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We’ve been getting together regularly to plan this year’s pride.  It has already been a fun and exciting event to plan.  We are working to improve the stage by having a full line up and an organized schedule.  We are talking to some exciting talent.  We are even looking at relocating the stage to make sure it is not too loud in the vendor marketplace.
We are also looking to add a space for families with children during the early part of the day from noon to 2 or 3pm.  We’ll also keep the stage “pg” for the first half of the day.  We are looking at having clowns, face painting and games with prizes.  We are looking for some parents to volunteer with us to make this the Kitsap Pride you want for your family.

We hope to have events, music and spaces for queer teens after 2pm.  We are teaming up with the teens at The Q Center (Kitsap’s lgbt drop-in center for youth 14-19) to create an appealing experience for them and their friends.

Of course, everyone is welcome all day.

Another idea we are looking into is an interactive art space.  We’re not sure what that will look like yet.  You artists out there can let us know if you have some ideas.

We do need everyone’s help to pull this off.  Our bigger plans will require us to raise more money and have more volunteers.  You can donate to support pride, bring your business to our vendor marketplace or get involved in the biggest lgbt event in the county.

We are also looking for sponsors.  There are sponsorship opportunities starting at  $100 and up.  Let us know if you or your business are interested.

Check out our fun fundraising event you can attend to support us.  Also, the Red Star parties held on the First Friday of the month in Bremerton are raising money for the pride committee.  Last year they raised $700  for the stage.  Check them out at www.redstarevents.com.  We’re now able to accept online credit card donations.  Until then you can send checks to Kitsap Pride Network, PO Box 787, Bremerton, WA 98337.  Donations are tax-deductible as we are operating under the fiscal sponsorship of one of our many non-profit community partners.

Most of all, tell everyone that Kitsap Pride is Saturday, July 19, 2008.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help plan, raise money and put together the 2010 Kitsap Pride event.

Next Planning Meeting is: TBA @ 6:30 pm at the Kitsap County HIV AIDS Foundation in Silverdale.

We need volunteers for the Planning Committee and the day of the event.

Contact us if you want to help.

You can also make a tax-deductible donation to help us financially. We need to raise $5,000 by July.  Contact us or use the donate link. Use the “Sponsor Donate Now” link to support pride with a credit card through the secure Google Checkout.  Also, if you e-mail us we can provide a secure link through Google Checkout or  you can send checks to PO Box 787, Bremerton, WA 98337.
 

Marcie and I went to Bremerton Parks today and have a pending reservation for July 19. We have also scheduled a first meeting for Wednesday, January 23rd at 6pm at the AIDS Foundation conference room in Silverdale. Located at 2841 NW Kitsap Place. Its almost behind the Michaels just off Kitsap Way.

We’ll provide pizza and ask everyone to pot-luck some salads, pop, etc. Please RSVP here – so we know how much pizza to get.

We are planning to have regular meetings on the first Saturday morning of the month.

Kitsap County had it’s first “Pride” gathering over 15 years ago. It was not that long ago where a turnout of 35 was a huge success. Back then it was West Sound Family and Gay County organizing the events. Some of those first events were held out at Scenic Beach State Park in Seabeck. There was always a volleyball game going, food on the grill and pot-luck dishes from the community.  We even had live music like the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Chorus.

The event quickly outgrew the park and moved to private property at John Foose’s Fox Farm in Southworth.  We used John’s studio/workshop to host the pot-luck.  John would often cater for us with delicious ribs, chicken or a pig.  It was a beautiful setting with tables set up under the orchard trees.  This is where we first added vendor booths and kicked up the entertainment with performers such as Lucie Blue Trembley, Magdalen Hsu-Li and Emma Wall.  We had some great community art projects including the art car.  We had to say goodbye to Fox Farm as we grew too big and the property was sold.

In 2005, the move was made to Evergreen Park in Bremerton to our first public pride event. We were finally OUT! There was so much to figure out working with the City of Bremerton and the Parks department.  There were permits, fees and a million dollars in insurance.  We significantly expanded the vendor area and had the stage going from noon to 5pm.

This year we will again be at Evergreen.

Kitsap Pride Network was formed in 2007 as a network of local organizations collaborating to celebrate community in Kitsap County. Networking together eases the planning and execution burden off of any one organization and allows for more community input. If you would like to get involved to support your local pride let us know. Send us a message.

Check out our growing list of Community Partnerships.

Support Your Local Pride!

We’re planning for the July 19th event. We are looking for volunteers committed to seeing it through to July. We will have regular meetings on the second Thursday and fourth Wednesday at 6:30.

Stay in touch with our website and send us a message if you are interested.

We need help planning and fundraising. Closer to Pride will need help with logistics and day of event jobs.

