Want to contribute to Pride London Festival? We sure could use your help.
Please send your cheques big and small, payable to Pride London Festival, to our address at 186 King Street, Unit 30, London Ontario, N6A 1C7.

Pride London Festival 2010 Homepage Log:

Here you can find logged current and not so current news items that appear or appeared on the Pride London Festival 2010 website homepage. We are hoping to archive the pridelondon.ca homepage and events page for each year for posterity.

Pride Week July 15-25 at a Glance!

Pride Festival kicks off! Check out Pride London Festival event schedule for the Pride Week, July 15th to the 25th, and entertainment lineup on our Events page. Or view our quick printable events overview poster. For more parade info check our Parade page.

Tuesday, July 20th

Buffet Dinner at Brennan's Beer Bistro

5pm at 347 Clarence St next door to Grooves, $15 per person.

For more information, call 519-858-9900

Literary Night at Brennan's Beer Bistro

At 347 Clarence St next door to Grooves

The evening starts at 7:00pm and ends around 10pm. $5.00 admission.

This year, Makeda Silvera will be the main reader. This Toronto-based writer is well-known as the co-founder and managing editor of Sister Vision Press.

She has brought stories from her Carribbean background to the fore, including novels, anthologies, short stories, and feminist studies. Her works include: The Heart Does Not Bend, Piece of My Heart and Man Royals and Sodomites.

She was a member of the editorial collective of Fireweed, a feminist journal. She was also a member of Zami, a Toronto based community organization for Black and Caribbean gays and lesbians, started in 1984.

Also we are hoping to hear Pat Brown, a writer of Gay male detective fiction.

  Brennan's Beer Bistro and Elite Catering by Design
  347 Clarence St next door to Grooves
  519-858-9900

More information here.

Monday, July 19th

Tune in all day to CHRW Radio 94.9FM

All Gay All Day

CHRW Radio 94.9FM, A Proud Sponsor of Pride London Festival

On Monday July 19th, tune in to 94.9 CHRW to listen to 24-Hour All Gay, All Day marathon in support of 2010 Pride London Festival. And then, be sure to listen every Monday night at 10pm as the Rainbow Radio Network continues an 18 year tradition of GLTBQ2 programming in the London area! 94.9 CHRW... A Proud Sponsor of Pride London Festival!

Also, Between te Margins, a show about Human Rights and People's Pursuit of "Happily Ever After," www.betweenthemargins.ca, may be heard, alternating Mondays at 11am on CHRW, Your Cure for Corporate Radio. Give it a trial listen now at http://www.betweenthemargins.ca/archives/btm_pride_show_sm.mp3 or visit the website for a list of shows available for your listening pleasure.

Pride and London Sports Alliance (LSA) Bowling @ Bowlerama Royale

7pm to 10pm @ Bowlerama Royale, 2086 Dundas St. East

Pride Bowling Fun $15 each includes shoe rental. Proceeds to support LSA Bowling and Pride London.

Pride Film Night presents Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride

Monday, July 19, 2010 at 7pm at Rainbow Cinemas London

Tickets $10.00 www.rainbowcinemas.ca, 355 Wellington St, London, Ontario N6A 1H1, 519 434-2200

Beyond Gay – The Politics of Pride is the most comprehensive look at the role of these events ever undertaken. This feature length documentary follows the Vancouver Pride Society’s (VPS) Parade Director Ken Coolen and his VPS colleagues as they travel to places where Pride is still steeped in protest to personally experience the rampant homophobia that still exists. They also travel to Sao Paulo Brazil for the world’s largest gay parade and New York City, the birthplace of the modern gay liberation movement.

Increasingly the Pride movement is globalizing. Coolen and many Pride organizers in North America and Europe, where celebration has overtaken political action, strive to remind their communities that Pride is at its heart a global fight for human rights.

