Pounding music could be heard two blocks away from Steele Indian School Park in every direction Saturday afternoon. Throngs of people filed through the gates of the park. An abundance of tutus and rainbows could be seen.
Laughter was heard over the music and vibration of the bass. Smiles adorned the faces of those wandering into Phoenix Pride Festival.
The Pride Festival took place on April 5 and 6, along with the Phoenix Pride Parade on April 5. The parade started at Thomas Road and Third Street, traveled north up Third Street and concluded at Steele Indian School Park.
The festival portion of the Pride festivities included food vendors, beer and wine, musical entertainment and vendor and sponsor booths.
Pride is not strictly an LGBT festival and the event makes a point to be open to all of Phoenix’s communities.
Carrie Schmertz, an LGBT ally, said Pride “isn’t about being straight or gay, it’s just being supportive.”
Phoenix has hosted a variety of pride events for over 30 years. The first Pride march took place in 1981, a march and rally moving from Patriots Square Park to the Arizona State Capitol. Almost 10 years later the Pride Festival was born. The Pride Parade joined the roster in 1997.
“Pride is important, it will always be important. It’s not just a party in the park,” said Shannon Lank, chair of the Phoenix Pride board of directors.
Phoenix Pride drives its funds back into the community. One opportunity that the festival offered to qualifying organizations is the Phoenix Pride Beverage Grant Program.
“Different organizations can apply and they can work the beverage stands and the beer trucks and be able to gain a portion of the proceeds back to that organization,” Lank said.
Organizations apply to Pride’s beverage committee. If their application is approved, they have a chance to earn money for their organization. Last year, almost $50,000 were dispensed to a number of organizations that support the community.
“We’re also really proud that our community foundation started in 2008 and this year we hit the half-million mark,” Lank said. “We’ll give back half-million as of this year, back into the community.”
LGBT awareness and education is a large part of what Pride stands for.
The Pride Parade and Festival is the largest LGBT community event in Phoenix. There’s also the Miss and Mister Phoenix Gay Pride Pageant in March, the Pride Gala in June, which gave out $25,000 in scholarships and rewards last year and the free-to-attend Rainbow Festival is in October and sets up in Heritage Square downtown.
The main music stage in Saturday and Sunday’s Pride Festival provided entertainment by the fiery, red-haired Reba McEntire impersonator “Fancy” and many other musical acts.
The smell of barbecue, fry bread and Philly cheese steak sandwiches filled the air. Vendors set up in rows of white tents, allowing attendees to meander through to buy shirts and rainbow flags. There were dance floors and blaring music for the rhythmically gifted attendees.
Pride is a place to “be yourself and be who you are without a second thought to people judging you,” Lank said.
Two men wore army vests, matching bright pink socks and combat boots. Other men sported Speedos in many bright colors. Women were dressed in tutus and bathing suit tops. Some dressed in full length gowns with matching heels.
Steve Loomis, who traveled from Albuquerque, N.M. with his partner, said Pride is “an opportunity to be ourselves.”
Contact the reporter at Riannon.Maki@asu.edu