 

Bremerton, WA – Kitsap County will celebrate our diverse community in Bremerton’s Evergreen Park on Saturday, July 21st 2007, from noon until 5 p.m. People that are young and old, black and white, gay and straight, single and partnered, and more, will gather to celebrate how far we have come and to gear up for the work yet to be done. Entertainment, vendors and fun will fill the day as we celebrate Kitsap’s unique lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

This is the third year that Kitsap Pride is in Evergreen Park. Before that it was held on private property. This is a public event, and there is no charge. However, donations would of course be welcomed. The 2007 worldwide InterPride theme – United For Equality – is “completely appropriate for this year’s Kitsap Pride.” Says Michael Goodnow, one of the organizers of this event. Previously Kitsap Pride was the responsibility of one local organization, but this year a network of Kitsap County non-profit organizations have come together as the Kitsap Pride Network to put on the event. The involved organizations include: AIDS Walk Kitsap, Kitsap HIV AIDS Foundation, Kitsap Safe Schools Network, Kitsap Q Youth, OUTKITSAP Positive Solutions, Kitsap chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and Pride Foundation Washington Peninsula.

According to Marcie Mathis, another organizer of the event, “The theme of United For Equality is also applicable to rallying around the equality work left to do.” One issue that affects many in Kitsap County is the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The Kitsap Pride vendors include the Servicemember’s Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) and they will have information about the status of the repeal, and about what each of us can do to support gays and lesbians in the military.

Two of the steps toward equality that Kitsap Pride will be celebrating are the Washington State Domestic Partnership Registration, which begins Monday July 23rd, and the non-discrimination law in Washington State. However, not all Kitsap County residents will be able to benefit from these new laws – Couples with one or both members in the military will not be able to register their partnership without violating Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the Washington State non-discrimination law does not protect the Federal employees here.

Information about how the Domestic Partnership Registration will work and what it means will be available at Kitsap Pride.

Other weekend Pride events include a Saturday evening dance, and brunch at Augustino’s near Evergreen Park. The Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is also having a special Pride service on Sunday July 22nd at 10:00 am.

For more information on all of these, go to: www.kitsappride.org
Or email celebrate@kitsappride.org

Pride events are held all over the world around the end of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 that many consider the beginning of the current GLBT rights movement.

The Kitsap Pride Network is a coalition of Kitsap County non-profit organizations that support, and are allies of, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Kitsap County.

 

Save the Date: July 21, 2007 for Kitsap Pride at Evergreen Park. We expect a big crowd again this year. We’ve listened to some of your comments and plan some great feel-good music throughout the day. We anticipate over 30 vendors for you to check out. More to come. Hope to see you there!

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Kitsap Pride, our local LGBT Pride event, cost over $10 per person to produce.  The cost to the community is FREE.  In order to do this we have to raise money through sponsorships and fundraising events.  Support your local pride, use the Buy Now button in each category to join our other Distinguished Sponsors.

Current 2010 KITSAP PRIDE Sponsors

~ Title Sponsor – $1000+ ~

Red Star
Sponsoring the stage for the third year and presenting the Pride Party the night of Pride.  The guys from Red Star donated $1,000 and submitted it for an employee match for a total of $2,000.  www.redstarevents.com

Pride Foundation Washington Peninsulas
Pride Foundation is sponsoring our improved food area.  Supports local students and organizations with scholarships and grants.  All the money is raised locally by local volunteers.  www.pridefoundation.org

 

Use the button below to sponsor your local Pride

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~ Event Sponsor – $500+ ~

You Could Be Here

Supports local students and organizations with scholarships and grants.  All the money is raised locally by local volunteers.

Use the button below to sponsor your local Pride

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~ Organizational – $250+ ~

 

Kitsap County HIV AIDS Foundation
Local AIDS Agency recently added Chicken Soup Brigade services. Also Operates the Q center for lgbtq youth ages 14-19. Walk with them this September 18th at AIDS Walk Kitsap.  www.kchaf.org

Kitsap PFLAG
The Kitsap County chapter of Parents, Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Noveing Equality through Kitsap County.

Kitsap Safe Schools Network
Because No Student Should be Bullied at School Gay, Straight, Whatever.  www.kitsapsafeschools.org

Positive Solutions
Helping people on SSI/SSDI understand there benefits and incentive programs to return to work.

Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
An open and affirming church with room for everyone’s beliefs.  www.kuuf.org

St Paul’s Episcopal Church
An open and Affirming congregation in Bremerton

Use the button below to sponsor your local Pride

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~ Supporter – $100+ ~

Use the button below to support your local Pride

 

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~ Friends of Pride – $50+ ~

Use the button below to support your local Pride

 

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If you are interested in receiving the recognition of supporting the 2010 Kitsap Pride event and the benefits of this offer, please contact us.