For trailers, brochures, posters, press release copy and more information please visit: http://biggaymovie.com/press/

Sunday, July 18th

Pride Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Service

7.00 p.m. at Christ Church

MCC has been a longtime supporter of London Pride Festival. We hope you will join us for the following services and visit our booth at the festival:

"Come out and come home" as we celebrate Pride in our faith and sexuality.

More information here.

Pride "Gay Day" at East Park

East Park Golf Gardens, 1275 Hamilton Road

Join Pride London Festival Sunday, July 18 for Gay Day at East Park Golf Gardens, 1275 Hamilton Road - All day availability! Meet at Picnic Area E for free between at 11 AM and 4 PM parking is available on site all day (Map). Bring your own picnic food and supplies, barbeque available, as well as pop/water ($1) and ice cream ($1) for sale. Receive the 'Group Discount' on all East Park, Intencity & Wally World activities all day when you mention 'Gay Day', 'Pride', or 'Pride London Festival' at registration, specific pricing is on the website at www.eastparkgolf.com/packages/group_rates.php

Thursday, July 15th

Art Exhibit Opening Reception

Strand Fine Art Service, 1161 Florence Street, London

Pride London Festival presents The Annual Pride London Festival Art Exhibit 2010 - from July 15 to August 1, 2010. Reception will take place on Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 7:30PM to 10PM at Strand Fine Art Service, 1161 Florence Street, London. Join Artist, the Pride Committee & Bill Stelpstra and Andrew Smyth, owners of Strand Fine Art Services for the Opening. EVERYONE is WELCOME!

Jurors for this year’s event are Aidan Urquhart, artist; James Patten, Executive Director, McIntosh Gallery at UWO; and Mike Baker, Curator, Elgin County Museum.

Art Exhibit Committee members include Ben Benedict, Chair; Stefan Andrejicka, Bruce Flowers and Lynette Richards.

Professional artists include Londoners Kim Harrison, Jamie Q, Scott McEwan, Bruce Flowers and Lynette Richards; from Stratford, Glenn Elliot; from Cambridge Jane Hook; And from Guelph John Roberts. Student artists include Stefan Andrejicka, Rita Pennel & Steven Kato.

More information in the pride guide.

Friday, July 16th

2010 Miss & Mr. Pride London Festival

9:00 PM at Lavish UltraLounge, 238 Dundas St., www.clublavish.ca

Come and watch as Miss Pride London Festival 2009, Madison Hart, steps down, and we crown a new Miss Pride London Festival

Miss London Pride Festival originated and was created by Mr. Eugene Dustin, President of Pride London Festival. In 2004 he appointed the first Miss Pride London Festival to Miss Kirstyn Glace, that year in return because of all his help with her year she appointed him Mr. London Pride Festival. The title over the years has grown to what it is today due to the hard work of the titleholders, the Community of London and other cities in Ontario. It was because of the help and hard work of London’s surrounding Communities, that in 2008 we decided to open the competition to all residents of Ontario and this year London voted its first elected Miss Pride London Festival. 2009 would see the election of the first out of town Miss London Pride Festival, from Kitchener. She has done our city and her city very proud.

Past Mr. & Miss London Pride Festival: Miss Kirstyn Glace & Mr. Eugene Dustin 2004-05, Miss Shevonce & Mr. Terry McAstocker 2005-06, Miss Cherylin 2006-07, Miss Kirstyn Glace 2007-08, Miss Leigha Divine 2008-09,Miss Madison Hart Divine-Glace 2009-10.

The purpose of Mr. & Miss London Pride Festival is to raise money for Pride London Festival and a variety of charities. To be a Goodwill ambassador for Pride London Festival and London’s LGBTS2Q community, and to welcome one and all to the city in which we Love. Each year we also hold the Miss London Sex Kitten Pageant, a pageant created by Miss Kirstyn Glace as a fundraiser for Pride London Festival, to assist in the fundraising efforts of Mr. & Miss Pride London Festival.

