FRESNO RAINBOW PRIDE is this Saturday, June 7th!
The Parade starts at 10am at at the corner of Palm Ave & Olive Ave and going eastbound to Maroa Ave; and the Festival opens at 11am with the entrance at Olive Ave & Fulton Ave (by the Million Elephant Bar). The Parade is free to watch along the route, and Parade entries are even accepted on the morning of the event (just fill out an online questionnaire about your group by Friday June 6th and bring the application and cash with you – see http://www.fresnorainbowpride.com)
The Festival cover charge is only $5. Click on Read More for all the details for Fresno Rainbow Pride this Saturday, including Grand Marshall’s, Entertainment and Schedule…
GRAND MARSHALS:
DONALD PASSMORE, known to all that love him as “Uncle Donnie”, is a Fresno legend. An active member of the Fresno Gay community for over 20 years, he is a behind the scenes mover and shaker.
If you have ever attended a major fundraising event by the Imperial Dove, Knights of Malta or Golden State Bears, you have more than likely enjoyed one of his fabulous set designs and costuming skills.
No one can design and build a better headdress than Uncle Donnie. Take for example the IDC Coronation, where he transformed the past empresses in the major hotels / resorts of the Las Vegas Strip with very large and elaborate headdresses featuring a scaled model of the hotel /resort. Imagine the headdresses from San Francisco’s Beach Blanket Babylon and that is what he delivered.
Constantly contributing to the creative energy of the community, Uncle Donnie is always there for advice and hands-on how-to, if not jumping in and handling the whole situation all by himself.
Bar shows wouldn’t be the same without his artistic direction whether they be at the Red Lantern, North Tower Circle or the Den.
He has judged many local contests including being the judge for Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade’s float contest. He especially enjoys doing craft projects, and he’s designed many a float for our Pride Parade.
Uncle Donnie is a creative, artistic legend that continues to create a visual impact for the gay senses.
MICHAEL BUTLER has been an organizational wonder for decades. His love of history and tradition lead him to reenact the 1600 century pageantry of royal England in the very popular Renaissance Fairies.
Michael established the Hanford Renaissance Faire some 30 years ago, the Visalia Renaissance Faire 17 years ago, and the Fresno City College Renaissance Faire that sadly came to a conclusion in 2007 with the renowned restoration efforts of the old Administration building next to the west lawn at FCC. 13 years ago he also created a group for all of the young Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered participant/actors in the faire scene called Ren-Queers.
For many years the Fresno City College Renaissance was a major fund raiser for Central Valley AIDS Team (CVAT), an organization that provided services to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Michael was a long time volunteer in CVAT’s Bubby Program and a very successful fundraiser for the team.
Michael and his partner of 16 years, John Tippon, were very involved in the organization of the Pride Parade and Festival during its fifth year in 1995.
For the past 3 years Michael has been hard at work being a small business owner. He is ever busy running, managing and arranging beautiful traffic stopping window displays at his floral shop, Chase Flower Shop in the Village section of the Tower district.
EL DANA is a pioneer in the local Gay and Lesbian community of the Central Valley. She was one of the first male impersonators in California, doing drag for the first time in 1964 at the Red Robin nightclub, a gay bar located where the North Tower Circle is currently undergoing repairs from several fires.
As an early activist and entertainer she fought hard for recognition from the community and her drag sisters, the female impersonators, who where not familiar with women – drag kings. She performed at not only the Red Robin nightclub, but the Girl of the Golden West in Fresno and the High Chaparral, a small gay bar in Tulare. El Dana impersonated Tom Jones in her early years and Julio Iglesias toward the end of her Drag King career.
In 1981 El Dana co-founded the Imperial Sequoia Empire de Tulare and Kings Incorporated, a court serving the South Valley. She was elected the first Emperor of the Imperial Sequoia Empire along with Empress Tatianna and again in reign 4 with Geri as her Empress. She is known as El Dana I & IV by many admirers.
El Dana focused her work within the community on fundraising for charitable causes and her personal mission was on “unifying the Gay community”. El Dana encourages the Gay and Lesbian community to “Keep up the good work. Keep on trying.”
ENTERTAINMENT:
11:10am Fresno Gay Men’s Chorus
11:30am Vanessa + "Talent Show" winners
11:55am Breathless
12:00pm Grand Marshals & Awards Presentations
12:25pm Paris Nicole
12:30pm Drag King Scotty
12:35pm Grace Schaeffer
12:55pm Breathless
1:00pm Dario
1:30pm Drag King Scotty
1:35pm All "Boy" Band
1:40pm Common Teri
2:05pm Breathless
2:15pm Drag King Scotty
2:20pm Hop Skotch Heroes
Stage manager: Paris Nicole; Emcee: Ray Pulido
"Hey what’s up Fresno?
