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Book Fair Names 3 Charity Beneficiaries for 2019

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The Dayton Book Fair Foundation has chosen three downtown Dayton nonprofit organizations as beneficiaries of the 2019 Dayton Book Fair. This year’s book fair is the the 49th annual fair, the largest used book sale in Ohio and will generate grants of around $10,000 for each recipient.

The three organizations chosen from a large pool of applicants are the Dayton Day of the Dead Festival, the Greater Dayton LGBT Center and Community Action Partners of the Miami Valley.

“We get so many excellent applicants each year,” said foundation director Larkin Vonalt “that it’s a great challenge to just pick three.” The process of choosing beneficiaries takes four to six weeks for the board of seven. “The organizations we chose this year had also applied in previous years,” Vonalt said “and in that light, we strongly encourage organizations to apply more than once.”

 

Community Action Partners of Miami Valley

The three groups they picked this year all call downtown Dayton home, and range from a tiny nonprofit to an enormous organization with a multi-million dollar budget. “But just because they’re big doesn’t mean that they don’t need help,” Vonalt explained. That beneficiary, Community Action Partners of Miami Valley has been trying for years to build a bus shelter outside their south Main St. offices to provide a safe, dry place for their clients to wait for the bus. Though their budget is considerable, all of it has stipulations attached, and there was nothing extra to build the shelter.”  Community Action Partners is a private non-profit organization that provides assistance with utilities, weatherization, shelter programs, transportation, legal issues, home repair, computer literacy, tax assistance and housing.

LGBT Center Thanksgiving Dinner

Also chosen to receive a grant this year is the Greater Dayton LGBT Center on Jefferson St. The funding they’ll receive is earmarked for the commercial kitchen they’re building to prepare free community meals they offer, teach cooking classes and meet the requirements for a licensed kitchen to be able to make food items for resale. The LGBT Center also offers support groups, a book club, health testing, holiday gatherings, social events, AA meetings, Yoga classes and seminars in their efforts to “enhance lives and empower members of diverse sexual and gender communities throughout the Miami Valley.”

“The third recipient is the smallest, a group of artists and musicians that for the last seven years have produced (on a shoestring) a marvelous festival and parade celebrating Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, one of the most important of Mexican holidays,” Vonalt said.

Dia de Muertos Dayton

Though predominantly Mexican, the holiday is also marked in Europe as “All Saints Day” and focuses on gatherings to remember friends and family who have died, and help support their spiritual journey through parties, parades and the making of altars to honor them. This vibrant celebration at the Dayton Day of the Dead Festival begins with a parade through the Oregon district with huge skeleton puppets, floats, revelers in elaborate costumes (and sugar-skull facepaint and wreaths of flowers), musicians, dancers and children. The parade finishes at the Old Yellow Cab company where festivities continue with story telling, folk dancing, music, more face painting and Mexican and South American street food provided by local restaurants and St. Mary’s Church. The festival is free and family-friendly.

 

Through the year, the organizations are each asked to provide 40 hours of volunteer service to the Book Fair Foundation and to help with a book drive and promoting the fair. “We hope to build a relationship with each of our beneficiaries,” Vonalt explained. “In the end, we want to try to build a stronger network of Dayton-area non-profits helping each other.”

The Book Fair will be presenting  checks next week of $10,000 each to their 2018 Beneficiaries Rebuilding Together Dayton, the Victory Project and We Care Arts.

The 2019 book sale will be Friday, Nov 8th through Monday, Nov 11th at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  Donated books are accepted  at the Book Loft,” located at 2181 Embury Park Road in Dayton, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm, Wednesdays from 1 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. If you have a very large number of books to donate, or you need help with your books, give them a call at 937.999.4491.

Are you interested in volunteering? The Book Foundation can always use some help, whether as a member of their volunteer staff at the Book Loft, help with our Book Round-Ups in May and August, and of course, help with the mammoth Book Fair (the largest book sale in Ohio!) the second weekend in November. If you are interested in volunteering, please give them a call at 937.999.4491, send us an email at [email protected]

DAYTON LGBT FILM FEST Heading Into 12th Year!

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What do Bette Midler, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Laura Linney, Ian McKellen and Laverne Cox all have in common? They all have films playing at The Dayton LGBT Film Festival this year!

