was raised on a farm in southwest Oklahoma and came out of the closet at age 20 through the support of his best friend. Pesch eventually moved to Lawton, where he met the man with whom he would spend the next 14 years. While in Lawton, he worked with several AIDS-related charities. Pesch and his partner never missed an OKC Pride weekend, and in 2002, they moved to Oklahoma City. He worked as a bartender at The Boom for 7 years, where he got to know a large part of the OKC community.
Pesch says, “I was amazed at the number of gay people and supporters at my first Pride event. Growing up I never knew that there were so many people like me in the world. I support Pride for that reason. I firmly believe that Pride helps young people to realize that they are not alone. My life partner took his life in 2007. As a survivor of suicide, I am an advocate of education and prevention.” Pesch volunteered for Pride before becoming treasurer for the 2012-13 fiscal year. He currently works as the business manager for a clinic.
Mahkesha Hogg Board Member Mahkesha Hogg was born June 26, 1980, in Midwest City. She is the daughter of a preacher and teacher/librarian and has one older sister living in Houston. She has a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Central Oklahoma and plans to obtain a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling. Hogg also is an artist and has her own (Please see “Board” on Page 62)
(405) 496-0011 “Keeping the FABULOUS south-central United States informed on current news and events affecting the LGBT community” Sign up for our RSS feed at www.gayly.com
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 61
Board
DBA
(Continued from Page 61)
(Continued from Page 57)
Arts & Crafts business - Keche’ Designs. She became a Human Rights activist in 2006 and loves working with the youth. Hogg is a straight ally for equality.
Christina Garcia Entertainment Coordinator for Block Party/Parade Fest
Joshua Trent Board Member
Christina Garcia of CG Event Planning & Management, LLC, is a dedicated mother, event planner and talent manager right here in OKC. She creates any type of event from bachelor/bachelorette parties and weddings to birthday parties and club events. She is local talent Jak’kay Monroe’s manager and promoter of the USofA system to D’Angelo, Kye, Brandon K. Young, Brandi Amara Sky and Alison Scott. This year, Garcia is volunteering her services to the Block Party/Parade Fest entertainment at OKC Pride with drag kings/queens, live singers, comedians, bands, burlesque and more. She will also bring a Ru Paul Drag Race Super Star to Angles on Wednesday, May 15. Garcia is very excited to be a part of something so important to the community and hopes to make 2013 the best OKC PRIDE yet! For more information about her services, contact: cg.eventplanningandmgmt@gmail.com
Born and raised in Western Oklahoma, Joshua Trent moved to the Oklahoma City Metro in 2005 to attend school at the University of Central Oklahoma. He currently owns a multimedia and consulting business and also writes for his home and garden website, JoshuaTrent.com. While his expertise is in multimedia and communications, Trent’s heart is in charity work and non-profits. He is an active member of numerous organizations and is a frequent volunteer and supporter for several arts and environmental programs across the Midwest. Trent joined the Pride board in Spring 2013 and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the organization and the LGBT community of Oklahoma. He lives in Oklahoma City with his partner, Luke. They will celebrate their ninth anniversary in June.
Patsy Gillispie Festival Entertainment Coordinator, Board Member Emeritus Patsy Gillispie joined OKC Pride in early 2012 as a committee member to help with the festival. She joins the team as a web design and technology guru, with much of her experience coming from her involvement in the non-profit sector. Gillispie is an avid community volunteer. She remains a volunteer with the Resource Center of Dallas and help support fundraising efforts for Operation Kindness, north Texas’s oldest no-kill animal shelter. She lives in Oklahoma City with her two dogs, Sweet Pea and Annie, and her “Latin pirate” kitty, Puddin Pie. She also holds a degree in Computer Forensics. 62 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Matt Harney Board Member Matt Harney is the founder and owner of Harney & Associates, a political and business consulting firm. Harney & Associates provides strategy and management, messaging, fundraising and direct mail services. Before launching his company, Harney served as Executive Director for the election arm of the Oklahoma House Democrats. He has served as a member of the Sierra Club, Stonewall Democrats, Marianne Vannatta Race with the Stars Committee and the Mesta Park Social Committee. Harney received both his bachelor’s degree in economics and his MBA from Oklahoma City University. He has been on the OKC Pride Board for two years and has served as the Fundraising and Education Committee Chairs.
