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Gay Pride is coming to the Hudson Valley...
Posted on
6-01-06
Gay Pride is coming to the
Hudson Valley—marching right down Main Street in New Paltz NY, past the original
site of the 25 same-sex marriages performed by Mayor Jason West in the Village
Hall parking lot on February 27th, 2004.
There have been many gains
since that fateful day—Jason West had all 24
charges against him dropped—but there have been many setbacks nationwide and
complete stagnancy on the part of New York State Legislator, the New York
Attorney General and the New York State Judicial System; all of whom have
refused to acknowledge the rights of same-sex couples to marry, as guaranteed to
them by the New York State Constitution.
So here we are. The Second
Annual New Paltz Pride Rally and Festival promises to be a celebration of these
strides, a protest against the religious right and anti-gay political forces and
a festival to bring the entire community together—gay or straight, young or old,
to enforce once again, that New Paltz is a progressive place that embraces
diversity and serves a role-model for the rest of the nation.
I had the good fortune of
covering the First Annual Pride Rally and Festival for the New Paltz Times last
year. It was clear, warm, the streets filled with vibrancy. Don’t miss this
year’s. Monica’s Knee Pads, funk band favorite, will inject the post-march crowd
with a little hot-shot from the 1970’s. There will be speeches, stars, music and
activities for kids. So hopefully, we’ll see you there. For all the times, date,
and information read on below.
Erin Quinn
NEW PALTZ PRIDE RALLY AND
FESTIVAL
ON JUNE 4 WILL SHOWCASE
LOCAL MUSICIANS, COMEDY
LOCAL FAVE MICHAEL TRUCKPILE
AND 70s-ERA FUNKSTERS
MONICA’S KNEEPADS
TOP AN AFTERNOON OF
ENTERTAINMENT
DJ DANCE PARTY FOLLOWING AT
JOE’S EAST-WEST
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK (May 23)
-- A showcase of the best of local musicians, comedians and entertainers top the
bill for the 2nd Annual The New Paltz LGBTQ Pride March and Festival. The
Festival, to take place on Sunday, June 4, begins at 1:30pm, and takes place in
Hasbrouck Park, adjacent to New Paltz Village Hall. Admission to The Festival
is free. In addition to entertainment, there will be local vendors, food
for sale, community organizations offering information. Families with children
are welcome; there will be games and prizes for children, as well as
face-painting and other diversions.
The day begins with the March
line-up at noon at the New Paltz Middle School at the corner of Route 299 and
North Manheim Blvd. A rally with speakers and musicians will happen until 1pm.
The March steps off at 1pm and goes through the center of town. The Festival
at Hasbrouck Park will immediately follow. The Festival will end at 5pm. A
dance party immediately follows at Joe's East-West in New Paltz. Scheduled
to perform at the Rally in The New Paltz Middle School parking lot at noon are:
SANDY STONES
Originally from Saugerties,
Sandy Stones began composing original
musical compositions during
her sophomore year in college, influenced
by Melissa Etheridge, the
Indigo Girls, and Sarah McLachlan, Sandy's
songs are written from pure
emotion. Performing a mix of original
songs and popular covers,
this young singer/songwriter delivers a
unique sound that blends
folk, rock, and pop with an occasional free-
spirited country feel. Her
passionate and infectious vocals, paired
with a strong pulsing guitar
will not only touch your heart, but move
your feet. Stones has
performed at various showcases regionally,
including The Dutchess County
Fair , where she won first place in
their 2004 Talent Search.
She has also lent her talents to numerous
charity events, including the
Artists Fighting AIDS Benefit and
Women’s Rights II Rock
Festival ’03 & ’04. Visit
www.sandy-stones.com
MICHAEL TRUCKPILE
Rock-folkie troubadour,
Rosendale-based Michael Truckpile makes music
which dances across the
boundaries of folk, country and gut-bucket
rocking. On acoustic guitar,
Michael spins yarns of frustration and
hope around the question
marks of life. Since 2003, Michael has since
written, recorded and
released a full length CD on Art of the
Underground Records, played
shows in venues as varied as barns and
big rock clubs and toured
around the U.S. Michael is also the drummer
and singer for the
hyperactive pop duo The Kiss Ups. A stalwart
volunteer for charity
benefits and an unapologetic liberal, Truckpile
is at work on his second CD.
Visit
www.michaeltruckpile.com
Scheduled to perform at the
Festival in Hasbrouck Park from 1:30-5pm
are:
JIM THE FREAK, FESTIVAL EMCEE
Jim Marcotte began his career
as a public figure at age 15, starting
his own entertainment
company, Jim the Freak Entertainment. At the
same time, he polished his
skills as a public speaker by joining the
Future Business Leaders of
America (FBLA), at New Paltz High School.
