Come Out With Pride urges 50,000 to live with courage

Come Out With Pride urges 50,000 to live with courage

COWP4_569213518.jpgOrganizers may have worried that the fifth Come Out With Pride (COWP) would be defined by a record-breaking heat wave. But by the time some welcome dark clouds rolled in just before the 3 p.m. parade, it was clear that their ‘Heroes’ theme would create the day’s most lasting memories.

The estimated 50,000 lining downtown streets on Sunday, Oct. 11 were treated to floats carrying a procession of caped superheroes—all familiar-looking, just somehow gayer. Instead of spider webs and lightning bolts, they threw beads and attitude.

When the parade was over, most everyone gathered around the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola for inspiration. Out city commissioner Patty Sheehan—a local hero to many—welcomed them, and joined Mayor Buddy Dyer in urging everyone to live proudly.

“Every one of you is a hero,” Dyer said to cheers.COWP3_264589886.jpg

Then the gay nephew of the LGBT movement’s most iconic hero invoked his uncle, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in San Francisco after becoming the first openly gay elected official in the nation.

“I’m here to recruit you,” said Stuart Milk. “I’m here to recruit heroes for equality!”

Solid support in tough times

Come Out With Pride coincided with National Coming Out Day, and included a series of pre-pride events leading up to parade day on Sunday. The Heroes Grand Ball Kickoff Party on Thursday at the Orange County History Center was thrown by COWP organizers. Other sanctioned events were created by individual producers, who then donated a portion of proceeds to COWP charities.

More than 250 packed Slingapour’s on Wall Street Plaza for ‘Club 54: A Night at the Disco’ on Thursday night. “It was a total blast,” said PhishFest’s Sue-Bee Laginess. “We plan to make it an annual COWP event.”

‘Armed & Ready’ was a Friday night party saluting LGBT military heroes, and attracted more than 200 to Tastings wine bar—many dressed in camouflage gear. On Saturday afternoon, Stuart Milk introduced a special showing of the Academy Award-winning biopic Milk at the Plaza Cinema Cafe.

Saturday’s ‘Parthenon Pool Party’ was canceled due to logistical problems at the venue according to COWP organizers. A ‘Fantasy Island’ party that night at 310 Lakeside had difficulty filling a large venue in its first year.

COWP2_502098272.jpgDespite a challenging economy, COWP executive producer Dr. David Baker-Hargrove said the event is financially sound and poised for the future. The event has an overall budget of more than $100,000, with a large portion going to municipal fees, permitting and required police support.

“We had to work twice as hard for every sponsorship dollar,” Baker-Hargrove said. “But it’s a testament to the many businesses that stepped up for us in tough times.”

Baker-Hargrove is also president of the Metropolitan Business Association, which has provided oversight for COWP since its inception in 2005. He shared that the MBA board will consider restructuring the annual event—now one of the largest Pride events in the Southeast—in coming months.

“Come Out With Pride was built with love, and it will take love to keep it going,” he said. “The reality is that we may have to consider whether we can put on an event of this size with an all-volunteer staff. A lot of prides are run by professional organizations.”

Heteros for homos
But those future considerations seemed far removed on Sunday. Before the parade, thousands braved the sticky early afternoon heat to visit 200 vendor booths that circled half-way around Lake Eola.

“I can’t believe the diversity of the crowd,” said Deland’s Kim Powers, who along with her partner was attending her third COWP. “It seems like there are more families and kids and dogs every year. And look at all the out teenagers! And straight people! It’s wonderful!”

During the parade, a group of teenagers with signs saying ‘Heteros for Homos’ lined up across the street from three protestors waving placards threatening those present with eternal damnation. Largely ignored, the Orlando Sentinel’s Jeff Kunerth described the protestors as “a reminder of the legions of people who condemn, hate, abuse or discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people.”

But in his stirring speech, Stuart Milk focused on more positive things. He reminded everyone that more than 100,000 were marching in the nation’s capitol on the same day and for the same reasons. And he read from a transcript of President Barack Obama’s promising speech to the Human Rights Campaign the night before.

“This is a leader that understands us,” said Milk. “And now we must do our part by electing people who will support him.”

Not far away, wearing a still-sweaty neon yellow COWP T-shirt, Baker-Hargrove looked around with, what else… pride.

“Everyone has a hand in this,” he said. “Everyone here participates in some way that’s meaningful. Pride would be nothing without the people who show up.”

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Lots of Come Out With PRIDE photos in Watermark’s Shot on Site galleries!

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