June 8th 1999
Planet Out News

Prides & Ride: MI, NJ, CA

SUMMARY: Royal Oak's PrideFest sizzles on Michigan's hottest day ... Galluccios cheered at Asbury Park's Jersey Pride ... California AIDS Ride wheels out of San Francisco....

Royal Oak, MI Pride
The 10th annual PrideFest in Royal Oak, Michigan drew a record crowd of 5,000 people on June 6, even though it was the hottest day of the year to date. The headline entertainer was CeCe Peniston, best known for her 1992 "Keep On Walkin'." There were also classic cars and some 140 food, vendor and information booths -- but no alcohol, continuing a PrideFest tradition.

In other festival activities, about three hundred people turned out for a Christian music concert on June 4 and a showing of "Relax, It's Just Sex" on June 5. The event is produced by South East Michigan Pride.

NJ Pride in Asbury Park
"Pride '99: Pride Starts Here" was the slogan of Jersey Pride's eighth annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Pride weekend, the sixth to be held in Asbury Park, New Jersey, which climaxed with a parade on June 6. Spectators were estimated at 4,000 - 5,000 as more than two dozen groups marched down the boardwalk. The loudest cheers were reserved for the Galluccio family, Michael and Jon and their adopted children Adam and Madison, who rode in an open convertible; the men won all unmarried couples in the state the chance to adopt children together, to be judged on their merits rather than their marital status or sexual orientation.

At the festival afterwards, entertainers included Alisha, A.J. Buchanan, Dave Hall, Lady JAM, Men Out Loud (who also performed a concert on June 5), Marlee Napurano, and Leslie Nuchow. Other highlights of a jam-packed weekend included a beach party and swing dancing.

Three weary protesters stood at the park entrance in sandwichboards reading "What You Call Gay Pride is an Abomination" and "Repent Now."

CA AIDS Ride Takes Off
The sixth California AIDS Ride began June 6 with nearly 3,000 cyclists rolling out of San Francisco on the 560-mile ride to West Hollywood, where they'll arrive on June 12. This year's edition had the highest total pledges ever for any such event in the nation, $11.1-million, up from $9.4-million raised in 1998.

While some other cities have complained about a low rate of return on events organized by Pallotta TeamWorks (which owns the trademark "AIDS Ride"), the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center have been quite satisfied with the results of this fundraiser.