Titles are locked down, marketing materials are ready to go, and visiting artists are securing their travel plans for The 12th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Fest – taking place next month at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton.

During the weekend of Oct. 13-15, the festival will screen 17 films (a combination of shorts and features) with ties to the LGBT community – ranging from American comedies to International dramas…from narratives to documentaries. Directors, stars and other creative individuals from a handful of the selections are slated to attend.

One special guest will be Jill Alexander, an accomplished actress and co-star of SENSITIVITY TRAINING (pictured above on the left). The committee selected the film from over 100 submissions this year and was unaware (until after booking the film) that Alexander grew up right here in the Miami Valley and attended Beavercreek High School. The festival is thrilled to bring Alexander back home to share her work with the community and her family.

On Friday, October 13, attendees of the Opening Night Film FREAK SHOW will be invited to the Opening Night Party at The Mudlick Tavern – just a few blocks from THE NEON. For $8, guests will see the movie and then enjoy a complimentary cocktail and appetizers – this is certain to be a very hot ticket.

Though festival passes sold out in record time this year, patrons will have a chance to get single tickets for each of the screenings beginning Friday, September 8. Details about the films and how to get tickets can be found on the official site – www.daytonlgbt.com

Sponsors for this year’s festival include PFLAG Dayton, The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, Sue Spiegel & Lisa Hanauer, The Human Race Theatre Company, Miami Valley Fair Housing, AARP Ohio, The Greater Dayton LGBT Center, MJ’s On Jefferson, Johnny Dangerously, Equitas Health, David Lauri, Square Once Salon & Spa, Marion’s Piazza, Ken Byers, Kurt Fleagel & Warren Riffle, and Westminster Financial.

THE NEON is located at 130 E. 5th St in downtown Dayton. For additional information, visit the official site – www.daytonlgbt.com – or call THE NEON at (937)222-8452.

Dayton Celebrates PRIDE At Courthouse Square

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FriPride300The annual Pride Festival that celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ culture in Dayton, recognized as the “Queersest City in the Nation” by The Advocate, kicks off Friday, June 5th with a brand new event. The Affair on the Square will kick off at 5pm and features the infamous and ever colorful Rubi Girls on the PNC stage.   Guests can enjoy food from Zombie Dogz, Hunger Paynes, Jimmies StrEATery and Go Cupckae as well as beverages from the Bud Light Beer Truck.

Title Sponsor PNC’s Dave Mellon, Dayton Market Regional President will officially open the PRIDE festivities with remarks on why fostering an inclusive work environment is a business advantage e and improves staff morale for PNC.   The Greater Dayton LGBT Center will then honor local businesses that are Champions of Equality.

10346298_862458463765809_306331806018025819_n1This is a weekend you will not want to miss! “The LGBT community is made up of many individuals from all walks of life, so come out and show your PRIDE in being an individual,” states Randy Phillips, President of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center. “The goal of Pride is for every individual to have freedom to be who they are. That is not the case in Russia, among other places,” Phillips said. The average attendance over the past several years has been 3000 for the parade and festival.

Saturday, June 6th kicks off with a Pride Breakfast at MJ’s on Jefferson at 9am (suggested donation $5), followed by the PRIDE Parade, which steps off at noon from Cooper Park and ends at Courthouse Square. Grand Marshall’s Michelle Kay of PNC and Bella Harlow, Miss Diva US of A 2015, will lead over 30 participants including local businesses, organizations, churches, drill teams, and other LGBTQ supporters.

 

Mayor Nan Whaley will officiate at the annual commitment ceremony that the Greater Dayton LGBT Center has presented each year, until marriage equality is honored for all citizens in Ohio. Pride will continue on the PNC Stage with entertainment featuring the best in live vocals and local celebrity entertainment in a family friendly setting. The Festival plaza is sold out again with over 50 vendors including LGBTQ organizations, local businesses and varie39ae989d09530ee7a750cadeface7587ty of food, will l be on hand until 4pm.

At 8pm the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus will perform along with Tonya and Grammy winning superstar Jennifer Holliday at the Victoria Theatre in a Broadway Revue.

