Gay Pride in the Plaza, Sunday, July 12, 2009
Attractions & Activies Calendar

GALA is proud to sponsor an amazing afternoon featuring fantastic music and fabulous drag for our 2009 Gay Pride Celebration. Check out the map and schedule of events below for details about the big day. Pride in the Plaza begins at noon, and the activities and entertainment begin at 1:45 PM.

The big and little kids play areas include a 25' Climbing Wall, Bounce House with slide, Dunk Tank, Mechanical Bull, Face Painting, and Arts & Crafts for the kids. We've got a full bar in addition to beer and wine, and invite you to visit our vendors and the food court.

NOTE: Start times and stage assignments may change at the last minute. Thank you in advance for understanding!

All performers will appear this year on the main stage, led by our master of ceremonies Mark Alan Smith.

Join us immediately following Pride in the Plaza across the bridge at Novo restaurant for hors d oeuvres, DJ music, dinner, drinks and dancing.

Attractions

Interfaith Service, "God Loves Gays"

Join the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations next to the creek for a short service consisting of sermon and song. Many local ministers and rabbis will be present.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt

The AIDS Support Network (ASN) is honored to host a display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in conjunction with "Pride in the Plaza" this year. The Quilt began with a single panel created in San Francisco in 1987 by Cleve Jones. Today, it is composed of more than 47,000 individual 3 x 6 foot panels, each one commemorating the life of someone who has died of AIDS. The panels come from all over the nation and the world and have been sewn by hundreds of thousands of friends, lovers and family members into the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world. The Quilt helps teach compassion, triumphs over taboo, stigma and phobia; and inspires individuals to take direct responsibility for their own well-being and that of their family, friends and community.

ASN will show a portion of The Quilt on Sunday, July 12th, along Monterey Street between Mission Plaza and the Art Center. In addition, there will be blocks hanging at the Art Center from July 1st through the 12th as a preview of the larger display.

Entertainers

Your Emcee - Mark Alan Smith

This native Texan from Dallas makes his Third year appearance at SLO-Pride and his first year as a co-producer for an event. His comical wit and Outstanding Live Vocal impressions of such icons as Cher, Bette Midler, Carol Channing and many more gaurantees to keep you laughing and having the time of your life. Mark has recently toured the Mexican Riviera, St. Marteen and St. Thomas in the Caribbean and will soon be jetting off to Rome, Venice, and Greece with RSVP as one of their headlining Performers.

Tiffany

Some of the song's Tiffany performs in her new show include:

• "I Think We're Alone Now" (Her #1 Billboard smash hit)
• "Could've Been" (Her #1 Billboard hit)
• "I Saw Him Standing Their" (Her #1 Billboard Hit)
• "Fly" (a big dance hit from her recent dance CD)
• "Be With You Tonight" (another huge hit from her dance CD)
• "Higher" (Tiffany's smash Billboard Dance Hit)

Needless to say the amazing response, has prompted Tiffany to start recording a full length "Dance" album, and continues to tour non-stop.

She also just filmed a starring role in an independent movie, stars in a new nationwide commercial with Meatloaf, guest starred on the CBS TV show "How I Met Your Mother." She has also just signed on to star in 2 new reality shows (one is for CMT) filming in June and early July, just prior to the start of her current summer tour.

The "I Think We're Alone Now" Girl recently finished up a starring "role" in VH1's Celebrity Fit Club where she ended up losing 30 pounds and got down to her Playboy weight. Needless to say it gathered her an avalanche of press from the cover of "In Touch" Magazine, radio to television show like the Tyra Banks show, Entertainment Tonight and the Insider TV shows.

Her new CD, "Just Me," (which was recently released) on 10 Spot Records, (Universal Distribution) delivers a blend of pop and rock in a singer-songwriter style with a little country thrown into the mix. The first single and video from the album is the uptempo smash hit called "Feels Like Love."

Tiffany began her career at the age of 13 when she signed her first recording contract with MCA. The self-titled debut album was released in 1987 and eventually went quadruple platinum. The innovative "Mall Tour" that followed proved to be the signature for Tiffany's early career and was very effective in targeting her core audience of young teens making Tiffany the youngest female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard charts.

Tiffany produced three top ten hits, two of which were national and international #1 pop singles "Could've Been" and the celebrated "I Think We're Alone Now." The soon-to-be teen pop phenomenon, New Kids on the Block, got their big break as the opening act for her world tour. Tiffany released her second album, Hold An Old Friend's Hand, which went double platinum and featured the top ten hit "All This Time."

In addition to her ground breaking successful music career, Tiffany had the opportunity to be the voice of Judy Jetson in the feature version of the popular cartoon series, The Jetsons.

During the '90s, Tiffany released two more albums, New Inside and Dreams Never Die (released exclusively in Asia). To start off the new Millennium, she introduced what became known as her "comeback" album, The Color of Silence with stellar critical reviews including from Billboard: "The Color of Silence is one of the finest pop albums of 2000."

In 2005 she independently released the club sensation, Dust Off and Dance, which spanned several dance-club hit's (namely, Be With You Tonight and Fly) that her fans demand she perform in her "club show".

