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On June 19, the eve of the summer solstice, Pride Vermont '99 took place under a spectacular sun-washed sky. Truly, one could not have asked for a better day. Hot sun (but low humidity), an azure sky, and white puffy clouds in the distance mixed with rainbow flags, balloons, and a large spirited crowd of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and allied revelers at Burlington's Waterfront Park.
From early Saturday morning until well into the evening, the GLBT community of Vermont came together to celebrate strides made in recent years and to hear about the challenges facing the future.
At 11am, a rally began with the reading of President Clinton's proclamation naming June Gay Pride Month. Keith Goslant of the Vermont Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Rights made note of the chasms that have developed between gay and race issues and between men's and women's health issues, and issued a plea for us all to work together whether fighting AIDS or breast cancer. Mike Bensel and Anne Moore of the Burlington RU12? Community Center project spoke of the importance of building and maintaining community; attorney Beth Robinson spoke on the freedom to marry cause; US senatorial candidate Ed Flanagan related a touching experience of how he met resistance for speaking at a Vermont high school and seemed to touch his harshest critics by the end of his talk.
After the rally, the crowd — which had at that point reached an estimated 2000 — moved toward the parade's starting grounds behind Union Station.
At exactly 12 noon, the fabulous Sambatucada! drumming corps led a jubilant, colourful mix of marchers, banners, floats, and costumes on its route that included the Church Street Marketplace as well as Main, Cherry, and Battery streets. Many GBLTQA organizations — Brattleboro Area AIDS Project, Freedom to Marry Task Force, Vermont Cares, College St. Congregational Church, Bisexual Network of Vermont, Outright, and P-FLAG, to name just a few — from Vermont and surrounding areas marched behind banners or rode floats, while individuals and groups joined in on foot, on motorcycles, on tricycles, and in vehicles. The Green Mountain Freedom Band, A Vocal Minority: The Vermont Gay Men's Chorus, and the Samadhi Singers were among those providing music throughout the procession.
By 1pm, the parade had made its way back to Waterfront Park, where most of the celebrants spent the next four hours listening to the varied entertainment, browsing the vendor tent, and just plain socializing in the sun.
DJ Craig Mitchell was the host for the afternoon entertainment that kicked off with the baton-twirling House of Lemay and included performances by the likes of Cherie Tartt, Noel, and A Vocal Minority.
The vendor tent — featuring displays by Samara Foundation, Outright, Three Old Bats, Rainbow Connection, the Rainbow Business Association, Tunbridge Brewing, and many others — offered a wonderful opportunity to meet the faces behind the names of GLBT organizations, sign petitions, get on mailing lists, and schmooze with the community.
At 5pm the vendor tent was transformed into a music tent and DJ Craig Mitchell took over the proceedings. As the evening set in folks drifted off in different directions. There were a variety of parties being offered including a substance free Pride Ball at City Hall and music and dancing at 135 Pearl.
All in all a good time and great weather prevailed. Pride Committee member Robert Simpson declared the day a success and praised the speakers and performers. Plans are already in the works for next year and Simpson said a committee "regrouping" would probably take place along with greater involvement from the GLBT community. An enormous amount of time and energy goes into making a successful Pride Day and we in the GLBT community who take part in and enjoy the festivities of the day must not take that for granted. Show your support, give feedback, get involved, have fun and help make Pride Day 2000 a smashing success!
