June 20, 2011
By Joe Siegel/TRT Reporter
On Saturday, June 18, Rhode Island’s LGBT community held their 35th annual Pride celebration in Providence. The day featured sunny skies, lots of heat, and passionate performances from several local entertainers.
This year’s theme, “I am, you are, we are a revolution”, was meant to reflect the revolutionary changes which have occurred in the fight for LGBT equality throughout the past 4 decades.
Thousands of people flooded the streets of Providence to cheer on the marchers and floats featured in the Nighttime Illuminated Parade.
The parade began at the corner of Empire and Weybosset streets and proceeded in front of City Hall, where the reviewing stand was set up.
Parade Grand Marshals were Governor Lincoln Chafee (I), Providence Mayor Angel Tavares, and former WPRI news anchor Karen Adams, a longtime supporter of LGBT causes. Chafee is the first Governor who has given an endorsement to a Gay Pride celebration.
One of the floats featured a tribute to the 70’s cult hit, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Another featured a Lady Gaga impersonator popping out of a giant egg.
P-FLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Youth Pride, Inc. (YPI), and SeaQuel (Southeast Asian Queers United for Empowerment and Leadership, a program of the Providence Youth Student Movement), were among the organizations participating in the parade.
This year’s festival was held for a second year in a row on South Water Street, alongside the Providence River. In past years the event was held at Station Park, across from the State House.
Belle Pellegrino, a veteran of the first RI Pride celebration in 1976, reflected on the 35th anniversary: “It’s just amazing to see how it’s grown through all the years.”
The organizers of that event had to go to court to fight for the right to have Gay Pride events in the city of Providence. The small group of participants were taunted and harassed by onlookers. It was not an easy time to be openly gay or lesbian.
Another one of the “76ers”, Billy Mencer-Ackerly, said he felt “fantastic” about being at Pride this year. Mencer-Ackerly was 25 years old at the first parade in 1976 and has been to every one since then.
“Every year I’ve been able to see it change and grow,” he said.
Pellegrino and Mencer-Ackerly were also delighted to see a sitting Governor lend his support to Pride, noting Chafee has been a loyal supporter of the GLBT community for many years, including his time as a United States Senator.
This year’s headliner was legendary disco diva Thelma Houston who sang her hits including “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and a slew of 60s soul classics.
Pride also featured special performances from the King and Queen of Pride, Miss Gay RI Victoria Star, Mr. Gay RI Jesse Ciolfi, Miss Lesbian RI Lisa DeCesare, Kid Akimbo, Ariel Aparicio, Mary Day Band, B-Hive, Baby Oil, Jackie Collins, Sister Funk, Candace Brooks Band, Young Kaii, Tiptons Sax Quartet, The Imperial Court of Rhode Island, and Sabrina Blaze. Emcees included Miss Kitty Litter, Jacqueline DiMera, Vi’Let, Haley Star, and Genesis.
Vendors manned booths all along South Water street, selling Pride merchandise, including clothing, jewelry, and other trinkets.
AIDS Care Ocean State, AIDS Project Rhode Island, and Human Rights Campaign all were on hand to gather support for their services.
The festivities continued well into the night, with block parties and special events being held all over the city.
The Rev. Eugene T.