My name is PARIS NICOLE, your Mrs. Central California Leather 2007-08, and Mrs. Fresno Gay Pride 2007-2009. I’m currently the Vice President of the Yosemite Knights of Malta who plans on helping the President to gain greater numbers of members for the next coming up year, and beyond. I’m a gal of diversity when it comes to entertainment’ so you just don’t know when it comes time to perform. My numbers go anywhere from pop to country, but most likely dark, somewhat Gothic.
As the Entertainment coordinator I welcome you to Fresno Pride 2008, I know that you will enjoy the headlining performers we have for you, local to afar!
Mistress of Seduction and Pain, Paris Nicole"
The Master of Ceremonies will be REYNALDO PULIDO. Rey is also known as Imperial Dove Court’s Empress 26 Esmeralda de Valle. He is currently living in the Los Angles area and working in the entertainment industry. Rey recently graduated law school and has successfully passed the State Bar Association exams. We are especially thankful that Rey is emceeing the festival, as he is a talented and bilingual host.
DARIO’s first true “big break” came while performing at the “Search for Stardom Convention.” Dario also participated on top rated shows such as The WB’S “Popstars 2,” the second season of the wildly successful TV program,”American Idol”on Fox, and enjoyed the opportunity of performing a comedy skit on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Because of his talent and unique experiences in music, he was interviewed by”Access Hollywood”about his impressions of the modern music industry.
Dario has opened for established R&B artists, KC & JoJo as well as Ashanti, during a promotional tour which included stops in Arizona,Texas, Las Vegas, and California. Dario also headlined a 3-month tour promoting “Lies” across the western region of the country. He’s graced the covers of over 9 International magazines and appeared on numerous television programs, which include the red carpet events for the Grammies and The American Music Awards.
Dario’s first single, “Be” was released on April 20th 2004.”Be” debuted at #1 in Arizona and in the #2 spot throughout the United States during that week. The anticipated follow up single ”Lies” released June 21st 2005 scored even higher. ”Lies” quickly shot up the music charts, spending 4 months on the dance chart and 6 weeks on the sales chart.
Currently, Dario is hard at work promoting his highly anticipated full-length album “Dedicated’ which was released December 4, 2007. Stay connected with the latest current events of this rising pop star exclusively at darioonline.com.
COMMON TERI is mostly known for her graphic design and illustrations in the entertainment industry. You may have seen her paintings for such cult classics as the original "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes", or "The Hills Have Eyes".
She’s also a gifted singer / songwriter who got her first guitar when she was 12. Her last band dissolved when she started showing up to gigs in her true gender. She now plays solo performing original material and covers.
www.sierratel.com/rtest/
www.myspace.com/commonteri
“My name is GRACE SCHAEFFER, I’m 21, I’ve been singing, writing, playing the guitar for almost 7 years. Just drove back from Hinesville, Georgia! Soon to have my second CD out called "Funny Colors" – it will be a 15-to-20 track album. The first CD "Lavender" is a 10-track piece itself. I will have this CD on hand for sale (during the Festival) for $5, so please, if interested – let me know! I hope you enjoy the little bits and pieces of my life that I thought were interesting enough to sing about. “
Grace has previously performed both spoken word and her music at Fresno Rainbow Pride, and she sang live in studio on “It’s A Queer Thang” on KFCF 88.1 FM.
The HOP SKOTCH HEROES were formed in Fresno in 2003, originally with Teruko on drums, Maht on guitar, Jonathan on bass and Eryn singing; now with Kelson on guitar, Vishinna on bass, Bhec banging and Eryn. We play punk music with an obvious feminist and pro-gay message, but a message you can dance to. We make music with purpose and love playing benefits, radical events or anywhere heroes are needed!
www.myspace.com/hopskotchheros
BREATHLESS is also known as the Queen B of the club scene! She has been the host and headliner for The Crib in San Francisco and she has performed at nearly every club in the Bay Area! Her shows are always “over the top” and full of imagination, fun, and surprises. One of her favorite shows was appearing along with Amanda Lapore and Richie Rich in the Heatherette Fashion Show. Along with performing, Breathless has also appeared on The Tyra Banks Show in 2006 and in Miss Congeniality 2. She is best known for her impersonations of Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, and Madonna, to name a few! She enjoys entertaining huge crowds and being part of the latest and greatest events.
www.myspace.com/breathlessinwonderland/
SCOTTY the Drag King has performed across the United States (including in Fresno during last year’s Pride Festival!), performing to the classic song stylings of the mid-20th century. Smart, sensual, and sassy, Scotty often sweeps members of his audience into his arms for a quick dance. Scotty’s performance style enchants both men and women with gender-bending skill and grace.
www.youtube.com/user/trafulhaS
The FRESNO GAY MEN’S CHORUS (FGMC) was founded in December 2005. The Chorus strives to provide a quality choral performance with a positive connection to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community, and be a valued image of PRIDE in the greater Fresno area. FGMC has performed at such various locations and events as Fresno Pride Festival, National Coming Out Day with Jason and de Marco, “travelling” bar shows or WestCare’s Luau.
More about us: www.fresnogaymenschorus.org