 

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar will host a special, once-a-year Sunday BruncDSC_0407-copy1h on Sunday, June 7 from 10am -2pm. Breakfast Pizzas, Egg and Sausage Poorboys, Liz’s famous Fried Chicken and Waffles with Spicy Rosemary Honey, Cocktails galore and who knows what else! Can’t wait to see everybody! Proceeds benefit the Greater Dayton LGBT Center.

Volunteers are still needed to help with PRIDE, you can sign up to help online here.

 

8th Annual LGBT Film Festival – The Full Line-Up & Visiting Filmmaker News!

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Festival Passes have sold out, but single tickets remain for The 8th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Festival – scheduled for Oct. 11, 12 & 13 at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton.

The exciting weekend will kick off on Friday, October 11 at 7:30 with G.B.F. – sponsored by Square One Salon & Spa. From the maker of JAWBREAKER comes another hysterical satire of high school clique culture – this time focusing on the latest fashion accessory – the G.B.F. (Gay Best Friend). Attendees will be invited to the Opening Night Party at CADC on the corner of East 4th and St. Clair – where they’ll be greeted with complimentary appetizers from Roost Modern Italian and live music by Sandy & Michael Bashaw. The opening night party is sponsored by Sue Spiegel and Lisa Hanauer.

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On Saturday, the films will continue at 1:00 with BRIDEGROOM – sponsored by PFLAG Dayton. This touching documentary recounts a romance between a young couple…and how one man was forbidden from attending the funeral of his lover. (This documentary started as a youtube video called “It Could Happen To You” – which has attracted close to 4 million viewers.)

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Always a festival favorite, at 3:00, TOP DRAWER SHORTS will showcase the latest and best in short films from across the country and around the world. This program is sponsored by The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of “Torch Song Trilogy.”  Below is the trailer for DIK.

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REACHING FOR THE MOON, a beautiful period piece, chronicles the long-lasting love affair between poet Elizabeth Bishop and architect Lota de Macedo Soares. This film has won numerous audience awards and has played at prestigious film festivals around the world. It is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center and starts at 7:15 on Saturday evening.

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Later on Saturday night, the festival will play a fresh and fun documentary about the cult legend and John Waters favorite – I AM DIVINE. Sponsored by MJ’s Café & Johnny, this film will begin at 9:45.

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On Sunday afternoon, the festival will continue with THE NEW BLACK at 3:00. This film, sponsored by The Miami Valley Fair Housing Association, tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights…and it has a local connection. Steve Bognar of Yellow Springs shot a portion of this film!

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The closing film – THE HAPPY SAD – will screen on Sunday, October 13 at 5:15. In the age of polyamory and blurred lines of sexuality, what really makes for a happy relationship? Two young couples in New York – one black and gay, one white and heterosexual – find themselves intertwined as they create new relationship norms, explore sexual identity, and redefine monogamy in this captivating new film directed by Rodney Evens (Brother to Brother). Sponsored by Marion’s Piazza, this wonderful film has been playing at film festivals all summer.

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In addition to a line-up of critically acclaimed new films from across the country and around the world, this year’s movie-goers will be treated introductions and Q&A’s from at least two visiting filmmakers.

Darren Stein, director of the Opening Night Film G.B.F., will be flying in from Los Angeles. Last week, G.B.F. screened in Atlanta, and he’ll be off to Austin after the Dayton premiere. In addition to film and television work in California, one of Stein’s well-known films, JAWBREAKER, is currently being turned into a musical in NYC.

Guy Shalem, the award-winning director of the short film SOMETHING REAL, will also attend the festival. SOMETHING REAL is a celebrity packed short with a musical twist about today’s contemporary bar scene. The film marks Shalem’s first collaboration with Tony award winning composer and lyricist Jeff Marx (AVENUE Q) and 5-time Grammy-award winning producer, composer and lyricist, Mervyn Warren. Shalem has heard great things about the film community in Dayton, and he’s excited to get to town.

The Dayton LGBT Film Festival wishes to extend a special thanks to AIDS Resource Center Ohio for their sponsorship and assistance in bringing these filmmakers to town.  Additional sponsors include Ken Byers, Kurt Fleagle & Warren Riffle, and Chase Whiteside.

The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival presents films that have thematic ties to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community – stories that aren’t often represented or celebrated in mainstream media. This year’s selections were picked from over 100 films, and though many of these films will not find mainstream distribution, they are strong pieces of work that merit being seen by a wider audience. The festival encourages film lovers from around the Miami Valley to support these strong films.