opportunities within the small business community for individuals with disabilities. Included within the small business community are targeted businesses that are owned and operated by minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals; women, veterans and people with disabilities. The board worked closely with them and secured a grant allowing Cimarron to hire a staff member solely for The Diversity Business Association. With that ability, DBA was able to increase visibility, bring new ideas to the organization and to revamp itself as a more professional organization. The rest is history. DBA has exceeded its membership drive numbers and is on track to have more than 300 business members by the end of 2013. Our objectives this year are to not only encourage LGBT businesses to work together but to also work outside of the organization to take our message to the Oklahoma City metro community as a whole. We have also committed to two fundraisers outside of the LGBT community this year to show others that we can make a difference to the entire city. By being a bigger part Oklahoma City’s fabric, we will encourage others to look to us to boost many businesses and not just those that DBA services. Our members range from law firms to insurance agents and from waiters to artists. We are as diverse an organization as any you will find in the region, and we’re proud of the difference we have already made in the lives of many. Basic membership in The Diversity Business Association is just $120 per year, which allows a member and one guest to attend every event. Most of our mixers are the third Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Throughout the year we also do charitable work, such as cooking dinner for the good families at The Ronald McDonald house. We’d love to have you as part of DBA, and you can learn more by visiting us at dbaokc.com. Diversity really does mean Business.
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 63
Partners Club 2805 NW 36
405-942-2199
301 W Reno 405-445-7080 myriadgardens.org
P-Too Mix 2807 NW 36
facebook.com/ partnerstoo.okc
64 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
2013 Pride Parade route
okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 65
66 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
Thousands gathered in Tulsa for the 2012 Pride festivities. The organization last year celebrated its 30th anniversary. (Photo provided by OkEq)
Tulsa Pride at a glance • Tulsa Pride 2013 to include full weekend of events from May 31 until June 2. • Pride Pool Party at Holiday Inn City Center on May 31 from 3 to 9 p.m. • Pride Street Festival and Parade at Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on June 1. Festivities start at noon featuring award-winning Big Bad Gina on the main-stage. • Pride Picnic in the Park set for June 2, sponsored by Tulsa Shock. The event will feature an acoustic performance by Chasing Nadean. (Source: Oklahomans for Equality)
Plans underway for annual Tulsa Pride Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) announces details about Tulsa Pride 2013—a weekend of activities, which will include a Pool Party, Street Festival, Parade and Picnic in the Park. Tulsa Pride weekend begins on Friday, May 31, with the second annual Pride Pool Party at the Holiday Inn Tulsa City Center pool from 3 to 9 p.m. The Street Festival and Parade will be held Saturday, June 1, featuring award-winning headliners Big Bad Gina, along with performances from Oklahoma’s finest Drag Queens and Kings, the 2013 Tulsa Pride Idol and special guest DJs. During the month of May, Tulsans can enjoy many events preceding the Tulsa Pride 2013 weekend at local venues promoting “Pride Nights.” Patrons can find information about Tulsa Pride and win prizes and other Tulsa Pride memorabilia at each event. Details on “Pride Nights”
