City’s gay community celebrating courage
By Harold McNeil
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 06/05/08 6:38 AM
Buffalo’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities will be celebrating their own heroism during this weekend’s annual Buffalo Pride events.
“Heroes: Standing Out” is the theme of the Pride celebration.
Michelle Olandese, president of Pride Buffalo, said members of the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community were solicited for their thoughts on what this year’s theme should be.
“We wanted the community’s opinion,” Olandese said.
“This is just my opinion, but I think it’s important for the community to come together and for us to celebrate who we are. To me, it’s no different than having a Hellenic festival or having a Latin festival. It’s a multicultural moment, in a sense. Other communities do it, so it makes sense that we would do it, as well,” she added.
The weekend’s events will kick off at 7:30 p. m. Saturday with the seventh annual Dyke March and Rally on Elmwood Avenue near West Utica Street.
Participants will march along Elmwood to Bidwell Parkway, where the celebration will be capped with a performance by singer/songwriters Bitch and Ferron. Also featured are a disc jockey, dancing and a cash bar.
The weekend will culminate with the 2008 Buffalo Pride parade along Elmwood Avenue, beginning at Symphony Circle to Elmwood, then Bidwell Parkway.
Olandese said individuals from 50 to 70 organizations participate in the parade. She estimated that as many as 15,000 spectators lined the parade route last year.
“The crowds have gotten larger each year, and the entertainment has been stepped up. That really helps with the attendance,” she said.
James D. Haynes, a retired Buffalo State College biology professor, and his partner of nearly 40 years, Donald A. Licht, are scheduled to be the grand marshals of this year’s parade.
Channel 7 news reporter John Borsa and local media personality Loraine O’Donnell are scheduled to be the Main Stage hosts from 2 to 6:30 p. m. at Bidwell Parkway, where the parade will end and musical entertainment and other attractions are planned.
Local and national musical guests are scheduled to perform, including Bitch and Ferron, singer/songwriter Gregory Douglass and Needle Up. Comedian Richard Ryder also is scheduled to entertain.
