[ HOME ]

[ writings ]

[ biography ]

[ gay ferret ]

[ gay daily news ]

[ DREAMWalker Group ]

[ my great store ]

[ Promisetown Tales ]

[ Links ]

[ email me ]

Site designed by
DREAMWalker Group

Contents

• Time OUT in Rome!

• Much Ado About Nothing?

• Pride, Politics, and Parties All Over the World!

Time OUT in Rome!

On July 1st, hundreds of thousands of gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender people from around the world are expected to gather in Rome, Italy to begin a celebration of life, sexuality, and identity. During the seven days that follow, Rome will become the gay capital of Europe as gay and gay-friendly multitudes descend on the city en masse for the first time in 2,000 years. Billed as World Pride Roma 2000, the weeklong event begins with opening ceremonies at the Giardini della Filarmonica and continues with a sensational program that will include workshops, a human rights conference, and probably more parties than you can count.

The events are still be planned, but we can tell this much: on Sunday, a fashion show, "Uno Specchio per Narciso" in Piazza Venezia, will be followed by a party at Muccassassina; on Monday, Gilbert Baker (creator of the Rainbow Flag) will present an inaugural exhibit; on Tuesday there will be a premier film (“Are You Greedy?”, theater performances, and an Independence Day party coordinated by Egon von Furstenberg.

An opening gala dinner is planned for Wednesday along with a dance performance at Piazza Farnese (created by Patrick King). Thursday has another film premiere; Friday promises an Italian mega concert – and later - a Leather World Pride Party organized by the Leather Club of Rome. After the parade on Saturday, there will be another concert featuring worldwide pop artists – including Gloria Gaynor, Geri Halliwell, Marc Almond, Ru Paul, and The Village People and a major disco party in Tor di Valle. Finally, things will wind down on Sunday with an outdoor ice cream party at the gay beach "Capocotta".

The event, which has been recognized by Rome’s mayor, Francesco Rutelli, coincides with the Great Jubilee festivities celebrating 2,000 years of Christianity. Because of some protest from the Vatican, which disfavors homosexuality, there has been speculation that the local government may ban the pride march. However, gays who have already purchased airline tickets and hotel reservations are expected to arrive by the thousands to show their support to the international gay community.

Rome is considered one of the largest outdoor museums and offers many parks and historical sites to the gay tourists. World Pride Roma has the city gearing up for a constant stream of day and nighttime activities. In addition to the planned activities, nightclubs are hosting concerts, discotheques are presenting shows and cabarets, and the finale Pride March on Saturday, July 8th, is expected to draw huge crowds (and curious non-gay observers, as well!). Roma is the place to be in early July!

Back to Top

Much Ado About Nothing?

Anonymous sources in Rome told the Associated Press that the Vatican is pretty irritated by the fact that World Pride Roma 2000 comes during the year of the Catholic’s Great Jubilee. However, Rome’s mayor, Francesco Rutelli, says that the gay/bi/les/trans event should go on. “Rome has a millennium-old code of welcome and respect that won't change in 2000," he told a city council meeting on Holy Year issues this January.

The Vatican, which permits homosexuality but condemns homosexual acts, has had no official comment on the Pride festivities. Some rumors purport that the Pope tried to have the Pride event cancelled, but these are unfounded. Still, it’s fairly likely that papal authorities will nix a hoped-for Pride walk through Vatican City. Mayor Rutelli has done his best to act fairly to all involved parties. As a supporter of the Great Jubilee, he saw to a major citywide spruce-up in preparation of the Christian event and the arrival of about 30 million pilgrims. On the other hand, and in apparent displeasure to the Jubilee organizers, he allocated $180,000 to cover municipal costs for things like security for World Pride Roma.

All in all, between the colorful costumes and revelry of the church pilgrims and the good gay cheer of the World Pride hundred thousand (or more), Rome should be a very, very festive place in July.

Back to Top

Pride, Politics, and Parties All Over the World!

Gay festivals are happening all over the globe – and some of them might just be in your own backyard.

These celebrations of being gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender have evolved from the early days of the so-called “gay liberation movement.” They really began in New York City in 1969 when a group of gay folks finally stopped taking guff from the local authorities and – well, fought back. That was the Stonewall Rebellion and it’s the event from which all events – like World Pride Roma 2000 – spring forth. Of course, that was a very political scenario – much like the one brewing in Rome right now.

And even though Rome is THE place to be in July, Gay Pride events happen all over the world (and the parties and festivals that spring up around them). Here’s a list of some of them:

May 20: Cape Cod/Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA
May 20: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
May 20-21: Long Beach, CA, USA
May 28: Miami, Florida, USA
May 28-June 4: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
June 2: Utica, New York, USA
June 2 –4 (Gay Day at Disney World): Orlando, FL, USA
June 2-10: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
June 2-11: Washington, DC, USA
June 2-25: Oldenburg, GERMANY
June 3: Bordeaux, FRANCE
June 3 & 10: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
June 3: Columbus, Georgia, USA (Defunct)
June 3-4: Santa Cruz, California, USA
June 4: Nyack, New York, USA
June 4: Queens/Jackson Heights, New York, USA
June 4: San Juan, PUERTO RICO
June 4-11: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
June 8 & 23 (parade) Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
June 9-11: Dresden, GERMANY
June 9-11: Helena, Montana, USA
June 9-11: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
June 10: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
June 10: Brooklyn, New York, USA
June 10 & July 15: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
June 10: Fulda, GERMANY
June 10 : Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
June 10: Nantes, FRANCE
June 10: San Antonio, Texas, USA (Defunct)
June 10-11: Los Angeles, California (West Hollywood), USA
June 10-11: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
June 10-17: Edmonton, AL, CANADA
June 10-18: Calgary, AL, CANADA
June 11: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
June 11: Spokane, Washington, USA (Defunct)
June 11: West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
June 11-17: Providence, Rhode Island, USA (Defunct)
June 11-18: Hamburg, GERMANY (Defunct)
June 12-18: Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
June 16: Haifa, ISRAEL
June 16-18: Bakersfied, California, USA (Defunct)
June 16-18: Lansing, Missouri, USA  http://michiganpride.org/
June 16-18: Wiesbaden, GERMANY
June 16-24: Regina, SK, CANADA
June 17: Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
June 17: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
June 17: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
June 17: Kitchener, ON, CANADA (Defunct)
June 17: Lille, FRANCE
June 17: Mexico City, MEXICO
June 17: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA  (Defunct)
June 17: Portland, Maine, USA
June 17: Sacramento, California, USA
June 17: Syracuse, New York, USA
June 17: Tallahassee, Florida, USA
June 17: Tijuana, MEXICO
June 17: Toulouse, FRANCE
June 17-18: Portland, Oregon, USA
June 17-18: Vienna, AUSTRIA
June 17-24: Berlin, GERMANY
June 17-25: Okanagan Valley, BC, CANADA
June 18-25: New York City, New York, USA
June 18-25: Seattle, Washington, USA
June 19-24: Brno, CZECH REPUBLIC
June 19-25: Toronto, ON, CANADA
June 19-July 2: London, ENGLAND (Defunct)
June 23-25 : Atlanta, Georgia, USA
June 23-25: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
June 23-25:

World Pride Roma 2000 
Rome, Italy 
From July 1st through the 9th, 2000
Official site (defunct): http://www.worldpride2000.com/

Back to Top

-- 30 --

Back to writings contents.

Michael Walker is a billionaire living the guise of a struggling freelance writer in Washington, DC.  He is also the founder and proprietor of DREAMWalker Group.