"PRIDE" THE WORD SAYS IT ALL!!

by Jodie Hanrahan

Flashback!!

2004 - Elmira Star Gazette’s front page “ELMIRA WILL HAVE ITS OWN GAY PRIDE!” Then, a frantic call from city hall, "Why didn’t you tell us it was gay PRIDE?” Our reply, "We did on the permit; It says
'GLBT!' " The City’s naïve reply was, “We didn’t know what GLBT meant!”

N0W THEY DO!!

Each year has brought positive change to GLBT people of the Southern Tier. Youth programs were started in the schools and the local newspaper and TV stations carried positive reports of GLBT news! Mothers called thanking us for making their gay children’s life just a little better. More and more people came out in their jobs, in their social lives and as true person they are! Elmira went from a Mayor that protested the first PRIDE to a progressive Mayor that when invited to speak at the PRIDE, said YES without any hesitation! Those are all changes in which we can all take PRIDE!

Today we still do not have equal rights but because of PRIDE movements and the many people that stepped up to support equality, we have a ball in motion that will not stop until we all have equal rights; including gay marriage!!

We all need to be thankful for the amazing list of supporters for the Southern Tier PRIDE. These are people, businesses and organizations that stood up when it wasn’t fashionable to do so! To them we owe many thanks!

Park Church opening and affirming committee! (Skip Reed, Co-pastor), Ritalynn Sly, Linda Couchon, Jodie Hanrahan and the support of the entire Park Church congregation.

This is where it all began!

Bill Lewis, Club CHILL, and patrons. Bill and his patrons were and still are the major fundraiser for PRIDE! Thanks Bill, and Club CHILL for all you do!!

Planned Parenthood , Unitarian Universalist, STAP, PFLAG, Ray of Hope Church, Hill Top Inn, Horigan's, Doug Miller from Ithaca Common Ground, Angles, and so many volunteers that helped blow up all those balloons and decorate! Thanks to the performers who donated their time and talents including: the area's male and female impersonators, Danny Maloney, Robin Burnette and her band, Lisa Bloom and her band.

Special thanks to Peggy and her family that together spent untold hours making and setting up the stages and back drops! What an amazing family!!

Last, but absolutely not least, a special thanks goes to the open-minded/liberal heterosexual community who see that we are people too and are there by our sides through it all; including attending Pride, helping to raise funds, being our friends and allies who stand beside us giving us the "green light" to show the world that we do, indeed, exist.

PRIDE is just one step we have to be proud of who we are!

Never let anyone take that away from you!

YOU ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE!