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In the spotlight for pride
Tracing roots
back to the Stonewall riots of 1969, the gay pride
observance has become a festive summer ritual, from the
dance-floor diva headliners and tuneful
singer-songwriters onstage to the thumping bass lines
audible for miles around. The talented musicians lined up to
perform at pride events this summer should give revelers
plenty of cause to celebrate. And as homophobia
persists in communities and government institutions
nationwide, many of these musicians say it's more
important than ever to tap into the spirit of the
Stonewall pioneers. --Sara Marcus
Albuquerque:
Ultra Nate
Dance diva Ultra Nate has played so many
pride events globally that she's "lost
count!" she notes with a laugh. "It's
always a great chance to support the gay community,
which has been a great supporter of my music, and I
hope they continue to make me a part of these events for a
long time." She at least has June covered with
Albuquerque Pride. "I plan to show them that I
love and appreciate them as much as they've
appreciated me through the years," she says.
"It's a great feeling to see a crowd of
people thoroughly enjoying your songs and live
performance--there's a synergy in that
relationship that transcends the moment."
--Lawrence Ferber
Atlanta:
Amy Ray
"Every show is a pride festival for
us," quips Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls.
"But it's a really hard political time right
now, so we were more proactive this year about making
sure our tour schedule didn't conflict with
pride." Despite Ray's despair about the
political landscape, she still sees cause for
celebration. "There's more of a dialogue in
pop culture than there's ever been about being
queer," she says, "and more dialogue
about transgender issues. It's to be celebrated that
the movement has come this far." --S.M.
Boston:
Chezwick
While Boston Pride will feature performers
including disco diva Thelma Houston and electro-rock
band Chezwick, the festival is scaling down its
musical roster to make more space for political speakers
such as Boston mayor Thomas Menino. According to the
festival's entertainment chair, Shannon Lank,
"It's time to remind the community that even
though we won a major battle with marriage [in
Massachusetts], there are still other battles that
need to be fought to achieve complete equality." --S.M.
Los Angeles:
Deborah Gibson
"If I had to go through my formative
years without being able to express fully who I was, I
would definitely want parades, festivals, and
celebrations once I was able to be myself and be around
like-minded people," admits Deborah Gibson, who
has performed at gay events and
venues--including New York City's legendary
Dance on the Pier--since she was an electric
youth of 16. As for her upcoming L.A. Pride appearance?
"I might throw in a song or two about being who you
are and not caring what other people think,"
she says. "But for the most part I want to take
people back in time, do some of the oldies, add to the
celebratory aspects of the day, and show my continued
support for the gay community." --L.F.
Milwaukee:
Tret Fure
Singer-songwriter Tret Fure, a pioneering artist in
womyn's music since the 1970s, has played at
plenty of pride events in her career. But to her, this
year feels different. A few months ago, just after Fure
celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with her
partner, the state of Oregon (where she had been wed)
voided her marriage, along with those of thousands of
other same-sex couples. "It's a scary
time," Fure says. "More than ever, we
need pride celebrations to remind ourselves that we
are not the evil that the religious right is trying to
portray us as." -- S.M.
Ari Gold
"Doing pride festivals is a perfect match
for what I do," says pop singer Ari Gold,
"since I've made my being an out artist such
an important part of my work." Gold is making
the most of pride season this year, playing at events
in Providence, R.I.; Boston; Minneapolis; Buffalo, N.Y.; and
Rehoboth Beach, Del. "I do a few different types of
shows, but there's definitely an energy during
pride season that can't be matched," he says.
"It's our time." --S.M.
Providence, R.I.:
Namoli Brennet
Arizona-based singer-songwriter Namoli Brennet sings
about her transgender experience to mixed audiences
all year round. But at pride performances--and
she's playing at least four this June throughout the
Northeast--her audience connects more viscerally.
"The struggle with gender presentation is such
a big part of being gay or lesbian," she says.
"But transgender is probably 30 years behind where
gay and lesbian issues are. People don't
necessarily get it or know what it is, but
they're coming around." --S.M.
San Francisco:
San Francisco Opera
Divas and pride are by no means a new combination, but
the formula will get a unique twist in San Francisco
on June 25, when the city's world-class opera
company takes the stage. The San Francisco Opera is no
stranger to gay issues; in 1995 the company coproduced the
world premiere of Harvey Milk, about the openly gay
San Francisco city supervisor who was assassinated in
1978. --S.M.
Toronto:
Carole Pope and Rough Trade
"A lot of people came out to a number 1 hit in
Canada that I was singing about another woman,"
recalls lesbian Canadian musician Carole Pope.
She's referring to 1980's "High School
Confidential" by her new wave outfit, Rough
Trade. Reuniting with Rough Trade band mate Kevan
Staples, Pope will perform that ditty and many other
'80s tunes at Pride Toronto. Will politics also
fit into the set? "I don't want to make it
too political," she says. "I don't
think we should forget politics, but we should
definitely celebrate. It's our thing, our time. And
there won't be any Republicans in
Toronto!" Ah, Canada. --L.F.
Washington, D.C.:
Frenchie Davis
Frenchie Davis, currently appearing in Rent on Broadway,
considers gays capital to her career--so
she's coming to the nation's capital to
show her appreciation. "Before American Idol was ever
on TV," says the second-season semifinalist,
"or people knew who I was, my biggest
supporters and fans were members of the gay community. Now
that I've had a bit of success, I enjoy coming
back to my original fan base." Davis, who
attended D.C.'s Howard University, landed her first
professional gigs at the local gay clubs, "so
it's especially important to me to be
performing at Capital Pride. I hope that people enjoy
themselves, and I hope I contribute to that."
--L.F.
Cyndi Lauper
Ultra Nate
Amy Ray (Indigo Girls)
Chezwick
Deborah Gibson
Tret Fure
Ari Gold
Joan Jett
Namoli Brennet
San Francisco Opera
Carole Pope and Rough Trade
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