Trouble Brewing in the Gay Community? Pride Festival 'Cancellation' Mayhem.

[JaxNole]

Ock, go right ahead.  Mergejacksonville outlined the process, down to the permitting process.

No law is stopping you from organizing your own.  Perhaps Gate could sponsor your parade route, too, riding on a PCT painted to look like a streetcar. 

[Ocklawaha]

Apopalyptic thought, Ocklawaha riding in a PCT! Oh the humanity!

OCKLAWAHA

[JaxNole]

Don't forget the leather chaps!

[nicktooch]

I guess part of the problem can also be put that it is only 2 hours to Orlando's offerings, and 3 to Tampa/St. Pete's.

Main reason why i never go out on Jax anymore.  Clubs are dated and boring.  Everyone goes to one place on Thurs, another Fri...Sat... Sun... and you end up seeing the same ppl trying to forget that they live in a city with no pride.  Orlando has a tremendous amount of qualities to merit a more diverse upbringing for their Pride.  I'd rather save my money spent on cover in Jax for gas money to Orlando.  It just doesn't seem too hard to breathe life into a club... no less a gay club where, like it or not, it's a "themed" club.  Like it was previously mentioned: apathetic gay Jax community, which unfortunately forgoes more apathy and then apparently no money for a Pride fest.  that was all we had to look forward to!

[Ocklawaha]

I guess part of the problem can also be put that it is only 2 hours to Orlando's offerings, and 3 to Tampa/St. Pete's.

Main reason why i never go out on Jax anymore.  Clubs are dated and boring.  Everyone goes to one place on Thurs, another Fri...Sat... Sun... and you end up seeing the same ppl trying to forget that they live in a city with no pride. Like it was previously mentioned: apathetic gay Jax community, which unfortunately forgoes more apathy and then apparently no money for a Pride fest.  that was all we had to look forward to!

WTF? Nichtooch, bummer man, wow, you mean you gay folks don't celebrate Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving? Sad... Guess you must have missed the wild Rocky Horror LIVE event here too? "A City With No Pride," sounds like a 60 Minutes segment. I'm a PROUD Lesbian, caught in a male body for life... What to do, what to do? I'm going to hold my own parade and your all invited as me and me storm Forsyth Street!

BTW Try J walking in Orlando some night after the clubs and the truth about Mickeys fake, plastic city will become all to real, really fast! Orlando LOVES gay folks... Uh Huh... Tell that to officer Gonzales. Better yet, tell him with your best Spanish accent and watch what happens... Can you tell? I just LOVE Orlando, like I'd love to see it sink beneath the ancient Volcano it sits over.

OCKLAWAHA
As proud as a Male Lesbian can be!

[nicktooch]

I guess part of the problem can also be put that it is only 2 hours to Orlando's offerings, and 3 to Tampa/St. Pete's.

Main reason why i never go out on Jax anymore.  Clubs are dated and boring.  Everyone goes to one place on Thurs, another Fri...Sat... Sun... and you end up seeing the same ppl trying to forget that they live in a city with no pride. Like it was previously mentioned: apathetic gay Jax community, which unfortunately forgoes more apathy and then apparently no money for a Pride fest.  that was all we had to look forward to!

WTF? Nichtooch, bummer man, wow, you mean you gay folks don't celebrate Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving? Sad... Guess you must have missed the wild Rocky Horror LIVE event here too? "A City With No Pride," sounds like a 60 Minutes segment. I'm a PROUD Lesbian, caught in a male body for life... What to do, what to do? I'm going to hold my own parade and your all invited as me and me storm Forsyth Street!

BTW Try J walking in Orlando some night after the clubs and the truth about Mickeys fake, plastic city will become all to real, really fast! Orlando LOVES gay folks... Uh Huh... Tell that to officer Gonzales. Better yet, tell him with your best Spanish accent and watch what happens... Can you tell? I just LOVE Orlando, like I'd love to see it sink beneath the ancient Volcano it sits over.

haha oh i hear ya, ock (p.s.: i'm kind of excited, this is my first time being singled out by one of the site's top dogs lol, hope my retort is worthy).  Orlando is no where to make friends with law enforcement, though i could probably speak in spanish to Officer G.  Commercial holidays aside, i was liking the fact that i didnt have to drive to orlando for pride (havent yet), bc Jax pride was at least a chance to pretend like the gay community had some unity. i remember the first festival i went to had Kimberly Locke, 2nd runner up in season 2 of american idol, which was so symbolic of Jax to get celebrity of such status lol (though i was ecstatic to see her and think she has more talent than the 2 contestants that preceeded her).

i mean half of Mickey's workforce is gay so the contribution is immense to O-town. here in jax it's like we're drowning, and monkeys dressed as lifeguards are throwing us anvils (to quote a Dilbert comic i came across).  there's no draw to bring ppl in and plenty of reasons for ppl to leave.  in jax's defense, i can acknowledge that there are plenty of reasons to come back.

