A Very Special Dallas Pride

While the rest of the world celebrated Pride in June, Dallas is just now getting started. A plethora of Pride events are scheduled throughout September, including the 25th anniversary Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade on Sunday, September 21.

I'm really excited about this year's Pride celebration. For the past four years I served as the Marketing Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and without fail, each year we had a major special event that fell on Pride. Needless to say, I have not been able to take part in Pride festivities for quite some time.

This year's Pride celebration is especially exciting since I will be hosting the winner of the "Win a Trip to Dallas" sweepstakes I created for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB). For the past few years, the DCVB has been a client of SRJ Marketing Communications, the gaygency where I am employed. I have the fortunate opportunity to develop marketing strategies and campaigns that market Dallas as a gay travel destination.

On Friday, Ted Patchell of Drexell Hill, PA, along with a guest, will arrive in Dallas and check in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Market Center. American Airlines so graciously donated the air travel, while Crowne Plaza Hotel is allowing our guests to shack up for three nights at no cost! They are even providing a gift basket and breakfast for our guests.

Friday night is the Pride Party at W Victory Park, where Passport Magazine, Gay List Daily, W Hotel and LFT team up to offer our community an evening of fun painted all colors of the rainbow. My sources also tell me that complimentary drinks will be provided!

Later Friday night we will head over to S4 and check out Andy Bell's live performance. For those younguns out there, Andy Bell was the lead front man for the ever-popular eighties and ninetys band, Erasure.

We'll be sure not to drink too much Friday night, since Saturday we're all hitting Gay Day at Six Flags, compliments of the Dallas Voice! I hope all of you are there - even if you're a wimp and you won't get on the rides. We need to show up in drones and make our presence known. Our power as a people is in our numbers. Plus, the Titan is just super fun to ride. Tickets are only $25 and you get them through Kris Martin at the Voice. Just click the link about to e-mail her. Later we will hit the strip for super fun times and adult beverages.

Finally on Sunday we'll head down to the strip and catch some beads at the Pride parade. The parade begins at 2 p.m. and continues to a festival in Lee Park. This is where we will introduce Ted Patchell as the winner of the "Win a Trip to Dallas" Sweepstakes. So, don't forget about the festival!

Somehow after all of this partying, I will wake up on Monday and go back to work. I'll feel like complete ass, but we do what we have to do. Later that night, I will attend the Pride Dinner at the Melrose. This is an exclusive event complete with food, mingling and guest speakers that include Jeff Key, our Honorary Grand Marshall. Jeff is a former marine and the star of a Showtime original documentary titled "Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey." Jeff is now out and proud. He'll share his personal struggle he faced while on the battlefield - a true hero.

All in all, Pride weekend will be loads of fun.

P.S. I need photos of Pride! Please contact me at dallaspromotions@srj.net for more info.