Visit us at our new address: comeoutwithpride.blogspot.com

Ab Fab Costume Celebration. A COWP Fundraising Event.

REHEARSE YOUR BEST AB FAB LINES…because come Out With Pride is bringing PATSY and EDDY for a little celebration at the fancy white room of Circa 1926 Sweetie Darling!

Happy Hour from 7 to 8pm with complimentary appetizers courtesy of CIRCA 1926. Drink specials all evening.

Get your picture taken with Pasty and Eddy on the red carpet.
…Come dressed as your favorite AB FAB character for a chance to win $150 and 2 VIP Passes for Come Out With Pride / Raffle with amazing prizes.

ALL proceeds benefit COME OUT WITH PRIDE and will be put towards the making of a FABULOUS event on October 10, 2010

$15 donation at the door (includes 1 raffle ticket)

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

CIRCA Restaurant

CIRCA 1926
BOWLED OVER PROMOTIONS
BALANCE MASSAGE & STRUCTURAL WORK
PRACTICALLY PERFECT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

With raffle prizes from CIRCA 1926, CHOCOLATE PROVOCATEUR, JONATHAN FLOWERS and many more…

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Question: Why do we have Pride at all when there’s so much acceptance out there? How do you counter that argument and how do you counter the argument that Pride Parades don’t really advance the GLBT cause?

Stuart Milk: You know 30 years after Harvey was killed, we have no more federal equality than we did then. So the laws do not say that we have acceptance, the laws do not say we have equality. So when you’re young, in particular, and the law says you can’t serve in the military – you’re less, and the law says  you can’t get married – you’re less and the law says you can get fired from your job just because you’re LGBT then what that says to that young person is, don’t accept yourself. Pride is the one amazing thing that can counter that.

via YouTube – Come Out With Pride 2009 (The Importance of Pride) featuring Stuart Milk.

Melissa Rodriguez, 30, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said the mood was intoxicating: “It’s like a celebration of being who you are, of being yourself – no judging.”

via Thousands cheer as Gay Pride March colors New York City’s streets.

Gina Duncan, Rally Director for Come Out With Pride 2010 received today the first letters of endorsement from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan. The letters were accompanied by an official proclamation making October 10 COME OUT WITH PRIDE day.

Executive Producer for Development Mikael Frank Audebert announced an extensive plan to have a 4 day celebration and is currently working with its team on official event line up for the October 7-10, 2010 celebration. “Government endorsements are important to provide the event the credibility it deserves as the second largest pride event in the State and among the top 10 in the nation” said Audebert. “When the head of downtown PUBLIX shares with you that Pride is the largest revenue producing day of the year for them, you go home proud of what you accomplish on a daily basis by knowing all the businesses around the lake will benefit from the months of hard work” Audebert added.

Come Out With Pride 2010 will be held on 10-10-10, a symbolic date for the city. It will feature legendary and Olympic Gold medalists Greg Louganis and Mary Ellen Clark. Entertainment will be provided by the always amazing Martha Wash and Gay recording artist Brian Kent.

ENDORSEMENTS RECEIVED TO DATE:

right to left: Mikael Frank Audebert (Exec. Producer), Dr. David Baker-Hargrove (Senior Exec. Producer), Scott Pruitt (Financial Director) & Robert Baker-Hargrove

Come Out With Pride proudly represented at the annual fundraiser “Babes in Bonnets” to benefit the Orlando Youth Alliance.

Dr. David Baker Hargorve, President of MBA and Senior Executive Producer of Come Out With Pride wore a  “Ares” (Greek God) inspired hat designed by Dan Williams. The item was actioned off for a record $500.

Extract from Watermark Article:

For the second year in a row, Babes in Bonnets benefitted the Orlando Youth Alliance. In spite of a format change this year, Dr. David Baker-Hargrove, president of Come Out With Pride, performed alongside local performers.

Baker-Hargrove’s Mask and Hat combination featuring Ares, the Greek God of War, helped celebrate this year’s Pride theme: 10-10-10: A Pride of Olympian Proportions.

The “bonnet” received the highest bid at $500, which went to the Orlando Youth Alliance.