Single tickets – just $8 each – are moving fast.

THE NEON is located at 130 E. 5th Street in downtown Dayton. For more information about the festival, including full descriptions, links to official sites & trailers, and ticketing details, please visit www.daytonlgbt.com.

Greater Dayton LGBT Center Celebrates 25 Years of PRIDE

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The Greater Dayton LGBT Center is celebrating  Dayton’s 25th PRIDE weekend with the annual PRIDE Dinner this Friday night at Sinclair’s Pontiz Center followed by  a Parade and an expo on Courthouse Square on Saturday.  Friday’s 80’s themed festivities begin at 5:30pm with a cocktail hour and business expo highlighting many gay friendly business in the area. In a bold move of support, LexisNexis,a leading global provider of content-enabled workflow solutions designed specifically for professionals in the legal, risk management, corporate, government, law enforcement, accounting, and academic markets. has signed on as the 2012 Pride Presenting sponsor.  Earlier this year, LexisNexis was recognized by The Human Rights Campaign with The Corporate Equality Award, which recognizes a company each year for outstanding efforts in promoting equality for LGBT people in the workplace.

Alyce Clark, Vice-President of Human Resources at LexisNexis and PRIDE President, stated, “Reed Elsevier and LexisNexis Executive leadership strongly support all LexisNexis Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including our PRIDE group which was established in 2010. This is a key reflection of the company’s commitment to build a culture that embraces diversity and fosters an inclusive environment in which all employees can contribute to their fullest potential in the workplace and in their communities.”

Kevin Mabrey at the Pride booth on Courthouse Square

For LN Pride Community Outreach Chair, Kevin Mabrey, the Pride Celebration is all about “allowing me to be who I am, because I spent so many of my early years hiding who I was.  I’m glad I can finally be who God made me!  To have the support of my employer and know that we’ll have over 50 co-workers and their families walking in the parade is powerful.”  Mabrey shared that the LexisNexis Pride ERG has members in New York City, Atlanta, North Carolina, Amsterdam and is continuing to grow.  As a company LexisNexis has offered domestic partner benefits for years and the open arms they’ve given the Pride ERG has been encouraging and makes Kevin want to help recruit his other gay friends to work in an openly inclusive environment.  Their presence at Dayton’s Pride will be the first time the company has officially participated in a Pride parade.   Kevin credits their ERG sponsor, Doreen Tyburski from their New York corporate headquarters as the executive that is helping their group gain visibility.

Mabrey also shared that LexisNexis has declared June pride month at the company and will present educational messages and seminars throughout the month.  On June 21th LexisNexis will present a bullying conference, that will help educate their employees on the effects of bullying, how to tell if your children are being bullied or if they are the bully.
This was especially exciting to Kevin, as he shared he was that kid who was thrown against the lockers in school and made fun of for being gay. He’s proud to be part of company that is working to prevent that for future generations.

Kris Jackson

Kris Jackson, Development Director for the Greater Datyon LGBT Pride committee says ,” the whole focus of the Pride weekend is to celebrate our lives in an open atmosphere.  Corporate sponsors like LexisNexis and American Family Insurance prove we’ve come along way. Dayton unanimously approving the domestic partnership registry is another big win we’ll be celebrating. We’ve worked through so much adversity in the past 25 years that we can finally celebrate in an open,  family friendly atmosphere.  On Friday night we’ll be honoring Sue Spiegel with our Frontier Award  for outstanding support for our community.  As the ARC Ohio RED Gala chair in 2010 and 2012, she’s helped to raise over  $875,000 for education and prevention of HIV/AIDS  and support of those infected or affected by the disease.”  Jackson also shared that other awards will include the Impact Award which will go to City of Dayton employee Kery Gray, a Lifetime Achievement award to  local historian and former Gay Center Board Member, Leon Bey and the Celebrating 25 years award to John Zimmerman.

Parade Grand Marshall, Sue Spiegel

On Saturday Sue Spiegel of  Dayton Bag and Burlap,  will be the Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade, which steps off at noon lfrom the Natalie Clifford Barney Historical Marker in Cooper Park on Saint Clair Street and travels through the streets to end with a celebration at Courthouse Square for a fabulous festival of entertainment, food, and frivolity. Food, beer, and craft vendors alike will be on hand until the festivities end at 5:30pm.  Which allows you just enough time to go home and freshen up before the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus big show at 8pm at the Victoria featuring the music of Abba.

