Something for everyone at OKC Pride 2015

by Michael Clark
OKC Pride president

OKC Pride 2015 is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet because we are working hard to make it the most inclusive event in Oklahoma City history. Community support has been inspiring and the groundswell we expect when the Supreme Court makes Marriage Equality the law of the land is bound to put us over the top.

We have so many exciting activities planned that OKC Pride 2015 has been expanded from a weekend festival to a nine-day, city-wide extravaganza culminating in a record-setting free street concert, huge arts festival and the largest parade in Oklahoma. None of this would be possible without our hard-working board, tremendous volunteers, generous sponsors and supportive community organizations.

Detailed schedules are available in The Gayly, the Pride Guide and daily updates will be posted on OKCPride.org. Please take advantage of all Pride Week has to offer, beginning on Saturday, June 14 with the Leather & Lace Ball at Angles, Sunday brunch at the Hi-Lo and deadCENTER screening of Out To Win at the Myriad Gardens June 15.

Monday is our official Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting followed by the ‘DIVAS’ show at the Copa. Tuesday is our first annual OKC Pride Bowling Tournament at Dust Bowl then Wednesday is Pride Day at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Wednesday Night Fever at Alibis. Partners is hosting P-Town Titties for Pride on Thursday evening, which leads up to the big weekend.

We are excited to present our biggest Block Party yet featuring a free street concert with Erika Jayne, En Vogue and the Village People, food, beer and fun.

The Pride Arts Festival begins Saturday, along with the Family Festival at Expressions Community Center and the main stage will feature all-day entertainment, ending with Lower 40, (We Are) Nexus and Dj Dragn’fly. We are also thrilled to present our third annual “Love Is Love” wedding ceremony Saturday but for the first time, all weddings are legally recognized by the state of Oklahoma. Sunday entertainment and the Arts Festival continue until the 28th Annual OKC Pride Parade at 6pm.

None of this could have happened without such a supportive community and while I cannot thank everyone here, I want to thank my Board of Directors. If you see any of them Pride Week, please give them a hug and a thank you for the hard work. Thank you to our sponsors like The Gayly, Tyler Media, Capital Distributing, Anheiser-Busch of Oklahoma, the Cresap Family Foundation, Edmond Estate Sales, AT&T, Party Galaxy, The Copa / Finishline / Angles, The Boom, Phoenix Rising / Apothecary 39 / Wreck Room, Tramps, Hi-Lo, Alibis, Partners, Dollhouse, Cox Communications, State Farm Insurance, At The Beach, Iguana Mexican Grill, the Lemon Family Foundation and all the individuals who donated what they could to make OKC Pride 2015 possible.

Finally I want to thank all of our volunteers in advance because we will need nearly 200 people on the ground to pull this off. Please go to OKCPride.org to sign up as a volunteer, make a contribution and register for the Festival or Parade and to keep up to date on everything happening during OKC Pride 2015!

We are still working on new and exciting events to make this year’s OKC Pride the biggest and best ever. Like us on Facebook and we will keep you informed of everything. Thank you, Oklahoma City, for making OKC Pride 2015 truly great!

The Gayly – June 14, 2015 @ 9:30am.