Key West celebrates Pride 2011, June 8 - 12
Wed. May 11, 2011 5:31 AM
key west pride, 2010
photo credit // keywestpride.org
Key West, FL -
Key West has a lot to be proud of — it recently tied with San Francisco for the title of "Best City for Unity Between Gays and Lesbians," and it won hands down in "Best City for Unity Between Gays and Straights." The city and county official mottos are "One Human Family," and LGBTA leaders work and serve openly.
It's clear that Key West shows its Pride every day, and this is your chance to be a part of the celebration! Key West Pride 2011, June 8-12, offers a variety of events and opportunities for fun that ranges from community-minded to the very adult. This five day celebration includes a film festival, dance parties, drag shows, bike tours, pool parties, water excursions, a street fair, and even a parade down the infamous Duval Street.
Key West Pride 2011 features plenty of opportunities for laughter with stand-up and improv performances scheduled throughout the week including comedian Christine O'Leary and the local comedy troupe The Improvables. Headlining Key West Pride 2011 are comedians Michele Balan and Jason Stuart who team-up to create one great show on Saturday, June 11th. (Advance tickets are available at keywestpride.org)
Michele Balan hasn't stopped since she was a finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. You can catch her on Comedy Central, Logo, and she has performed on Comics Unleashed, The Joy Behar Show, and Jay Leno's Tonight Show (three times). Voted one of the Top 10 Comics by Backstage Magazine, Michele is a stand-up comedian with class and attitude—although sometimes the class has to move over for the attitude. "Laughter brings us together," she says as she travels the world headlining comedy clubs, theaters, cruises, and corporate events.
Jason Stuart is one of the most successful openly gay male comics in the country, with over 150 film & TV shows to his credit including Kindergarten Cop, Will & Grace and The Closer. Stuart calls stand-up his "day job," and it's proven no less successful. In addition to his stand-up specials on LOGO and Here! Network, he is a popular entertainer on numerous gay cruises, and he headlines LGBT pride festivals across the country. "Pride is still important," says Stuart, "because there is always someone there for the first time."
The comedians will keep the laughs coming while the clothing-optional parties will keep Key West's steamy reputation alive and well. A must see, of course, are the annual Pride pageants. These very adult competitions often leave little to the imagination as contestants heat-up the runway in an effort to earn the Pride titles. Miss Pride (men dressed as women) is held at 801, Mr Pride (men barely dressed) is held at Bourbon, Ms Pride (don't tell the lesbians it's a pageant) is held at Aqua, and Drag King Pride (women dressed as men) is held at Pearl's.
All of this fun culminates as the community joins together on Duval Street on Sunday evening for the lively Key West Pride Parade which features LGBTA community groups, bars, churches, and politicians all joining together to show their Key West Pride. A 100 foot section of the famous "Sea to Sea Rainbow Flag" is traditionally carried with pride. (Applications to enter the parade are available online at keywestpride.org)
Key West is unsurpassed in dining, accommodations, shopping, and water adventures. It is the perfect place to kick-back or go for the gusto. Whether you are looking for a romantic holiday or place to let it all hang out, Key West Pride is the place to be this year. Check out keywestpride.org for more information on where to stay and what to do during this year's Pride celebration.
Key West Pride is produced by the Key West Business Guild, one of the oldest gay and lesbian chambers of commerce in the country. For more information about Key West Pride, visit keywestpride.org or www.gaykeywestfl.com.
From Press Release
It's clear that Key West shows its Pride every day, and this is your chance to be a part of the celebration! Key West Pride 2011, June 8-12, offers a variety of events and opportunities for fun that ranges from community-minded to the very adult. This five day celebration includes a film festival, dance parties, drag shows, bike tours, pool parties, water excursions, a street fair, and even a parade down the infamous Duval Street.
Key West Pride 2011 features plenty of opportunities for laughter with stand-up and improv performances scheduled throughout the week including comedian Christine O'Leary and the local comedy troupe The Improvables. Headlining Key West Pride 2011 are comedians Michele Balan and Jason Stuart who team-up to create one great show on Saturday, June 11th. (Advance tickets are available at keywestpride.org)
Michele Balan hasn't stopped since she was a finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. You can catch her on Comedy Central, Logo, and she has performed on Comics Unleashed, The Joy Behar Show, and Jay Leno's Tonight Show (three times). Voted one of the Top 10 Comics by Backstage Magazine, Michele is a stand-up comedian with class and attitude—although sometimes the class has to move over for the attitude. "Laughter brings us together," she says as she travels the world headlining comedy clubs, theaters, cruises, and corporate events.
Jason Stuart is one of the most successful openly gay male comics in the country, with over 150 film & TV shows to his credit including Kindergarten Cop, Will & Grace and The Closer. Stuart calls stand-up his "day job," and it's proven no less successful. In addition to his stand-up specials on LOGO and Here! Network, he is a popular entertainer on numerous gay cruises, and he headlines LGBT pride festivals across the country. "Pride is still important," says Stuart, "because there is always someone there for the first time."
The comedians will keep the laughs coming while the clothing-optional parties will keep Key West's steamy reputation alive and well. A must see, of course, are the annual Pride pageants. These very adult competitions often leave little to the imagination as contestants heat-up the runway in an effort to earn the Pride titles. Miss Pride (men dressed as women) is held at 801, Mr Pride (men barely dressed) is held at Bourbon, Ms Pride (don't tell the lesbians it's a pageant) is held at Aqua, and Drag King Pride (women dressed as men) is held at Pearl's.
All of this fun culminates as the community joins together on Duval Street on Sunday evening for the lively Key West Pride Parade which features LGBTA community groups, bars, churches, and politicians all joining together to show their Key West Pride. A 100 foot section of the famous "Sea to Sea Rainbow Flag" is traditionally carried with pride. (Applications to enter the parade are available online at keywestpride.org)
Key West is unsurpassed in dining, accommodations, shopping, and water adventures. It is the perfect place to kick-back or go for the gusto. Whether you are looking for a romantic holiday or place to let it all hang out, Key West Pride is the place to be this year. Check out keywestpride.org for more information on where to stay and what to do during this year's Pride celebration.
Key West Pride is produced by the Key West Business Guild, one of the oldest gay and lesbian chambers of commerce in the country. For more information about Key West Pride, visit keywestpride.org or www.gaykeywestfl.com.
From Press Release