Tiffany makes her home in Nashville (and owns a home in LA as well) with her husband of three years, her son Elijah, three dogs, two turtles and five fish. She enjoys cooking and preparing fine cuisine for her friends and family.

When she's not busy with her rigorous workout routine, she's a self-admitted designer shopaholic. Not bad for a local LA girl who just wanted to sing and went on to sell 16 million albums.

Sugar Daddy Swing Kings

Paul Brown and the Sugar Daddy Swing Kings bring fantastic energy to their Jump Blues edge on swing music.

Cleve Jones

Cleve Jones, founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, began his career as an activist in the 1970's, working in the office of San Francisco Board of Supervisor, Harvey Milk. After Milk's assassination, Cleve moved to Sacramento as a legislative consultant to California State Assembly Speakers Leo T. McCarthy and Willie L. Brown, Jr. Returning to San Francisco in 1982, Cleve was one of the first to recognize the threat of AIDS and co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1983. He conceived the idea of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1985 and, in 1987, created the first quilt panel in honor of his close friend, Marvin Feldman. Cleve has gone on to become a renowned speaker, lecturing throughout the U.S. and around the world; his best-selling memoir, Stitching a Revolution, was published in 2000. He served as historical consultant to the Academy Award-winning film, "Milk". He currently works in Palm Springs as a community organizer for the Hotel Workers Rising campaign of UNITE HERE, the international union representing textile, hotel and restaurant workers.

Mr. Jones' presentation is sponsored by the AIDS Support Network.

Local Drag Divas

Natasha Chamille Natasha was born and raised on the Central Coast and enjoyed a career spanning twenty years. She has lived and performed in Texas and Florida before returning home to SLO. This year will be Natasha's ninth appearance at San Luis Obispo PRIDE. Her accolades have included Santa Barbara Queen of Pride in 1999 and SLO Queen of Pride in 2005. Natasha credits her good looks to her Mom who is also her singing coach. For Natasha performing is all about entertaining her audience by telling a story in song with her unique combination of glitz and glamour. In her spare time she enjoys spending time socializing and singing with her family. When not spending time with her family she enjoys shopping as she has an excellent eye for a bargain. She also says, "One day I want to come back as Cher." When Natasha isn't busy with performing her alter ego is busy developing a career in acting and spending time with his son and grandson who just turned 2 in June. His background work has included Grey's Anatomy, Sleeper Cell, Charlie Wilson's War and locally appearing in a commercial for SLO Passport. Most recently, you can see him in an episode of Leverage on TNT.		Paige Turner Paige Turner was made by Mattel. Plastic and perfect. If Barbie can do it why not Paige? Performing and entertaining is what she does best. "I can't cook, I'm horrible with decorating and don't even ask me to sew a button on. It's a pure disaster!" say's Paige. She has most recently been spotted in Memphis where she was titled "Miss Butter Bean." She's quite honored. Paige returns to San Luis Obispo pride where her amazing family resides. "It's always good to come home to where all the insanity first started, she says.!" Her awards include, Most Improved Karaoke singer and Most likely to Fall of Stage. When she's not performing you can find her delightful cackle in bingo halls and practicing shadow puppetry.
Holatta Shok Holatta Shock has been performing as a male actress for 13 years now. A few years in Portland, Oregon at "Ember's", Six years at gay pride in San Luis Obispo. Several club events and a couple of circuit parties in LA. Many private parties and surprise events. She is not your typical drag performer; she has no problem showing aspects of her manhood. Her production is usually like a musical, dancers, costume changes and choreography. And this year will be no exception. Thanks for all the support and fanfare. Kisses, HOLATTA Shock

Josh Zuckerman

Openly out recording artist Josh Zuckerman is not your typical rock star. While exemplifying the perfect star quality, he continues to carry a message about being true to one's self. He has released two CDs (Out From Under, A Totally New Sensation) to great reviews. His latest CD Got Love? will be released in July 2009.

Having toured more than 20 different countries including the United States, Bermuda, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Japan, as well as Thailand, Josh continues to spread his music across the globe. Josh is a regular on Atlantis Cruise Lines performing for gay men across the world. He has also performed at over 50 pride festivals across the US.

Josh's music has been selling across the United States, Europe, and Asia as well as clips of his songs  Karma,  Spiritual and  Circle of Friends appeared on the Kathy Griffin's reality show My Life On The D-List on Bravo. His songs  Out From Under and  Something Inside were the number one most requested song on Sirius Out Q for four weeks in a row and the videos have consistently been seen on LOGO TV's The Click List and New Now Next as well as his video  Be Real. All three videos were the number one most requested video on LOGO's The Click List. His animated video for his song  Another Reason was released in May of 2008 and ranked for 6 weeks on the charts.

Josh's new album, Got Love? will be released June of 2009. Two videos are already in the works for the singles  Got Love and  Take.

Josh has integrated his life experiences to a fresh music style that is ready to explode the alternative pop markets. He has performed alongside such notables as RuPaul, Macy Gray, The Indigo Girls, Jai Rodriguez, EnVogue, Sophie B. Hawkins and many more.

Josh's motto is: "Be who you are, it's all about love..."