PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Join Thomas Merton Center/RESYST for June 19 PrideFest Parade
by Tim Vining Wednesday, Jun. 09, 2004 at 9:40 AM
tim@thomasmertoncenter.org 412-361-3022 5125 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Members of the Thomas Merton Center and RESYST, the radical queer group, invite all queers and allies to march together at the 2004 PrideFest Parade on June 19, beginning at 10:30 am.

Join the Thomas Merton Center for PrideFest Parade on Saturday, June 19!
Gather at 10:30 am, Fifth and Ross, downtown, at the TMC/RESYST* banner.

PrideFest 2004 is set for Saturday, June 19, on the North Shore. This new location returns the festival to a prominent visible location, in direct response to much of the feedback received after last year's event. The parade will begin gathering at 10:30 am, corner of Fifth and Ross, then wind through downtown, past Gateway Center and greet the crowds present for the Three Rivers Arts Festival. From the downtown endpoint, marchers will walk to the North Shore site, between the Fort Duquesne Bridge and Heinz Field, to enjoy the typical street fair activities, including a children's area and food and vendor booths.

The theme for 2004 PrideFest is Stand Up, Stand Proud, Stand Together! As members of the Thomas Merton Center and RESYST (TMC’s radical queer project), we believe that “Standing Together” includes all queers and allies, especially those most marginalized, even among progressive movements. All who see the interconnectedness of all oppressions and struggles and who wish to ensure that a radical queer perspective is heard in ongoing social movements must join together. We will not allow our movement to be divided based on class, race, nation of origin, language, perceived or chosen gender, sexuality, income, size, perceived "ability", age, etc. There will be radical queerleaders, chanting, drumming and festive displays of love, peace and anarchy!

Your help is also needed to staff the Thomas Merton Center/RESYST table throughout the day. This is an opportunity to make connections among the many people who experience oppression each day and build a larger movement for real change!

The PrideFest Stage Show Schedule is as follows:

1:00 Welcome from Rosemary/RCC National Anthem/Political Speaker
1:15 Choir group: RCC
1:25 Drag: Kierra Fontaine Marlowe
1:30 Live musician: Karl Mullen
1:45 Live music group/speaker: Thomas Merton Center:
Raging Grannies and Director Tim Vining
2:15 Drag: Varla Jean Merman
2:30 Live musician: Kryss Powell
2:45 Drag: Ms. Teen Pittsburgh
2:50 Choir group: Dreams of Hope Youth Choir
3:05 Drag troupe: Distinguished Iron City Kings
3:15 Live musician: Mish
3:30 Rubber Duck Race
3:35 Drag: Crystal St. Clair
3:40 Performance group: Proudly Presents
4:10 Drag: Lynda Lacee
4:15 Drag: Euneke Die For
4:20 Drag: Lady Rose
4:25 Live musician: Jenna Metro
4:40 Drag: Mr. Pittsburgh Pride
4:45 Drag: Ms. Pittsburgh Pride
4:50 Live musician: Mish
5:30 Drag/performance: Eda Bagel
5:45 Rosemary thanks the crowd, brings everyone up and says goodbye, Pride committee says its' thanks you's and goodbye, etc.


*Resyst is a radical queer group, working to radicalize the queer movement and queerize the radical movement. We see the need for queers to be intimately involved in the anti-war, anti-racist, anti-sexist, and class war movements. While many strands exist, there is one struggle for liberation, that of humanity against all those who seek to exploit, oppress, restrict and restrain for their personal power and gain the freedom of others, and it is as a part of this liberation movement that we fight. It is of the utmost importance that we work on a grassroots level and remain in touch and contact with the everyday lives of people both inside and outside the struggle. We feel that no group should be the scapegoat for the government’s racism, bigotry, or capitalistic greed, and by organizing a Queer Resistance we can speak to so many people by sharing our historic liberation.

www.thomasmertoncenter.org

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