Oscar winner Mo'Nique to open PrideFest Milwaukee

Tue. May 3, 2011 7:00 AM by GoPride.com News Staff

Comedienne and actress Mo’Nique joins festival lineup, presale tickets are available May 12 with password GOPRIDE11

Milwaukee, WI - Actress, author, comedienne, and fierce promoter of self acceptance, Mo'Nique joins the impressive PrideFest Milwaukee 2011 lineup. Organizers that Mo'Nique will open the annual festival on Friday, June 10.

"We are so excited for this show," said PrideFest Milwaukee entertainment director, David Charpentier. "The diversity of our acts this year is just amazing, and Mo'Nique is really the icing on the cake."

PrideFest organizers have previously announced Saturday headliners, Salt-N-Pepa, and Sunday as country music legend LeAnn Rimes with special guest out lesbian singer Chely Wright.

Mo'Nique rose to fame in the television series The Parkers while making a name as a stand-up comedian hosting a variety of venues, including Showtime at the Apollo. She transitioned to film with roles in such films as Phat Girlz, and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, and saw incredible success with the 2009 release of Precious. Not only did she receive critical praise for her villainous role in the film, she has won well over 25 awards including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a BAFTA Award.

The host of the BET late night talk show, The Mo'Nique Show has long been a fierce ally for the Black LGBT community and a high-profile HIV/AIDS advocate. In a 2010 interview in The Advocate, she discussed the hypocrisy of the black church toward its many gay and lesbian members and said, "God don't make no mistakes." At the upcoming 2011 Human Rights Campaign Atlanta Gala Dinner, Mo'Nique will be presented with the HRC Equality Award, and recognized as an LGBT Ally. These awards are the highest honor the organization bestows in the area of achieving equality for LGBT people.

Mo'Nique will headline the Miller Lite Mainstage on Friday, June 10. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 13 at Noon. Presale tickets - exclusive to GoPride.com readers go on sale Thursday, May 12 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. using the password GOPRIDE11.

PrideFest Milwaukee is June 10- 11-12 on the Henry Maier Festival (Summerfest)Grounds. For more information, tickets, or to volunteer, please visit www.pridefest.com.
 

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