community
VENTURA COUNTY BEACHSIDE PRIDE CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
by tom andrew Ventura County Beachside Pride Festivalhas
been celebrating LGBT Pride since 1999. Now in its 19th year, the Diversity Collective Ventura County has presented the Pride event for the last five. The organization’s mission statement “to educate,
advocate and celebrate the LGBTQ community” remains as relevant today as it did when it was first drafted back in 1999. They also provide a platform for those in the community who are often criticized, and they promote diversity for the LGBTQ community as well as the general public. Joseph Summers, president of the Board of
Directors at the Diversity Collective, recalls the early days of the event and how it’s changed over the years. “The first Ventura County Pride was in 1999,” Summers said. “It was put on by our Gay and Lesbian Community Center at the time. The first year was a picnic with a few hundred attendees, now it’s a full weekend of events with the festival always on the third Saturday in August. This year, we expect to see around 3,000 attendees at the five events over the weekend with about 2,000 attending the festival alone.” The location of the event has changed a few times
over the years, but it is now back where it started, continuing with the tradition that started 19 years ago. “The festival started out at the state beach in 1999,” Summers shared. “It was moved to a park in the city about four years in. In 2014 the committee doing Pride then wanted to move the festival back to the beach and we have kept the tradition as a beachside Pride ever since.” A lot of work and preparation go into Ventura Pride
every year, like most Prides across the U.S., as you can probably imagine. According to Summers, a lot of the preparation is done by the many volunteers on the planning committee. “We convene a Ventura County Pride Planning Committee about six months out to plan the festival every year,” Summers said. “This year we had about 20 strong volunteers on
that committee who organize everything from logistics, fundraising, volunteers, vendors, and entertainment. It takes about $25,000 to put on the five events over the weekend and we raise that through corporate sponsors and fundraising. All proceeds raised over the weekend go to sustain our community resource center we opened last summer and last year we raised $55,000 over the weekend.” Of course, entertainment at these events is a huge
draw. Over the years they have had many top-notch headliners and this year is no exception. “There will be a full day of entertainment on the main stage,” Summers revealed. “It includes drag legends Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine, recent L.A. Pride headliner Lauren Ruth Ward, the boy band Echo V, the cover band Madonnica, and a host of others.” For those who may not know Summers, he has
worn many hats over the years and this year is no dif- ferent. It is clear Ventura Pride is in extremely capable hands. “I’m the president of the Board of Directors here at DCVC, Summers said. I am this year’s Pride Planning Committee Chair. I have been a volunteer in the community in some capacity for over 20 years and have been a volunteer at every festival since 2000. It is the committee who made it all happen this year and they have been working super hard in all areas needed to make it a success.” Summers also feels that given the country’s status
at this time, that Pride is truly more important than ever. “This year with the current administration, we are seeing a backward movement in LGBTQ rights, equality, and overall acceptance,” Summers admit- ted. “It is important that we continue to build on the work the Obama administration accomplished and stay vigilant in the fight for equality.”
Ventura County Beachside Pridetakes place at Promenade Park in Ventura. It runs from Friday, August 17 through Sunday, August 19. For tickets and more information, go to
diversitycollectivevc.org/pride.html.
PRE-PRIDE PARTY Friday, August 17 Paddy’s Ventura
facebook.com/events/1009446609236861
VENTURA COUNTY BEACHSIDE PRIDE FESTIVAL CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Saturday, August 18 Promenade Park, Ventura
facebook.com/events/187169105239955
PRIDE AFTER PARTY Saturday, August 18 Paddy’s Ventura
facebook.com/events/296631280910964
PRIDE BRUNCH Sunday, August 19 Pierpont Inn Ventura
facebook.com/events/183773105818575
THIS YEAR WITH THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRA- TION, WE ARE SEEING A
BACKWARD MOVEMENT IN LGBTQ RIGHTS,
EQUALITY, AND OVER- ALL ACCEPTANCE. IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE
WORK THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
ACCOMPLISHED AND STAY VIGILANT IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.”
14
RAGE monthly | AUGUST 2018
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