calendar:
april 200

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www.mountainpridemedia.orgIcaIen

OUT-ra ous at Mardi Gras
Oompa oompas. Plastic Beads.

Willy Wonka. Queer Youth. These
are just a few of the sights and
sounds you would have heard on
Saturday March 1st on Church
Street in Burlington. Never passing
up a chance to dress up in outra-
geous costumes and throw trinkets
at revelers, Outright Vermont and
UVM's Free 2 B teamed up to build
and ride a float in the 2003 Magic
Hat Mardi.Gras parade.

. it started as a mere dream
by a few dedicated and some would
say "crazy" youth at Outright and

’ members of Free 2 B back in
November. By the morning of the

parade the "V\filly Wonka & the
Chocolate Factory" float was
packed with decorations, beads,
chocolates and an eager crowd of
queer youth ready to have a great
time. More than 20 youth and volun-
teers became the “Wonka Crew”
and turned a little pick up truck into
a “Golden Ticket“ bead machine. A
variety of characters from the
Wonka movie were created includ-
ing Willy Wonka, Ted TV, Grampa
Joe, Violet and a small anny of
oompa loompas.

Despite a few glitches in
the float design, everyone who par-
ticipated had a blast. Plans are
already in the works for a float for

compass

next year that will be bigger, louder
and more fabulous!

Out Walking for COTS
The 14th annual COTS Walk-COTS

Walk 2003 is Sunday, May 4, in
downtown Burlington.

The annual Walk raises
funds for emergency shelter and
services for homeless Vermonters.
Last year, 1,600 people came to\the
Committee on Temporary Shelter
(COTS) when they had no place
else to go. On May 4th over 1,000
walkers will walk three miles in their
shoes.

A The COTS Walk is a 3-
mile trek around downtown

Burlington. lt mirrors the route a
homeless person might take in a
day for shelter, meals, and services.
Walkers will see what homeless
shelters look and feel like. They'll
meet the staff and learn how the
pledges they raise provide home-
less families and individuals with a
warm, safe place to spend the
night.

COTS‘ new program —
transitional housing for families —
will be part of this year's Walk route
at 278*Main Street. This site
opened in November and provides
temporary housing for up to 10 fam-
ilies.

The Walk begins and ends

dar_index.htm

at St. Pau|’.s Cathedral, corner of
Battery and Cherry Streets.
Registration starts at 2:00.
Sabatucada drummers will lead 0377
the Walk. Dr. Jazz and the Dixie W
Shots will welcome walkers back W
refreshments at the end of the
route-a COTS Walk tradition.

This year,s goal is M
$110,000. Walker packets are ready
for distribution. For information and
Walk materials, call COTS at 802-
864-7402 or register on the website
www.cotson|ine.org. _

, Many businesses, organ"
zations, and individuals
help sponsor the Walk. 
All costs are covered by