Vermont to Celebrate LGBT Community in Northern New England’s Premier PRIDE Festival

The PRIDE Vermont Committee announced its plans for the state’s annual Pride Vermont celebration, scheduled for September 7-14, 2014 at in Burlington, Vt.  This year’s theme is “Generations of PRIDE,” which explores the history of PRIDE through the decades and also the diversity in ages of Vermont’s LGBT community.

The week-long celebration, Northern New England’s premier PRIDE, kicks off with a high heel race and will culminate with a parade on Church Street followed by the festival at Battery Park.

On Sunday, September 7th at 2:00 pm, the Annual High Heel Race on Church Street will provide a colorful and competitive start to the festivities.  The event is open to all who are brave enough to don high heels.  Dressing in drag is highly encouraged, but not required.  Extra shoes will be available to accommodate spectators wanting to sign up on site.

Beginning on Friday, September 12th through Sunday, September 14th, diners and shoppers will enjoy discounted prices during Out On Church Street.  Special medallions on bead necklaces will be available for $10 each, and will provide special discounts at participating shops, restaurants and department stores at the popular Church Street Marketplace.

Festivities on Saturday, September 13th continue with the annual Women’s Tea Dance in downtown Burlington in the afternoon, followed by the Hot Pink Dance Party at 8:30 pm at the Higher Ground in South Burlington.  This 18+ multimedia event features two of Vermont’s best DJs playing the hottest club music.

The PRIDE Vermont Parade will start at 12:45 pm on Sunday, September 14th, beginning at the bottom of Church Street and winding all the way to the Festival site at Battery Park. With students, families, and early foliage tourists in town, another record-breaking turnout is expected to view the colorful parade of floats, performers, and marchers of all kinds. The festival itself will take place 1:00-5:00 pm. and will include music and entertainment in the Battery Park bandshell, vendors, family, youth and activity tents, and community resources.

Produced by the Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA), the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo will take place during the PRIDE Vermont festival at Battery Park on Sunday, September 14th, 12:00-5:00 pm. “This is a festival within a festival,” said Willie Docto, President of the VGTA.  Northern Decadence will showcase LGBT-friendly businesses from across Vermont and include food and wine samples, a silent auction, and the popular Decadent Cupcake Competition. “Vermont’s is the tastiest PRIDE festival in the country,” Docto added. Tickets are $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.northerndecadence.com.

Other highlights of the family-friendly PRIDE Vermont festival include:

Gender Fun Lawn Games and Activity Tent:  Play lawn “gaymes,” make craft projects, and get information on gender diversity, rights, and resources.

Live Entertainment hosted by drag artist Major Face featuring local and regional performers.

Dancing on the Lawn with music by local DJs.

Randy Violette, Chair of the PRIDE Vermont Committee said, “With our Generations of PRIDE theme, we celebrate the coming of age of the LGBT community in Vermont and the equality we’ve achieved in the most beautiful state in the country.  I invite everyone to celebrate with us.”

Individuals, groups, and businesses are invited to participate in any of the PRIDE Vermont events.  For more information on being a vendor, sponsor, or parade participant email [email protected] or go to www.pridevermont.com.

PRIDE Vermont is the statewide PRIDE festival for Vermont’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and ally community. Equality-minded Vermonters gather to celebrate our state for its safe, healthy, empowering community that embraces all of life’s colors. We take Pride in Vermont’s progress towards equality and want Vermonters to know that being queer in Vermont is something worth celebrating.

Vermont to Celebrate LGBT Community in Northern New England’s Premier Pride Festival

The Pride Vermont Committee announced its plans today for the state’s annual week-long Pride celebration, scheduled for September 8-15-2013. The festivities are held in September to better include Vermont’s large student population and foliage tourists.  It will include the annual Church Street High Heel Race, the Pride Parade through downtown Burlington, the Pride Festival at Battery Park, and the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo in Burlington’s Battery Park.

“This year’s Pride Vermont promises to be more vibrant than ever before, with an incredible array of events and activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied people and families to enjoy,” said Clarie Giroux-Williams, the Pride Vermont Chair. “We look forward to celebrating Pride with people from all across the great state of Vermont, northern New England, upstate New York, and Canada.

The Church Street High Heel Race will literally kick off Pride Week on Sunday, September 8th, 2 pm on Church Street next to
Burlington’s City Hall.  The legendary House of LeMay drag troupe will again host this exciting event that includes races in various heel sizes, a cupcake-carrying race, a purse-throwing contest, and a spectators race.   Everyone and anyone is invited to participate. Prizes and trophies will be awarded.

Festivities continue on Saturday, September 14 with a Women’s Tea Dance at Red Square on Church Street in Burlington from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, plus the annual Pride Dance at Higher Ground in South Burlington later that night.

On Sunday, September 15th the Pride Parade will start at 12:30 PM, beginning at the bottom of Church Street and winding all the way to the Pride Festival site at Battery Park. With students, families, and foliage tourists in town, a record-breaking turnout is expected to view the colorful parade of floats, performers, and marchers of all kinds. The festival itself will continue until
4:00PM and will include music and entertainment in the Battery Park band shell, vendors, family, youth and activity tents, an
interfaith prayer service and community resources.   The Pride performances will be co-hosted by two of Vermont’s most entertaining drag performers - Spice Celestial and Major Face.  More information can be found at pridevermont.com.

Produced by the Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA), the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo will take place during the Pride Vermont festival at Battery Park on Sunday, September 15, 12:00-5:00 pm. Northern Decadence will showcase LGBT-friendly businesses from across Vermont and include food and wine samples, a silent auction and the popular Decadent Cupcake Competition. Tickets are $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.northerndecadence.com.

