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Downtown gets colorful Saturday as Reno Gay Pride invites people of every
age, orientation and background to its 18th annual festival in Wingfield
Park.
It’s not a rally; it’s not a march. It’s a celebration.
“What they’re celebrating is the uniqueness of themselves,” said Kevin Ray,
an event organizer. “You’ll see a lot of smiles, you’ll see some wild outfits,
you’ll see a lot of glitter and rainbow colors — and that’s exciting. They’re
showing their pride, and it just makes you feel wonderful to see that
energy.”
Ray said he feels an obligation to provide a climate of acceptance for
others, in part because he has always enjoyed an especially supportive network
of family and friends.
“For me, being gay was never an issue, and I feel it is so important to
create that atmosphere for others who may be struggling with it,” he said. “I
feel a responsibility to make sure that year after year, this event goes on for
Northern Nevada.
“People are not defined solely on the basis of their orientation,” Ray said.
“Reno Gay Pride empowers the individual to be part of the larger community.”
In August, Ray received a message via Reno Gay Pride’s Facebook page from a
woman in rural Nevada who recently learned that her son is gay. Calling herself
a “proud mom,” she wrote that she will accompany her son to Reno’s Gay Pride
Festival for the first time this year.
“Each story is different for each person,” Ray said. “This event is for
families. It is for everyone. Many come just to experience an atmosphere that I
believe fosters a lot of strength in an individual, even after they leave.”
In deference to the goal of being all-inclusive, the festival is a PG-rated
event.
“We want to keep it family-friendly,” he said. “We do not allow nudity.
Likewise, our entertainers on stage are mindful that there are families in the
audience. A lot of us may travel to San Francisco and attend Pride events there,
but that’s not what Reno is about. This is our Northern Nevada community, and
there are different expectations.
“Even our vendors are not allowed to display anything that’s inappropriate
for a young person — or someone’s grandmother, for that matter.”
Vendors, including a diverse group of food vendors, will be set up throughout
the park, and event sponsor Harrah’s Hotel & Casino will host a beer garden.
All-day entertainment will include everything from drag performers to dancers.
There’s also a fashion show this year.
And although Reno Gay Pride is a registered Nevada nonprofit corporation, the
festival is not a fundraiser for the nonprofit. It does not solicit funds or
accept donations — its goal is to create an event at which other nonprofits can
raise funds.
“We create a day in the park where all nonprofit groups can raise money,” Ray
said. “Whereas a small nonprofit might not be able to create such a large event,
they can simply show up, raise their own money, and direct where their money
goes.”
Arlington Avenue will be closed to traffic between First and Court streets,
and entrance gates are available there. A third admission gate is on First
Street near Java Jungle. A $5 entry fee helps off-set the cost of entertainment
and city fees for park use. Kids with an accompanying parent attend for
free.
“At the end of the night,” Ray said, “after the park is cleaned and the last
vendor has left, the sense of satisfaction of having impacted and empowered so
many individuals is priceless.”Also read here:
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