We are now in our 7th year and it seems to be getting bigger every year, although in 2005 we saw a lack of interest in the Mr. Pride London Festival title, we are proud to announce the return of Mr. Pride London Festival title. We are trying a few new things this year, the second of which is that, we will be holding the pageant at the very beginning of London Pride week events at 8:00 pm on July 16th, 2010 @ Lavish Night Club. We would like to thank Eddy for allowing us to hold our pageant in a new venue this year and we look forward to working with him for years to come.

We are also proud to announce the Mr. & Miss Pride London Festival show center stage on the main stage at Pride Saturday July 24, 2010 @ 9 pm so those that can't make it the weekend before will get to see all the glitz and glamour of the crowning of our new Mr.& Miss London Pride Festival.

In Service to the Community, Miss Kirstyn Glace & Miss Leigha Divine, Owners of Mr. & Miss Pride London Festival Pageant

More information here.

Pride London Festival Entertainment Lineup Is Here

For Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25

At London's downtown on the northwest corner of King and Clarence

The fabulous enterainment lineup for the Pride London Festival is finally here. So be sure to check it out. AskHer is here again this year. Tinna Woods will grace our stage. Nancy Rancourt is back! Deejay Steve Rapson is onboard. Miss Pride London will drop by. There will even be a show featuring Miss Pride London and guests. Testament will play on Sunday, followed by Pappie J. Ozmand, The Vagitarians and The Cliks. As usual the Court Wind Down Show will conclude the events. Exact times and such are yet to be announced so check for updates on our Events page.

Film Night

Beyond Gay – The Politics of Pride

Monday, July 19, 2010 at 7pm at Rainbow Cinemas London

Tickets $10.00 www.rainbowcinemas.ca, 355 Wellington St, London, Ontario N6A 1H1, 519 434-2200

For trailers, brochures, posters, press release copy and more information please visit: http://biggaymovie.com/press/

Volunteer Orientation

Calling all Volunteers

Sunday, June 27th @ 6pm

Needham Funeral Home - 520 Dundas St, London Ontario

The meeting will be held in the house behind the Funeral Home in the furnished garage. Email DJ@pridelondon.ca for more information about how you can make a difference with Pride London Festival. We are grateful to Needham Funeral Home for their dedicated support of Pride London Festival and our community!

Pride Prom 2010

We are very excited to announce the 2010 Pride Prom!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:00 pm to midnight

Brennan's Beer Bistro, 247 Clarence Street London Ontario

Aimed at LGBT youth aged 14-18. Come and celebrate your prom in a LGBT friendly environment. 2 LIVE, LOCAL DJs - DJ Freek & DJ Wiise will light up the dance floor - for *4* hours of dancing under the stars. Special guests Shannon Boodram and Viktoria Kalenteris. Get your pride on!

THEME ANNOUNCED: Mascaraed, with an open end - you can choose to go with the mascaraed theme or just dress what ever way you want to dress for your prom!

Tickets: $10. Pop and food covered with ticket/admission price - plus goody bags. Catering will be generously provided by Elite Catering! A special thanks to CAW for their generous sponsorship!

Love action being organized to provide a safe way home. Volunteers in pairs will "escort" the youth home by bicycles, skateboards or trusty feet.

Contact info@pridelondon.ca for ticket info

Pride London Couch Tours

7 night packages from Windsor, Niagara Area, and Toronto

July 18 - 25, 2010

The tours include

Roundtrip luxury coach transfers
7 nights accommodation at the fabulous Hilton (based on double occupancy)
Saturday night Gala Dance
Outdoor Pride Festival with vendors and entertainment
Pride Parade
Cultural Festival to include Film Theatre and Literacy night

Download the brochures in PDF for pricing, booking and more information:

Don’t delay. Contact Shelley Elkas and book today. Space is limited. Merlin Travel, 587 Dundas Street, Woodstock. 519-537-5464 or 1-888-751-8747 shelley.elkas@marlintravel.ca

Roger's Release Form

For an opportunity to appear on Roger's TV, you need to fill these out and return them to us so we can give them to Rogers Cable 13, at least a week prior to the parade: 2010ProductionRelease_PrideParade.doc

We Are Accepting Grand Marshall Nominations

Hello Friends,

This year, we have decided to take a new approach to the selection of the Grand Marshall of the 2010 Pride London Festival Parade.

