Cleveland Pride

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date: June 23, 2011

23^rd Annual Cleveland Pride Celebration, Parade, Rally and Festival
“Equality for All: Celebrating our Allies”

June 25, 2011

12:00 noon to 8:00 PM

Voinovich Park, Cleveland, Ohio

Each June communities all over the world celebrate Gay Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that sparked the gay rights movement in America. Cleveland’s Pride is among the first half dozen such celebrations started in the U.S., making our Parade and Festival among the longest continuing Pride events in the country.

This year’s Cleveland Pride theme is “Equality for All: Celebrating our Allies” to honor those who have joined together in order to support the advancement of rights for all peoples. The theme represents a focusing statement to Northeast Ohio, for all members of our community, to unite in achieving equality for all walks of life.

The Parade will step off at 12:00 noon leading to Voinovich Bicentennial Park. Parade Participants will meet at W. 3rd. between Superior and St. Clair Streets. Cleveland Pride’s parade route goes north on West 3rd Street, east on West Lakeside Avenue, then north on E. 9th to Voinovich Bicentennial Park (North Coast Harbor, behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum).

Daniel R. Sparks, 2011 Parade Grand Marshal

Daniel R. Sparks is a recent high school graduate who is an outspoken advocate for comprehensive sexual health education, anti-bullying, and anti-discrimination policies in the schools. He has been a positive influence in his school, community and even statewide as a leader through his grassroots organizing and lobbying efforts on issues that affect all young people.

The Rally starts at 1:30 PM

State Representative Nickie J. Antonio, Keynote Speaker

Representative Nickie J. Antonio has been an activist and advocate for women, children, and the families of Ohio for over 20 years.  She is proud to represent all of the citizens of Lakewood and Cleveland in her efforts to provide quality education for all, workers rights, and equality and civil rights for all members of the LGBT community.

Entertainment

Triangle Stage (Main Stage): DJ Rowe, North Coast Men’s Chorus (National Anthem), Keynote Speaker/Rally, North Coast Men’s Chorus, Melissa “Cha Cha” Figueroa, Blazing River Freedom Band, Briona Brookes Show, Polina K, Zumba (on the lawn), Superego, 11 After, Lacey Conner (VH1′s “Rock of Love”), (the) fundamentalists, Anthony Cavotta, Soneboy, and Corissa Bragg.

Performance Stage (near Beer Garden): DJ Matt Garwood (Q Nation), DJ Dan Spurlock (Q Nation), Gwen Maul, The Brionna Brooks Show, Le Femme Mystique, Wasted Productions, Melissa “Cha Cha” Figueroa, Cleveland Kings and Girls, Rachel Shortt, Boylesque, The Brionna Brooks Show, Da Dollhouze, Carma DeLane, DJ Ursula, and Miko Chanel and Robert Manoloblhanik House Ball Competition.  Brionna Brooks Show performers include Deja D. Dellataro, 3 1/2 Men, Diamond Devine, Hellen Hatch, Nevaeh, Lily Desmond, Isis Fontaine, Ursula Steele, Sonshine La Ray, and Lady Angelica.

Sponsors

GOLD

Flex Hotel, Spa & Gym; Jerry Szoka – TECHMAN Services, Cleveland Department of Health/Cleveland City Council

SILVER

AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland; Budlight, Frito-Lay, Gay Games 9 Cleveland+Akron 2014, Cleveland Play House, Progressive Insurance, Charter One, CLAW – Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend,

BRONZE

Walgreens, AdultMart, Kaiser Permanente, Equalsurance, The Plain Dealer, Ambiance – The Store for Lovers, KeyBank, Phil Vedda & Sons Printing, AMP150 (America’s Modern Palate), United Airlines

Star Sponsors

Bill Maher / Exceptional Artists, Joust it Out, Qnation.fm, City of Cleveland Waste & Recycling, Michael Flickenger – CPA

Ambiance - The Store for Lovers

It’s is with great honor that Cleveland Pride announces that Ambiance – The Store for Lovers returns in a much larger role as a sponsor of our 2011 Pride Parade, Rally and Festival. Ambiance has been a corner stone vendor that has returned year after year supporting our annual event.

“Jennifer Downey and I had the opportunity to meet back in 2007-08 festival season. She and her organization has shown strong support for Cleveland Pride by returning each year as a significant vendor,” explained Todd J. Saporito, Board President/CEO and Director of the 2011 Festival Logistics. “At very critical points in our recent history, Jennifer and her team have made themselves available to assist our organization. This was demonstrated through networking and advising to donating products for fundraisers. It’s clearly and exciting moment when a devoted partner to Cleveland Pride takes ownership by becoming a sponsor.”

Ambiance is the Store for all Lovers, and is proud to be a part of the LGBT community in Northeast Ohio. Just as early Ambiance customers helped turn the company’s focus to a couple-oriented business, LGBT customers in recent years have helped improve product offerings that best fit their wants, needs and desires. From these tailored selections to generous donations at local fundraising events, Ambiance is committed to ensuring that all couples, no matter their sexual orientation, have a happy and fulfilling relationship.

Since 2007, Ambiance has proudly participated in the annual Cleveland Pride Rally, Parade and Festival. 2011 marks their first year as a Bronze-level sponsor.

Additionally, Ambiance President, Jennifer Downey, is an active and founding board member of Plexus, the Chamber of Commerce for the LGBT Community and Allies serving Northeast Ohio. Plexus serves the LGBT business community and advocates workplace equality issues in Northeast Ohio. As a nonprofit organization, it also assists LGBT-owned businesses to become nationally certified as minority business suppliers. Ambiance has supported Plexus as a Bronze-level Sponsor since its founding in 2006.

On AOL.com’s City’s Best Guide, Ambiance is featured in the article “Show Your Pride with LGBT-Friendly Shopping.”

From Ambiance president Jennifer Downey: “At Ambiance, the foundation of our business (and largest contributor to our success) is empathy and compassion for all people. We hire a diverse base of employees who bring their unique experiences and perspectives to our business, and through our Think Like a Customer training program, teaches them how to respect and gain the trust of every person who walks through our doors, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, color, age or disability.”

“We are confident that our employees take the empathy and compassion learned through Ambiance training with them when they leave work everyday,” she continued. “The reason our customer service initiatives are so successful is that they are based on the universal human principles of trust, good communication, mutual respect and understanding of all people.”