LGBT Pride Parade Today - 10/1@4PM - in Riverside!

[Jaxson]

I remember making plans with some friends to go out one night when one commented that "It was dark" at one of the nightclubs that we were planning to go to.  At first, I thought it was a commentary on the lighting and then I realized the thrust of that comment. 

[ubben]

Next year there should be a million posters around town promoting the parade. I saw none. I talked to so many people who had no idea there was even a parade saturday. Promote, people! Combining the parade and festival on the same day, obviously, is the next thing to do. The parade should empty into the festival, like most cities. Why are we trying to reinvent the wheel with our limited resources? One big event will also encourage visitors to come to town for the Pride weekend. As it is now, it's so divided and minimized, very few visitors bother to come. Next year, let's get it right. That said, the parade was nice. I'm always impressed with the spirit of Jacksonville's LGBT community. PS: The festival is in two weeks. Spread the word (lol: since there are NO posters.)

[Jaxson]

Good point.  I had no clue about any parade happening.

[finehoe]

the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.

There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.

[Lucasjj]

I would have thought this would have been more actively promoted. I am not in the loop of the LGBT community but I only saw the parade by pure chance. My fiance and I were coming out of the antique shop around the intersection of Park and King when the parade just started coming up the street. We stayed and watched and there was a descent crowd, but several people around us were also just there by chance.  I looked around the shops there to see if there was any posters advertising the parade but I didn't see any.

[duvaldude08]

the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.

There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.

The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music.  It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.

Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event.  More clowning, better food, more interesting music.  Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun.

The Black pride actually has been around for about 20 years or so. I have a much older bestfriend who use to always attend during his hey day. Im not sure how far it goes back. But it has definately been around since the late 80's/early 90's. Black pride not advertised AT ALL like Rivercity pride. Its always been word of mouth and a few flyers here and there. And of course out of towners who like to pride hop know about it. When I was a freshman in high school (1995)I used to hear about and get invited to "sneak in the club on pride weekend" LOL! Not sure how far it dates back though. (atleast here anyway)

[peestandingup]

the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.

There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.

The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music.  It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.

Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event.  More clowning, better food, more interesting music.  Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun.

I'd actually like to attend if I knew I'd be welcomed. Being from the area I grew up in (the hills of Appalachian KY are really like a "mountain ghetto"), I feel like people where I'm from have a lot in common with southern blacks. Not directly of course, just a lot of similarities I've noticed in my travels (food, the slang used, the close-knit families, strong religious ties, going without lots of things & having to make do, etc).

I'd probably feel better about it though if it were just called "racial pride" or something like that. We're all Americans. And blacks have been part of American history for quite some time now.

[duvaldude08]

the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.

There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.

The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music.  It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.

Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event.  More clowning, better food, more interesting music.  Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun.

I'd actually like to attend if I knew I'd be welcomed. Being from the area I grew up in (the hills of Appalachian KY are really like a "mountain ghetto"), I feel like people where I'm from have a lot in common with southern blacks. Not directly of course, just a lot of similarities I've noticed in my travels (food, the slang used, the close-knit families, strong religious ties, going without lots of things & having to make do, etc).

I'd probably feel better about it though if it were just called "racial pride" or something like that. We're all Americans. And blacks have been part of American history for quite some time now.

The black crowd may seem unfriendly and rough, but we welcome any race to come party with us. I love to see of white kids come in Incahoots on Urban night.  I actually go befriend them and party with them all night. It shoud never be about race.

[Timkin]

Totally agree , Duvaldude.   

[Dog Walker]

 There were people of all skin colors in the parade on Saturday.  A few of the colors weren't natural too. 

[simms3]

Atlanta's Pride is this weekend.  To comment to the lack of advertising, the Pride in Atlanta is heavily advertised on many TV channels for the weeks leading up to it and banners are put up around town.  I'm pretty sure the mayor and just about everyone will be there.  If you missed out on the one in Jacksonville and like to see those kinds of things, it's only a short 6 hour drive up.  Hotels in Midtown, Downtown, and surrounding areas are long booked up I'm sure.

What is the route of the Jacksonville Pride?  With these streetscapes is there any sort of possibility of having attractive lightpoles with knobs extending out to hang themed banners?  That's the new thing up here, and certain areas get certain banners and of course advertising banners go up before any big event (like those on Riverside Ave before the Gator Bowl on the street lamps).  If Riverside is gay enough, perhaps street lamps can have rather permanent lamp decorations denoting a gayborhood.  It would be a welcoming draw and a symbol of a city on a move.  I could imagine Riverside developing into a much smaller version of Lakewood in Chicago.

[Dog Walker]

The route was from park (Willowbranch) to park (Riverside Park) down Park (street).