[Volunteer]

As a volunteer for First Coast Pride for the last few years, I think it's time to put the truth into this dialogue.  It seems that some are just making noise and listening to those who think they know but do not have a clue.
First, First Coast Pride is not the only pride organization in the country to be faced with financial woes.  Tampa had to cancel their annual pride event in Feb; Cleveland, OH has had to cancel theirs.  Madison, WI canceled theirs in '07; Milwaukee, WI was close to bankruptcy in '03 and has just this year been able to return back to where they were; Seattle Pride has been sued by the City of Seattle for $125,000 for non payment of rental costs to city facilities; Nashville, TN has had to cancel their parade for the last 2 yrs and Fort Lauderdale's Stonewall Festival had a drop in vendors and attendance was down to as much as 10,000 this year.  And don't forget, NYC had their parade canceled in '07 and '08. 
As for Shane Denmark, an earlier entry stated that Mr. Denmark had put in approx $20,000 of his own money to keep FCP afloat.  I know for a fact, this is true.  The money raised in '08 paid off everything owed for the '08 parade/festival.  The small amount of money taken in since has had to be spent just to pay the basic operation costs and efforts to stimulate money (Miss First Coast Pride Pagent - Monthly Steppin Out Socials)failed to provide any significant funds.  Many events over the past couple years, the gay community of Jacksonville did not support.  The Masquerade Ball at 5 Points Theatre in '07 was heavily touted with flyers, posters, internet postings, etc.  After low ticket sales, a switch to "all you can drink" with ticket purchase, still failed to generate a large crowd and the event ended up in the red.  Likewise, another pride event at MOCA during the '07 Pride Week to give the gay community more options, once again, the gay community did not support it and once again it cost the organizaiton.  Out In The City newspaper, was a good source of revenue for FCP via the advertising.  As the economy headed south, businesses starting cutting back their advertizing dollars and OITC was barely making enough to keep the publication going.  Instead of allowing the publication to become debt ridden, the paper stopped being published.
There are numerious, gay owned buisnesses thoroughout the Jax area, however, many of these establishments will not crontribute to the Pride Organization.  FCP accepts any amount of financial contributions but for whatever reasons, these businesses decide to ignore their own community.  As for the entertainment establishments, only Metro, Bo's, 616 and InCahoots have sponsored the Pride Parade/Festival in yrs past.  In '08, InCahoots refused to sponsor due to personal conflicts with an FCP Board Member.  Instead of attempting to work out some type of compromise, sponsorship was eliminated, advertising in OITC was discontinued and OITC rejected as a publication to be distributed in the bar. Park Place, AJ's, The Norm and The Boot Rack have not given one red cent to Pride in many yrs.  Most or all of these mentioned busineses have literally tore down the Pride Posters of the parade/festival even after their employees allowed FCP volunteers to put them up.  Talk about slapping your own people in the face!  Ragland's/Fuel has been about the only gay owned store front business to provide sponsorship.  If gay owned businesses are going to ignore their own people, that's a pretty sad state of affairs and they should be totally ashamed of themselves.  I had one business owner tell me that they were told than in order to provide sponsoship, they had to write a check for at least $2,500.  ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE!!!!  I told the owner, that whoever said that had no idea what they were talking about and why didn't they come forth and ask members of FCP directly if this was true.  That's how these stupid, inane rumors get started, no one talks directly to the people involved and would rather believe heresay and gossip. 
If the Jax gay community wants a pride parade/festival and other pride events than I suggest that they get their gay behinds in gear and volunteer, give money (doesn't matter if $1 or $100) and gay businesses need to support their own and quit tryng advance their own agendas whatever that may be.
In conclusion, if anyone truly believes that there has been inappropriate and illegal use of funds from FCP then I suggest they stop this bad mouthing agenda and get to the authorities to find out what has to be done in order for an investigation.  It no one is willing to do that, than SHUT UP!!!!! 

[reednavy]

Just because Nashville didn't have a parade, doesn't mean they were not successful. They had to close to 15,000 attend the events this year, so that is hardly any grounds for calling a failure or dragging them into this.

[braeburn]

It costs a whole lot more than $20,000 to do these events and a parade. When you factor in shutting down the street(s) from St. John's Ave beginning at Van Wert to Park and Margaret at 5 points, it's VERY expensive. Security is one of the main factors - there has to be police and security available for the whole stretch of the parade and the afterparty.

It is truly sad that many people feel like the bars have to be the -ONLY- foundation for the gay community. So if they feel like they are getting screwed, then it's a wash. There are clashes with no compromise and it's a lose / lose situation. Then again, I don't know of any bar owner who wants to lose money while doing a fundraiser. If they continued to lose money and all the gay bars were to shut down, where would the community be then???

There are still plenty of organizations who are wanting to raise money for a good cause - such as Holiday Helpers - who raise money to give children and families who are infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS a Christmas. It might not be a 2 or 3 day long party, but it certainly is of importance in demonstrating that the gay community in Jacksonville DOES care about the Jacksonville community as a whole.

For a lot of people the pride festival and parade is just one big mardi gras style party - 'something different' for a change, as opposed to going to the same old tired bars and clubs and seeing the same faces over and over again. That would be for the wrong reason.

