Feature Story

*By Eric Ervin

Lagniappe writer*

Come one, come all. Just come. And be sure to bring along some non-discriminating family members and friends. It’s the message organizers for this year’s Mobile Alabama PrideFest, scheduled for April 4-6 downtown, want to send out to not only gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons, commonly referred to as GLBT, but as well as others in the Mobile area. Organizers say they want to unify all walks of life, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The theme for this year’s festival is “Live, Love, Be…Out Loud!”

It features three days of events, including a Mardi Gras-inspired parade, parties, concerts and an exhibition with vendors in Bienville Square park. Pride festivals seek to bring together GLBT persons for empowerment and self-love, but Bob Brunson, who is president of Mobile Alabama Pride, Inc., the group organizing the festival, stresses that everyone is invited to attend Pride events.

“It’s a very family-oriented festival to prove that we are the same as everyone else,” Brunson says. “It’s for everyone from all walks of life. We don’t discriminate.”

Brunson, who also heads the entertainment committee, says this year’s festival has something in store for everyone.

“We are very excited about this year,” Brunson says. “We have Lisa Christian for the set who likes the acoustic guitar feel; we have Sharon McNight, who is a Tony nominated actress; we have Rewind, which is a Motown type group; and we have Kristen W., who is an international recording artist.”

Brunson says there will also be a children’s play area in the square. A kick-off party April 4 at the Radisson Admiral Semmes Hotel, at 251 Government St. and the host hotel for Pride, gets things rolling. It includes dinner at 6:30 p.m. McNight is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. An official PrideFest dance party starts shaking at B-Bob’s, 213 Conti St., at 11 p.m.

On April 5, events move to Bienville Square where vendor exhibits open at noon. Local NBC-15 news personality Darwin Singleton will be master of ceremonies for events in Bienville Square. Entertainment in the park will start at 1 p.m. on the Pride Stage. It includes recording artist Lisa Christian at 3:30 p.m. The parade begins at 2:30 p.m. It starts at the Mobile Civic Center, and will take Mardi Gras parade Route A.

Suzanne Cleveland, founder of the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG, is grand marshal of the parade. An invitation has been extended to openly gay Alabama legislator Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) to participate in the parade as co-grand marshal. Brunson wasn’t sure as of last week if Todd’s schedule would permit her to attend this year’s events. Todd participated in Mobile PrideFest last year.

“The parade was my idea,” says Bryan Stine, first vice president of Mobile Alabama Pride, Inc. “When we had the first one, it just took off. It’s been successful with the hard work of everyone.”

The final rounds of competition for Mobile Alabama Pride Idol takes place at Gabriel’s, 55 Joachim St., starting at 8p.m. Over at Vision’s TWIST, 266 Dauphin St., the Renegades Levi/Leather Beer Bust takes place on the venue’s patio bar beginning at 10 p.m.

Also starting at 10 p.m., the musical duo Rewind featuring Lady Patrice and Johnny Fung performs. Pride events wrap up April 6 in Bienville Square with a volleyball tournament starting at 1 p.m. The vendor exhibit starts at noon. Entertainment on the Pride Stage begins at 1 p.m., and includes performances by Christian at 2:30 p.m. and Rewind at 3:30 p.m. The winner of this year’s Pride Idol will open at 4:30 p.m. for famed international recording artist Kristine W’s concert, which takes place at 5 p.m.

Pride in Mobile ‘growing by leaps and bounds’

Jerry Ehlen, who is treasurer of Mobile Alabama Pride, Inc. and owner of gay nightspot B-Bob’s, says Pride festivals in Mobile have taken place informally for at least the last 15 years. He says it’s only been organized by a non-profit organization since 2005 when members of the six-person group decided to incorporate.

“It was a couple of years where it faded away, but I think the clubs have always done something for Pride,” Ehlen says.Brunson and others expect the scope and attendance of the festival to someday equal that of Pride events in cities such as Atlanta, Houston and other big cities.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Brunson says. “It went from about 1,000 (people) in attendance the first year, 3,500 last year and we expect about 5,000 this year.”

Rhonda Helms, who is second vice president of Mobile Alabama Pride, is amazed by the festival’s growth.

“I can’t believe we are where we’re at in this short length of time,” Helms says.

Helms sees Pride as an opportunity for GLBT people to come out and show others they’re just as normal as everyone else. Brunson says the support of city officials has been tremendous. He commended Mayor Sam Jones for extending a welcoming hand to the organization.

“It’s amazing how far Mobile has come,” Brunson says “Everyone has been so supportive. It really has changed, the acceptance (of gay people) has changed.”

However, Pride in Mobile has been protested in the past, just as it has been in other cities. Brunson expects this year to be no exception.

“It’ll probably be people down at the civic center with their picket signs as it was last year,” Brunson says. “I was raised a Southern Baptist and participated in the church. Everyone has their interpretation of God, so these people that are out there judging people are not preaching the word of God.”

For more information about PrideFest and to purchase tickets, visit www.mobilealabamapride.com.

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