CommUNITY Central

Dear Readers:

During my history of volunteerism with many GLTB community organizations I've come to believe that without UNITY and a belief in the possibilities of a community there can be no true community. It is my personal belief that any publication that serves a community must show its UNITY and support to its community by giving something back, either in goods or in services.

To facilitate this goal of mine, I have instituted "CommUNITY Central"

CommUNITY Central will feature information about Long Island's groups, organizations, and non-profits that serve our community. Once monthly we will feature a "Spotlight Organization." Additionally we plan a listing of the groups, and contact information for those who want to get involved with, get informed about or get out to attend these groups and their events.

In an effort to give back to the community of which I am so proud, and to provide a service to our readers, PrideEntertainment.net is providing free of charge listing space to your, club, group, agency or organization. To be listed on these pages please contact us using the form on the "Feedback" page.

Please include a short 50 - 100 word bio of your organization, and if you have them a weblink, & an organizational email address. If you are a social club organization let us know where and when you meet.

We here at PrideEntertainment.net want to be more than an entertainment web magazine. We strive to also be an asset to the community, and to show our UNITY within the community. Wont you help us by providing information for your listing? (Click here to post your listing.)

In Love and Pride,

Rob Jackson

Publisher

For more information regarding this years parade, the Festival in the Park, how to register and how to volunteer click here

^{Community Spotlight}

The Long Island Pride Parade

The 17th Annual Long Island Pride Parade will be held along Main Street in Huntington Village on Sunday, June 10, 2007.

According to public estimates, the Parade drew an estimated 4,500 spectators in 2006, making it one of the largest parades outside of New York City in New York State. This year more than 100 GLBT organizations will be joined by government leaders from County and Local Government, families, business professionals, educators and individual Long Islanders who proudly participate in the day’s event to celebrate our pride and to unite as one voice in the fight for equal rights.

The road to this success began in 1991 when founding members Leah Gustavson, David Kilmnick, Cara Wilson and Steve Henaghan of the Long Island Lesbian and Gay Pride and Freedom Committee (now known as Long Island Pride Parade Inc.) applied for permits to hold a parade by the villages of Northport and Port Jefferson and were turned down.

After this, the committee approached the town of Huntington and was refused once again. After hearing the reason the founding members were stunned. The reason given for their refusal was that only “traditional” parades were allowed on Huntington's streets: Memorial Day, St. Patrick's Day etc

After hearing this news the committee, bravely deciding not to take no for an answer, took action by asking the ACLU for help in suing the town of Huntington. Subsequently the ACLU provided a lawyer to sue for the right to hold the parade. The end result of this litigation was a court order allowing the first Long Island Pride Parade, which took place on June 9, 1991 and brought 1,000 to 2,000 spectators to the streets of Huntington.

The Town of Huntington, now very supportive of the parade, joins with the community to celebrate what has grown to become the second largest event held in the town of Huntington. Proclamations issued at the 2002 Rally by Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper and Town Supervisor Frank Petrone declared the 2nd Sunday of every June as LONG ISLAND PRIDE DAY and in 2006 the Town of Huntington proclaimed June as LONG ISLAND PRIDE MONTH.

Pride events have long been steeped in controversy, legal battles and political red tape throughout the United States. Strides hopefully are made through the public's education for our equal rights. Each year we face new struggles and new obstacles along our path to true equality. It's nice to know that what started on Long Island as a court ordered relationship is now based on professional courtesy and mutual respect.
Long Island Pride committee members and their supporters are widely recognized for their active participation in the economic, political, communal and culturally diverse life of Long Island. Involved in over a dozen community events throughout the year, the committee is dedicated to creating a safe environment which to celebrate PRIDE on Long Island with all members of our community, both GLBT and Straight, from teens to senior citizens. Together we are dedicated to the respect of our community’s diversity.

Long Island GLBT's applaud the Founding Members for their courage to put themselves in the middle of a legal battle that brought along with it derisive remarks from the homophobic misinformed. Their strength and courage to take this cause public is the very foundation of Long Island Pride and must never be forgotten!

(For more Info about this years parade click here)

PRIDE ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES

"Your Connection to Entertaining Long Island's GLTB Community"