In keeping with the theme, Your Community – Your Pride, we would like you to tell us who should receive this honour. We will be accepting nominations until June 20, 2010, so please hurry and tell us who you think would be the perfect choice as this year's Grand Marshall and why.

Email your suggestion to deb@pridelondon.ca with a brief note about why your candidate deserves this honour and we will reveal the results on the Pride London website and Facebook group.

We can't wait to hear from you!

~ Your Pride Board

Pride London Festival 2010

28th Anniversary July 15-25

Your Community—Your Pride

This Year's Pride In The Heart of Downtown London!

Dear friends, we know you have all been anxiously awaiting this news, and we are delighted to announce that this year's outdoor festival will be held in the heart of London's downtown on the northwest corner of King and Clarence, Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 (Exact times TBA; please watch our Events page for updates). We hope you will be as excited about this new location as we are. Watch for a fabulous line-up of entertainment to be announced soon, along with other details that we know you are eager to hear so you can start planning for Pride London Festival 2010, Your Community—Your Pride.

Your Pride London Festival Board

Festival Vendor, Sponsor and Advertiser Opportunities

Pride Guide 2010 Advertising Rates and Vendor, Sponsor and Advertiser How-To Information and Forms are here so be sure to check them out on our Festival Vendor, Sponsor & Marketing Information page. Get a head start on your festival presence.

The Annual Pride London Festival Art Exhibit 2010

Call for Submissions

Pride London Festival invites you to participate in one of the single longest running Pride events in Canada, the Pride London Art Exhibit first established in 1991. We invite you to submit your application by April 30, 2010. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please see the information package below.

Call for Submissions Information – The Annual Pride London Festival Art Exhibit 2010 (.doc) Download

Don't write gay community out of Canadian history

NDP Press Releases:

OTTAWA - New Democrats are calling on Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney to immediately apologize for censoring references to gay history and gay rights from the latest edition of the Citizenship study guide. Follow this link to read on: http://www.ndp.ca/press/dont-write-gay-community-out-canadian-history

Thank You Eugene and Chris

Longtime President thanks all for years of support and introduces the newly elected President and Board

Greetings to all:

As you may or may not know I/we Eugene Dustin & Christopher D'Aguilar have resigned our positions within the Pride London Festival Board. It was a hard decision for me/us to make; however, due to Christopher's recent heart attack, I will be focusing my attentions on his recovery. I would like to thank everyone for their support of myself and Christopher throughout our tenure with Pride London Festival. I would also like to thank everyone for their support of the overall Festival.

At our AGM, held October 22nd 2009, a very professional, dedicated, ambitious Board was elected; Bev Sugden has now assumed my position as President, DJ Chrissley as Vice President, David Marcy as Treasurer, Sherri Moore as Director, Deb AL-Hamza as Director and Michelle Boyce as Director. I am very confident the current Board will continue to produce a quality Festival that is inclusive of everyone.

With Pride,
Eugene R. Dustin

CHRW Is Looking For A Few LGBT Radio Volunteers

CHRW is looking for a few energetic volunteers from the LGBT community to host a radio show once or twice a month. Find out more by browsing to CHRW Looking For LGBT Radio Volunteers page.

Help Raise Funds for The Pride London Festival

Pride London Festival Mission Statement

To provide an annual opportunity to generate celebratory, cultural, artistic and educational events which affirm the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, and two-spirited people, and supporters through activities which promote unity, inclusion, and awareness of sexual and gender diversity.

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2010