Pride Day '91 Preview  1

It’s finally time to come out of hibema-
tion and take to the streets once again as
Vermont’s 9th Annual Pride Day takes
place on Saturday, June 22, in Burlington.
The theme for this year’s event is “The
Dawning of a New Age.”

Pride ‘91 will get underway with a
rally at noon near the steps on the Church
Street side of City Hall. A march through
the streets of Burlington will begin
promptly at 12:30 and should last about
half an hour, after which the rally will
continue on the City Hall steps.

Live entertainment will be provided
inside at the Contois Auditorium from 3-
5:00. Performers will include Vermont’s
own Lisa McCormick as well as New
Hampshire’s Pearly Gates. Comedienne
Liz Sampson will serve as emcee of the
show, which will also feature several sur-
prise guests.

After dinner out on the town, cele-
brants are invited to the downstairs area of
Memorial Auditorium, where Virginia and
the Wolves will provide rollicking music
for a dance from 7-11:00. Admission will
be $6 - $15 on a sliding scale.

In the event of rain, the afternoon
events (excluding the march) will be held
indoors at Contois Auditorium. The availa-
bility of this rain-date location was one of
the major reasons for moving Pride Day
from Montpelier back to Burlington, where
it began nine years ago.

According to Pride Committee Chair-
person Ronnie Bancroft, the Burlington
location also improved the chances of
having live entertaimnent in the afternoon.
Many performers were reluctant to risk the
weather outdoors at the State House in
Montpelier, where, as last year’s Pride Day
participants can attest, Mother Nature chal-
lenged the spirit of those in attendance.
(The marchers held out against the down-
pours, it should be noted, showing that
when it comes to celebrating our communi-
ties, we’re one determined and willful lot.)

Bancroft noted that while having the
event in Montpelier did increase its politi-
cal significance and was somewhat more
accessible to other areas in the state, it
didn’t make practical sense in the long run,
particularly in terms of finding a rain loca-
tion.

Relocating Pride Day was no small
task, and Bancroft noted that there were
some major obstacles to overcome, includ-
ing securing the parade permit needed for
the march. At press time, final details were
still being brought together even as the
major structuring for the day had been
accomplished. ’

In order to facilitate planning for Pride
Day, the group Vermont Pride was organ-
ized last year with the sole function of
doing the groundwork for Pride Day activi-
ties. Bancroft noted that the existence of
Vermont Pride allowed for “some real
bonding with the other Pride committees in
the area.” New Hampshire Pride in particu-

UNIVERSHV OF VERMONT ‘ti

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JUN 11 199‘ E

groups sharing resources to strengthen
them in their common mission.

Other groups have also joined in the
spirit of Pride Day. OUTRIGHT VER-
MONT has planned a “Camp in Queen
City” party on Pride Day eve (Friday night.
June 21). The dance will take place at
Contois Auditorium from 7- 1 1:00 p.m. and
is co-sponsored by the Multicultural Coun-
cil of Vermont. Prizes will be awarded for
the “campiest queers” to appear.

Vermont C.A.R.E.S. (Committee for
Aids Resources, Education, and Services)
will be holding an open house on Pride Day.
You can visit them at their offices down-
stairs at 30 Elmwood Avenue.

Tables will be available at City Hall for
groups wishing to distribute or sell their
wares. Interested parties should Contact the
Pride Committee at 479-1250 to reserve
space. Further information can also be
obtained at that number.