Florida Agenda

FORT LAUDERDALE – Pride One of Broward County, Inc., which operates as Pride South Florida and produces Greater Fort Lauderdale’s annual spring Pridefest, announced the election of its 2012/2013 Executive Board, and Members at Large. Among the officers elected to replace the outgoing board—which this year produced the organization’s 35th anniversary show—are longtime LGBT activist and Pridefest co-organizer Marc Hansen, who will serve as co-chair and president

Board Members at Large include pioneering LGBT business leader Roger Handevidt, activists Sonia Mitchell, Shawn Manning, Megan Wright, Richard Cimoch, and Tiffany Smith, and LGBT publishing executives Scott Holland and John Fugate. Rounding out the board are co-chair and vice president Marc Sharphorn, secretary Rocky Bowell, treasurer Tim Towey, and board member emeritus Miss Vickie Keller.

In addition to its incoming board, the organization announced the recipients for its 2012 grants, which are given to local charitable and service organizations that serve the needs of South Florida’s LGBT community. Said Pride South Florida’s Hansen, “Each year, we try and give out as much as possible, while holding enough back to organize and operate the following year’s event. This year we had many interested in our grants, but just $12,000 to hand out.”

Hansen notes that although not every organization that applied for a grant was a beneficiary, most applicants walked away happy. “In that process, there were some that received a full grant of $1,500 and others that we had to split the grant in order to make sure those we felt were worth got something, instead of being left behind with nothing,” he added. This year’s Pride South Florida grant presentation ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 23 at 12 p.m., at the South Florida Gilda’s Club office, located at 119 Rose Drive, Fort Lauderdale.

The organizations that will receive this year’s Pride One of Broward County Grants—totaling $12,000— are: the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation; the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus; Red Hispana; the Pride Wind Ensemble; the Names Project of South Florida; SAGE of South Florida; KP Productions; ARROW [Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women], the Lambda Men’s Brotherhood, And H.O.M.E.S., Inc.

This weekend is the 34^th annual PrideFest produced by Pride South Florida. Again this year, the festival will held at Jaco Pastrorius Park on North Dixie Highway and NE. 40 Court in Oakland Park. Pridefest will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13 from noon to 6 p.m.

Entertainment this year includes Chely Wright, Georgie Porgie, Linda Clifford, Chantal Carrere, Debby Holiday, Shelina, Teri Catlin, Heather Craig, Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, Marc Hansen, Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Chorus, South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble, KP Productions, Church of the Holy Spirit Song, Mark Angelo Cummings, Rising Action Theatre and Bishop SF Makalani-MaHee.

Spinning in the dance tent this year will be D.J. MIIK, D.J. Bugie, D.J. Sol and D.J. Gina.

Masters of Ceremonies this year will be Craig Stevens, Donna & Denise and Derek Hartley.

Florida’s oldest gay pride celebration is a must-see once again this year.

If you go, what you need to know:

- Pridefest 2011 is on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 & 13, 2011 from noon to 6 p.m. both days.
- Pridefest is at Jaco Pastorius Park, Dixie Highway and NE 40th Ct in Oakland Park.
- Pridefest fees are $5 parking and $5 entry.  No bills larger than $20 will be accepted.

- Please park in the on-site lots or in off-site locations.  Pride South Florida is offering a free shuttle to get you from your vehicle to the gate.  Please park legally, towing and ticketing will be enforced.
- Pride South Florida reserves the right to inspect all handbags, knapsacks or any other large containers.
- You may not pass out materials at Pridefest unless you are a paid vendor.  Materials will be confiscated and you will be ejected.
- You may exit, but re-entry will be required through the entry gate to be inspected once again.
- No pets, coolers, outside food or drink are allowed.
- Please feel free to bring blankets and sun chairs to enjoy the entertainment. No sun umbrellas please.

Enjoy the Party!

Make sure to stop by the Florida Agenda, Mark’s List and Mark Magazine booth a Pridefest 2011 and say hello.

Through the support of our wonderful sponsors, and dedication of our selfless volunteers and board members, Pride South Florida wishes to announce the success of Pridefest 2010, “Celebrating You.”

While attendance, and revenue, was lower than expected, PSF continues the tradition of giving back to the community organizations that support your needs.

Fourteen organizations requested funding for a variety of projects for 2010.  PSF Grants will be awarded to the following Broward Non-Profit organizations for their service and projects enhancing the lives of Broward’s LGBT population.

Pride South Florida is delighted to Celebrate:

1. Red Hispana Florida $1000- A safe place where LGBT and straight can view films on LGBT issues; acceptance and understanding, self worth or HIV issues and bridge the acceptance gap between the communities.

2. South Florida Musical Guild-Pride Wind Ensemble $1000- Support the fall concert entitled “Heavy Classics ll.”

3. South Florida Gay Men’s Chorus $500- Assist with production costs to present 3 major concerts for the coming year.

4. KP Productions $1000- Provide quality entertainment to seniors suffering with debilitating illnesses that reside in assisted or day care facilities and are physically unable to travel to attend performances outside the facility.

5. Women in Network (WIN) $1000- Continue to provide quality monthly programming for members and to increase programs to include full LGBT participation.

6. Arts United $1000- To support “Art Explosion 11.”  Two Weeks of art, film, music, theatre, literature, comedy, and cabaret by LGBT talent through South Florida.

7. Transgender Equality Rights Initiatives (TERI) $1000-To serve and give a voice to the most under-served community under the LGBT umbrella.  To educate elected officials and the general public, and change human rights legislation. To provide programs and opportunities for the transgendered community.  To serve as a coalition network of local organizations.

8. Stonewall Library and Archives $1000- To support production and distribution of the stonewall exhibition “Where the Gays Are: Fifty years in Fort Lauderdale.”

9. Names Project (AIDS Memorial Quilt) $1000-To recognize the enormity of the AIDS crisis thru community education and awareness.

10. Lambda Men’s Brotherhood $500-Creation of a website and educational materials to build awareness/education between the leather community and the LGBT and straight communities.

Pride South Florida is an all volunteer non-profit organization, which produces the annual Pridefest, a celebration and tribute to the LGBT community.  Proceeds from Pridefest serve as the primary income producer for various grant programs and public benefit opportunities bestowed throughout the year.
Pridefest 2011 is scheduled to be held on  March 12 & 13, 2011.