[Volunteer]

My post was to #1 - show that there are many factors which lead to the cancelation, try to diffuse some of the inane rumors and that there are other Pride Organizations throughout the nation that are having their own and/or similar stuggles.  I could go on and on about many other problems, conflicts, etc. that have happened the last few years for FCP but that would not accomplish one single, solitary thing.  It's time for the Jax Gay Community to come together and find ways where everyone wins.  Santa Helpers is one of the best groups in the city.  They have always been there to  volunteer their services at the Pride Parade/Festival. They worked the beverage booths and the tips received went to help their organization.  That's how a community works together for a win/win solution.  World Aids Organization is another organization who has always been available.  Yet an organization like JASMYN, where the members should be all about helping promote Pride never offers to lend a helping hand.  As stated, it's time for the gay community to start working together and get Pride back on it's feet so we, the gay community can be so proud of ourselves.   As with any organization, whenver you have a group of people involved, personalities clash and everyone wants to feel as though they've been heard.  As in my earlier post, don't sit back and gripe, get out there and provide positive help.   Always look for the WIN/WIN SOLUTION.  Personal agendas have got to be STOPPED!!!!!  We as a community either continue to beat this topic until it's dust or we can stand up and march forward with a new focus of being the best we can be!  The choice is up to us all!   

[JaxNole]

Volunteer, I'm curious what the other businesses and organizations would have to say about refusing to or no longer supplying resources for Pride.

I can sense your frustration and assume your tone is only because you are posting on a forum and not interacting with any of the other groups in a face-to-face situation soliciting help.

In your opinion, why has JASMYN not recently participated?  I know they used to, because I used to donate my time when I was still in high school, helping make banners, buttons and greeting people at our booth.  JASMYN may have had to distance itself from Pride because associating itself with an event that many in this town feels is "in your face" and nothing but a public, glorified orgy with the Village People - again, in leather chaps.

So, what other businesses have been approached to become sponsors?  There are gay-friendly businesses that are not bars or clubs.  Just because money is tight does not mean there is not a market for sponsors; it just needs to be redefined for the times.

What is the approach when asking for support, whether in volunteer hours or materials or financial donations?

[Volunteer]

JaxNole - since I was not on the Board of Directors of FCP, and was not part of the solicitation process to obtain funding and volunteering of groups, it would be unfair of me to claim that this one or that one was asked and then refused.  All I know is that it was obvious that groups like JASMYN were absent from the volunteer roster.
Santa's Helpers, World Aids, & First Chorus Chorus members were the only organizations as a whole who came forth to offer their services that I am aware of.   PFLAG was always a sponsor. 
My whole purpose in entrying into this conversation was to try to stop some of these ridiculous rumors that have been circling within the community; on MySpace, Facebook and other social networks.  I wanted to let people know that the decision to cancel was multifacet and that Jax is not the only city that their Pride Organzation is having it's struggles and issues.  For the Jax gay community, there appears to be a whole lot of apathy and tons of finger pointing and complaining.  The past is the past.  I only hope that this discussion wakes people up, gets them motivated to bring forth a new focus, a new energy to make our Pride Organiation and events to be the one of the best in the state as well as the nation.  It would be great to see ALL gay organizations and ALL gay owned businesses of any kind, and any gay friendly businesses to come forth and work together in securing a phenomenal Pride Organization and events. It's a tall order and there will always be personality clashes and disagreements but the bottom line is to work together and find that WIN/WIN solution.  That should be our goal as a community as a whole!  As our nation chanted in November, "YES WE CAN!!!"   

[reednavy]

It also wouldn't hurt to try and get back a HRC chapter here either.

[braeburn]

There just needs to be more than a small handful of organizations out there, and a gay community that isn't completely reliant on just the gay bars to raise money. The amount of support that's out there for the size of such a community is uneven, and it's not feasible (and unfair) to the people who own businesses such as a bar or club to have to bear the majority of such an expensive responsibility for these events and parades.

When there are only so many outlets to do such fundraising (the bars) and only so many times and locations to do them (the bars), it creates a tremendous amount of pressure for people who might be gay and want to express their pride, but they also have a business to run. And these business owners have given as much as they can, only to find out that it just "wasn't good enough" because events had to be cancelled. That's a kick in the teeth and all, but really, how much money do you expect 3 or 4 bars and a couple of performers to raise?

With few organizations, it would appear that they are all operating under just one umbrella, but they don't. Not to make it sound like they are 'sub' organizations and whatnot - imagine if there were a hundred groups like Holiday Helpers, and Jax PFLAG, JASMYN, etc... it would not even be far fetched for a lot of organizations to just be your regular, run of the mill clubs for specific interests and hobbies, whether it be gardening, hiking, bicycling, etc.. This being totally reliant on very few sources (majority from bars) for an entire gay community in a city is not going to work.

I won't even begin to get into the fact that it would be great if more non-gays could become involved - but that would just be wishful thinking, wouldn't it?

[Overstreet]

The truth about these times is that businesses and individuals are just trying to survive. Many things they could give to before the last year have to be turned down because there just isn't the funds available.

The surprising thing about this string to me is that Jacksonville has a gay pride festival to be cancelled. Of course I don't move in those circles and I've been working out of town for a while.