are available on the new Tulsa Pride smartphone app—available on Apple and Android devices or online at www.TulsaPride.org. Among the non-stop entertainment planned for the June 1 Street Festival is the headlining band, award-winning Fayetteville, Ark., group Big Bad Gina, described as a “fun and funky Goddess-folk-fusion band with a soulful, jazzy flair.” Tulsa native, and crowd favorite, Eric Himan returns to rock the Street Festival. His music has recently been featured on Sirius/XM’s Coffeehouse radio station with his song, “Save The Afternoon” and version of the Simply Red classic, “Holding Back the Years.” The brainchild of Summer Trottier and Mal Bailey, Paper Anchors, an indie-electro-pop ensemble from Springfield, Mo., makes its Tulsa Pride debut this year. Paper Anchors released its latest con(Please see “Tulsa” on Page 69) okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 67
“In my 84 years, I have witnessed the unimaginable progress of the LGBT community–from gay soldiers being tossed out of the army to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; from the Stonewall Riots to the election of a lesbian to the United States Senate; from anti-sodomy laws to our President’s support of same-sex marriage; and from the Oklahoma City Council’s removal of gay banners on Classen Blvd., to the celebration of the 2013 Pride Parade–on the very same street. Why has this happened? It’s about people getting to know who their neighbors really are. Harvey Milk put it this way: “Let’s make no mistake about this: The American Dream starts with the neighborhoods. If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild our neighborhoods. And to do that, we must understand that the quality of life is more important than the standard of living. To sit on the front steps– whether it’s a veranda in a small town or a concrete stoop in a big city–and to talk to our neighbors is infinitely more important than to huddle on the living room lounger and watch a make-believe world in not-quite living color.” As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I salute the Oklahoma City LGBT community and what you have done for everyone in our state.
68 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
– Bob Lemon Straight, but not narrow
Tulsa (Continued from Page 67) temporary synth/electronic pop album, “In Pixels,” in October. Local Queer rapper and singer/songwriter, $erious $tanley makes his mainstage debut in 2013, after having DJ’d for the last two years. $erious $tanley is dedicated to the mission of raising visibility for LGBT musicians and is set to release his third album, “Futurelove,” this summer. Tulsa Pride weekend concludes June 2 with Tulsa Pride Picnic in the Park pre-
sented by the Tulsa Shock. A throwback to the beginning of Pride in Tulsa, 31 years ago in 1982, this year’s Picnic in the Park will feature a small entertainment stage with Northwest Arkansas’ Chasing Nadean performing for the crowd. Tulsa Pride Director Patrick French said, “Bring your own food, ice chests, kids and, of course, your pets to enjoy a great day at the park!” Tulsa Pride and Oklahomans for Equal-
ity invite all LGBT and allies to these 2013 events. Tulsa Pride would like to thank our sponsors, volunteers and the Oklahoma LGBT and allied community for supporting Tulsa Pride. Tulsa Pride is still seeking additional volunteers to help staff each of the events. Sign-up on www.tulsapride.org to be a part of these exciting events and receive a special Volunteer T-Shirt.
2218 NW 39 - 601-7200 www.theboomokc.com
The Paramount theparamountokc.com
701 w sheridan 405-517-0787
Get the latest news about Pride online at www.okcpride.org
www.JoeysPizzeriaOKC.com 405-525-8503 • 700 W. Sheridan
2201 NW 39 - 521-9888 okcpride.org | Pride Guide 2013 | 69
- Parting Shot -
An attendee at the 2012 Parade shows off her colorful boa. (Photo by Beau Michael-Ray Bohanan, of OUTadv a beaubrands.com company. Š20122013, Beau Brands.)
70 | Pride Guide 2013 | okcpride.org
We’d like to acknowledge our sponsors for making this year’s Pride a success!
(405) 496-0011
OKCEstateSales.com Nick Post - Bob Lemon
e FABULOUS south-central United States informed news and events affecting the LGBT community”
ign up for our RSS feed at www.gayly.com
Cox Communications - HiLo Club - S&B’s Burger Joint Partners - P-Too Mix - Expressions Community Fellowship The Paramount - Myriad Gardens - Sodexo Joey’s Pizzeria - Phoenix Rising - Tramps - The Boom