Herland Sister Resources

In the Month of June, many pride events will be taking place in the State of Oklahoma, as well as around the nation. This is one of the biggest opportunities for gay/lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and their friends and families to affirm and validate the right of all people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in a free country. Following are some of the many Oklahoma Pride events.

Party Time! Herland Pride Picnic 2005

We’re looking forward to our Annual Pride Picnic in our backyard, the Saturday before the Pride Parade. From 5 pm until about 8, we will grill hamburgers and hotdogs, and shamburgers and notdogs for our vegetarian friends. And of course baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, chips, as well as all the fixin’s for the dogs and burgers; soft drinks, bottled water, and great music! All this for a paltry donation of $5 - $20, your call as to how much.

We’re delighted to have Peggy Johnson singing and emceeing for us. Our lineup is still uncertain as we go to press, but we have a marvelous supply of good musicians in Oklahoma, and we’ll get a lot of them here to entertain you.

So come early, stay late, bring the kids and have a good old family picnic with Herland. On Saturday, June 25, 5 - 8 pm. Call 521-9696 with any questions.

Herland hasn’t always had a float in the Pride Parade. Most years we walk and carry our banner. Every now and then we have a burst of energy and we get a float together, and this is one of those years!

We had a “Float Design” workshop at our Roman Nose Retreat, and our float this year will be great – we’re going to have a mockup of the little white and lavender house on a flatbed truck, with samples of our various activities at the corners; so while some people will want to walk (will you??), there will be plenty of room to ride.

We don’t know as we go to press just when we will be building the float – probably Saturday afternoon, June 18; and of course Sunday the 26th as we get it ready for its official outing (so to speak). We will be sure to get the information on our website and send it out via the Herland e-list (you can sign up at www.herlandsisters.org if you are not yet on the List). We are having fun working it up but can always use more creative ideas and more building skills. In any case, we’re glad to give you a chance to show your affection for Herland and still have fun and be comfortable!

Saturday and Sunday, June 25th and 26th. The two-day festival will kick off Saturday at 3 pm and run until 10; and on Sunday from Noon until about 4:30, when people will begin closing down and getting ready for the Parade, which will step off at 5pm.

The Festival will definitely be bigger than ever this year. Many new features have been added including the Diversity Business Association big-top tent, which will feature a broad variety of businesses that are either GLBT owned or supportive and recognize our value as potential customers.

This year there will be a special children’s area with a moonwalk, crafts, face painting and other great activities. Unlimited entrance to the area will be $5 per day. In addition, there will be children’s story time both days with a special reading of the now famous King and King. Family Pride will also offer a dunk tank. They will be contacting leaders of the community to participate and offer the general public the opportunity to put their friends in the tank. Any volunteers or nominations for the hotseat?

There will be two stages this year with a variety of exciting entertainment. On the north stage on Saturday will be the Pride Idol contest. The top two winners will perform on the south stage on Sunday afternoon. Moodswing will be the featured band for Saturday evening from 7 until 10 pm.

On Sunday, OGLPC will present the annual Irene Tyson Award, and introduce the honorary Parade Marshals: Michael Shackelford, the officers of Northern Lights Alternative and Anne Magro and Heather Finstuen.

The parade route has been extended up to NW 44th Street on Classen where it will make a u-turn back to NW 39th, then west to the gay business district – the Strip.

Members of OKC Pride will be at the Tulsa Festival on June 11 with information and the 2005 Pride t-shirts and pins. Get yours soon! Herland will have t-shirts and pins for sale at Herland prior to Parade Day.

Volunteers are always needed and welcome. Join the OKC Pride team by volunteering for the parade or festival! Call 405-524-2131 or 405-602-1224 for more information; or email info@okcpride.com.

Yes, it is too late to get your name or company logo on the Pride t-shirt. But it is not too late to register for a booth at the Pride Festival or to be in the Parade.

The Tulsa community is kicking into high gear for “Diversity Celebration 2005 - Tulsa Pride!” There are Pride events all through June, and here is the schedule for their Main Event, the Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 11:

11AM, Pride Parade. The Parade begins on Cherry Street (15th), goes West on 15th, turns South on Main and travels to Veterans Park. There will be Grandstands at 18th & Main for your viewing pleasure.

12:00 – 5:00 PM, Pride Festival. Enjoy a day in the park; vendors with food, community info, arts & crafts, rainbow merchandise and more; family fun zone, all day live entertainment, sports and activities. At Veterans Park, 18th & Main. Equal Rights, No More, No Less!

For more information go to www.tohr.org

Lots of balls, actually. There were hours of an amazing torrential rain Friday night, but after that the weather was so fabulous that everyone wanted to be outside playing. Bocce Ball was the favorite choice of many. In Bocce Ball everyone stands together and lofts their base-ball sized ball towards a ping-pong-sized ball, and the one who comes closest wins that round. Then, everyone moves as one, in a giant languid liquid amorphous amoeba-like mass to the target ball; and there they toss it off again, throw their balls at it again, and sweep across the lawn again — it is a perfect existential exercise in meaninglessness, and a perfect spectator sport for people relaxed to the max!

There was a golf tournament on the Roman Nose course, so the golfers among us played Friday morning and Sunday afternoon. During the retreat, though, some of us got our golf clubs out and practiced our chipping. Sandy was an excellent coach for the neophytes among us.

And for the last “ballâ€� event — there was the IRIS ball Saturday night – they played outside under the stars to a delighted and appreciative audience, and yes we did dance!

The pot luck was delicious, the scrabble was marvelous, the campfire Saturday night was huge, the bra and panties up the flagpole were purple, and a fine time was had by all!