“Pride never tasted so good,” said Willie Docto, VGTA President. “Everyone knows that Vermont offers the best things in life: world-class gourmet food, dining, scenery, shopping, attractions, and entertainment.  The Food & Travel Expo brings together LGBT-friendly businesses with consumers unlike any other food or travel show in Vermont.”

Pride Vermont is the statewide pride festival for Vermont’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and ally
community. Equality-minded Vermonters gather to celebrate our state for its safe, healthy, empowering community that embraces all of life’s colors. We take Pride in Vermont’s progress towards equality and want Vermonters to know that being queer in Vermont is something worth celebrating. This year’s festivities consist of a week of activities culminating in the Vermont Parade, Festival, and
Northern Decadence Food Expo on September 15th.

Held on September 22, 2012 in Battery Park in Burlington, the Vermont Pride Parade and Festival, along with the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo, was a wonderful success and even the rain held out! 

The NOH8 Campaign was in attendance at Vermont's pride event.  The photographic silent protest created by Hollywood-based celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley, was in response to
the passage of Proposition 8.  Subjects are photographed wearing white, with a
temporary “NOH8” tattoo on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths.  The
duct tape symbolizes the way Prop 8 and other anti-LGBT initiatives around the
world silence the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Check out www.pridevt.com for next year's line-up of fabulous events.
Click here to see the calendar listing of all pride events in America.

Vermont to Celebrate LGBT Community in Northern New England’s Premier Pride Festival

The Pride Vermont Committee announced its plans today for the state’s annual Pride Vermont celebration, scheduled for September 21-22, 2012. The festivities, which will be held in September for the first time in order to better include Vermont’s large student population and foliage tourists, will include a cruise on Lake Champlain on Friday, September 21, a parade through downtown Burlington, and a pride festival, NOH8 Campaign photoshoot, and the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo in Burlington’s Battery Park on the 22nd. 

“This year’s Pride Vermont promises to be more vibrant than ever before, with an incredible array of events and activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied people and families to enjoy,” said Madelyn Baer, the Pride Vermont 2012 Director. “We look forward to celebrating Pride with people from all across the great state of Vermont, northern New England, upstate New York, and Canada, and we are honored to host the NOH8 Campaign this year, adding our faces to those from across the country standing up for equality.”

The annual Pride Cruise has been a highlight of Vermont’s Pride season since 1993. It is sponsored by Vermont Gay Social Alternatives (VGSA), Vermont’s premier LGBT social organization, and will be an evening filled with dancing and merrymaking featuring hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and entertainment by the House of LeMay and DJ Veena. It will be held on the Lake Champlain Ferry, which departs at 8:00 on Friday, September 21 from the King Street Docks in Burlington. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vgsa.com.  

“Whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or a proud ally, this year’s Pride Cruise is an event not to be missed,” said VGSA Director Michael Knaapen. “Join us on the lake – it’s the perfect way to start Pride right!” 

The Pride Parade will start at noon on September 22, beginning at the bottom of Church Street and winding all the way to the Pride Festival site at Battery Park. With students, families, and foliage tourists in town, a record-breaking turnout is expected to view the colorful parade of floats, performers, and marchers of all kinds. The festival itself will last from 1:00-4:00 pm. and include music and entertainment in the Battery Park bandshell, vendors, family, youth and activity tents, and community resources. 

Produced by the Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA), the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo will take place during the Pride Vermont festival at Battery Park on Saturday, September 22, 12:00-5:00 pm. Northern Decadence will showcase LGBT-friendly businesses from across Vermont and include food and wine samples, a silent auction, cooking demonstrations, and the popular Decadent Cupcake Competition. Tickets are $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.northerndecadence.com. 

“Everyone knows that Vermont offers the best things in life: world-class gourmet food, dining, scenery, shopping, attractions, and entertainment,” said Willie Docto, VGTA President. “The Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo is a great way to connect equality-minded Vermonters and visitors with LGBT-friendly businesses. Supporting equality has never been easier, or tastier!” 

The NOH8 Campaign, which will hold an open photoshoot on September 22 from 1-4pm as part of Pride Vermont, is a photographic silent protest created as a response to the passage of California’s Proposition 8, which stripped same-sex couples of equal marriage rights. Hollywood-based celebrity photographer Adam Bouska photographs subjects wearing white, with a temporary “NOH8” tattoo on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths. The duct tape symbolizes the way LGBT people around the world are silenced by anti-gay initiatives like Prop 8.  Over 20,000 people, including celebrities like Kathy Griffin, Cindy and Meghan McCain, the Kardashian sisters, Jane Lynch, and Lance Bass have posed for the campaign; NOH8’s open photoshoots routinely attract hundreds of people to events across the country. Pride Vermont is teaming up with Truth Wins Out – a national, Burlington-based nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism and the “ex-gay” myth – to bring the NOH8 Campaign to Vermont for the first time. More information can be found at www.pridevt.com. 

“Participation in the wildly popular NOH8 Campaign will offer Vermonters the opportunity to fight hate in a uniquely special way,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications & Development. “Truth Wins Out and Pride Vermont want to encourage equality-minded people all across the region to attend the 2012 Pride Vermont Festival and get photographed for this great  campaign.” 

Pride Vermont is the statewide pride festival for Vermont’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and ally community. Equality-minded Vermonters gather to celebrate our state for its safe, healthy, empowering community that embraces all of life’s colors. We take Pride in Vermont’s progress towards equality and want Vermonters to know that being queer in Vermont is something worth celebrating. This year’s festivities consist of a week of activities culminating in the Annual VGSA Pride Cruise on September 21 and the Pride Vermont Parade, Festival, and Northern Decadence Food Expo on September 22.