“Come Out With Pride and MBA were very pleased to participate and raise much needed funds,” Baker-Hargrove said.

Miami Beach Gay Pride will take place on April 17, 2010 with a series of events happening before and after the 17th. On the 19th, Source Events has organized a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas. Other events have been scheduled to complete the first Pride celebration of the year.

For more information on Miami Beach Gay Pride and its official schedule, visit their website at www.miamibeachgaypride.com

For more information on Come Out With Pride, visit www.comeoutwithpride.com and stay tuned for the unveiling of its new website May 1.

The unveiling of Come Out With Pride official theme and line up will be filmed and transmitted live on its website April 17, 2010. Stay tune for times.

I was asked again this year to be part of this amazing production Come Out With Pride has become. With one change: I was promoted to Executive Producer for Development. Needless to say that I am extremely honored and excited at the same time to be donating my time to such a great cause, hoping to contribute in making this year’s edition one to be remembered for years to come. In 2009, working on Come Out With Pride has helped all of us on the production team, including myself, go through a very difficult year. Its excitement, challenges and the ability to grow one’s network and knowledge though the organization has been extremely helpful to a lot of us. All leading to the amazing satisfaction of delivering the best event in Orlando’s gay history..at least until this year!

Once again, on 2010 an amazing team of 20 unpaid volunteers (it is important to point it out as some believe we financially benefit from this) is about to kick start the production of a new edition of Come Out With Pride. Set to become the largest event of the region with a budget this year exceeding $150,000, this year’s pride will be celebrating great Gay athletes. 10-10-10: A Pride Of Olympian Proportions will take place October 7 through the 10th. We expect over 60,000 from all over the country celebrating during a 4-day period.

We are currently working on a great line up of legendary headliners, from comedians to singers as well as creating over 7 different events of various sizes. The production team welcomes a few new faces this year: John Wiltsey (Allied Events Director), Mark Cady (Marketing Director), Diana Stefanyszyn (Fundraiser Director), Jake Green (Public Communication Director), Charles Orden (Sponsorship Associate) and Rick Claggett as Executive Producer for Operations.

The profits generated by Come Out With Pride go directly into programs such as grants for worthy LGBT or LGBT related causes, MBA Cares (a new program for Senior Citizens in nursing homes) and the development of programs that promote diversity in the workplace and the growth of gay owned businesses.

Stay tuned for more information. We will keep you updated as often as possible. In the meantime, visit http://www.comeoutwithpride.org and find links to be added to our Facebook fan page or follow us on Twitter.
You may also visit the MBA website (parent company of Come Out With Pride) to learn more on how to become a member and join a great cause: http://www.mbaorlando.org

Thank you to all of our sponsors, city and county officials and State representatives for their continuing support in bringing Orlando the largest LGBT celebration.

See you in numbers on 10-10-10!

Mikael Frank Audebert
Executive Producer for Development & Board Member | Come Out With Pride, Inc.
Technology Director & Board Member | Metropolitan Business Association

Joseph will then fly to Washington DC for the National Equality March and to promote the repeal of ” Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies.

Joseph’s attendance is made possible thanks to the generosity of RE/MAX Town Center and Charlie Orden.

More information on Pride weekend official events: http://www.comeoutwithpride.org

Excerpt from an AP bulletin:

Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.

An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out.
Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.

An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out…

…Rocha said he enlisted in the Navy in 2004 to demonstrate his commitment to earning an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy after he wasn’t admitted to the school.

In June 2007, he was accepted at the academy prep school in Newport, R.I., where candidates can build the academic skills they need to be accepted to the four-year academy. While there, Rocha said depression resulting from his experience in Bahrain made him decide to tell school officials he was gay. He was isolated from other students for two months, then honorably discharged in October 2007.

“I was faced with the idea of being in a navy that condoned this for another decade,” Rocha said. “I wouldn’t have allowed myself to live like that anymore.”

A letter from Rocha’s doctor at the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco confirms that he has been diagnosed with PTSD.

Rocha, now a student at the University of San Diego, hopes he can one day return to serve openly in the military as a Marine Corps officer.

“I’m just waiting for the policy to be repealed,” Rocha said.