Over time, Jim crafted his
public messages to focus on believing in
yourself, following your
dreams, and achieving success. When a
friend committed suicide in
December of 2004, Marcotte decided to
devote himself to being a
motivational speaker to students across the
country. By visiting cities
like Nashville, Denver, Baltimore, and
Philadelphia, Jim has brought
his messages to thousands, inspiring
young people to believe in
themselves. Jim the Freak handled DJ
duties at the first annual
New Paltz Pride March and Festival. Visit
www.jimthefreak.com
NEDRA JOHNSON
Nedra Johnson, a
multi-instrumentalist from New York City has
distinguished herself for her
R&B live solo acoustic performances.
Her blistering solo
performance at New Paltz Pride 2005 was the
highlight of the afternoon.
Playing bass, she offers up a joyful mix
of R&B, funk, rock and
gospel. Each song is a testimony to her
experience as a black lesbian
woman in love, spirituality, community
and politics. The daughter of
jazz great Howard Johnson, Nedra has
grown as a writer, arranger,
producer and musician. Her new CD is the
self-titled Nedra, which
makes the personal political and the erotic
downright spiritual. Nedra
Johnson has performed internationally at
jazz, blues, pride & women's
music festivals as a solo artist and a
tuba player/vocalist with
Howard Johnson and his group, Gravity. Her
thoughtful choice of lyrics
reflects not only who she is, but speaks
to the heart in a way that
mirrors emotions many find difficult to
express, allowing her a fan
base diverse in ethnic, cultural and
spiritual background. Visit
www.nedrajohnson.com
JEFF STULTS
Rosendale resident and
singer-songwriter-producer Jeff Stults enjoys
a growing reputation on the
local music scene. The feverish talent
behind a baker’s dozen of
self-produced CDs since the late 90s,
Stults is a self-identified
romantic cynic whether playing Rhodes
electric piano, Yamaha guitar
or Moog synthesizer. His newest CD,
LoveHateSongs (Flock
Records), sonically illustrates his poignant
musical approach to life,
love and politics in Bush’s America.
CAT MESSING
Cat Messing is a
singer-songwriter from Kingston who is self-taught.
She has performed in musical
theatre throughout the region, notably
in productions of “Cabaret”
and ”Chicago” as Sally Bowles and Matron
Mama Morton, respectively.
Messing has contributed backing vocals to
several of Stults’s CDs.
HUDSON VALLEY OF THE DOLLZ
The premier Gender
Illusionists of the region, the Kingston-based
Hudson Valley of the Dollz
are a colorful bunch of queens. For a
couple of years, they have
headlined the popular Sunday Tea Dance at
Rive Gauche in Uptown
Kingston. The Dollz are headed by The Lady
Esther Gin, who appears
regularly on WDST Radio’s Morning Show. The
Lady’s posse onstage includes
the delectable Isis Vermouth, who will
steal your heart and your man
with the bat of one long-lashed eye;
the enviable legs-for-days
Nadia Business; and the divine Anita
Morray, whose Bette Midler
impression could put the
diva herself to shame. Visit
www.myspace.com/hudsonvalleyofthedollz
MONICA’S KNEEPADS
Introducing nine
emotionally-charged expert soulful musicians that
play the best of the 70’s
disco funk and soul. Dressed up in
Funkadelic-era platform shoes
and crazy colored afros, MK showcases
the finest Hudson Valley
musicians - coming from jazz, funk,
classical and rock
backgrounds. Monica’s Kneepads will play that
funky music till you die.
The band are: Noelle Doughty - lead
singer; Greg Schafritz- lead
singer; Molly Farley - backing vocals;
Jon “Wa” Walters - guitar;
Mike Esterson- bass; John Steffans-
keyboards; Jon “JT” Tornatore
- percussion; Ryan Fu - sax. Their
concert playlist includes
such classics as We Are Family; We Want The
Funk; Le Freak; Boogie
Nights; Brick House; More More More; Tell Me
Something Good; and Boogie
Oogie Oogie.
Following the Festival, there
will be a DJ dance party at Joe’s East-
West in New Paltz, beginning
at 5pm. Sponsored by The Hudson Valley
LGBTQ Community Center. DJ
Iron Mike will spin. Must be 18/over.
$15 admission; $10 for Center
members, Cash bar. catering by The
Would restaurant (separate
charge). 252 Main St., New Paltz.
For information about New
Paltz Pride, call (845) 687-2284 or visit
www.newpaltzpride.org. Volunteers needed for March and Festival.
The New Paltz LGBTQ Pride
March and Festival is sponsored by the
Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community
Center. Become a member at
www.hudsonvalleyLGBTQcenter.org
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