With so much to celebrate this year, be sure to show your Dayton PRIDE this weekend!

MV Pride Week – Thank You For Being A Friend

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The Miami Valley Pride Partnership is planning a weeklong celebration of Pride for 2011. According to their website:  “As we celebrate pride we are ever mindful of our friends and allies that have helped us to achieve the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. It is to our friends and allies that we offer our theme for our 2011 pride celebration: Thank You For Being A Friend”.

The 2011 Dayton Pride Festivities will begin on Memorial Day, May 30th, with a celebration at The Stage Door.  On Tuesday May 31st the party moves to The Right Corner. On Wednesday June 1st the fun and frivolity extends to Club Masque for a night of exciting Drag. Thursday the celebration continues at MJ’s Cafe for an exhilarating evening of fun and entertainment.  And as the weekend approaches the events get bigger:

Fri, June 3rd 6:30pm  RoofTop Rubi

This dynamic, close-knit troupe of professional men has been performing since the late 1980’s. Comprised of elementary school teachers, an occupational therapist, a clinical counselor and business owners, the group began performing for one another in an attic during college.  Now over 20 some years later, the Rubi Girls have  traveled the country raising over $300,000 for HIV research and education.

Join Ann Roberts & John Smith as they host RoofTop Rubi  benefit for The Miami Valley LGBT Pride Partnership.   The evening will begin with drinks and food provided by The Dayton Women’s Club. Throughout the evening enjoy our fun filled Monte Carlo games and bid on our array of fabulous items during the silent auction.

$15.00 General Admission
$100.00 VIP Admission (Includes Admission for 2, Swap Bag and Sponsorship Listing)
For Ticket Information email: [email protected] or call (937) 697-1190

Sat, June 4th

Breakfast at 9am at MJ’s Cafe with the parade line up at 11AM.
10am: Rededication of Natalie Barney Historical Marker

Noon: The Parade:
The Dayton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has been selected as Grand Marshalls of the 2011 LGBT Pride Parade and Festival on June 4th 2011. PFLAG will feature, in the grand marshall’s car, the family of Mary and Kevin Kirkendall along with their daughter Lillie and Elizabeth Gillespie, a proud PFLAG family who support their gay son and big brother, Noah. PFLAG Dayton has been active in the Miami Valley since 1989 offering support, education and advocacy. PFLAG seeks to promote health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families. They offer support to help families cope with an adverse society. PFLAG offers education to enlighten an ill-informed public all the while advocating to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.


If you would like to walk in the parade, please download and fill out the Parade Application. Once complete email to: [email protected]

Sat, June 4th , HIV Testing, Dayton Library 12-5pm

AIDS Resource Center Ohio is proud to offer an orally administered,
rapid result HIV test.  The test is free, painless, and quick!  The test is administered confidentially and anonymously by request and requires only a swab of cheek cells from inside your mouth.  Twenty minutes later and under normal circumstances, you will be presented with preliminary positive results about your current HIV status.   And did we mention that the test is free?

Sat June 4th Courthouse Square Entertainment Line-Up

12:30 – 1:00 Parade arrives at Courthouse Square

1:00 – 1:30  BLESSING OF THE DAY: Liz Stutzman
1:00 – 1:30 READING OF THE PROCLAMATION: Josh West and Bret Wendell
1:30 – 1:45 Ohio Royalty: Alexis O’Hara, Brent Fabian, Sinthia D’Meanor, Rob Austin
1:45 – 2:00 Sashay Lorez, Elegance Black Lourdes, Aleksandra Grimm, Summer Day, Daray Lorez
2:00 – 2:15 MJ’s Café
2:15 – 2:30 MJ’s Café
2:30 – 2:45 AWARDS: Kris Jackson

The 2011 Theme Award Recipient is The Honorable Rhine McLin

The 2011 Frontier Award: Recipient is The Honorable Lt. Wendy Stivers.
2:45 – 3:00 Host: Amaya Sexton, Macy Kirkland, Justin Pryde, Endurance, Queen B, Claudia Cruiz

3:00 – 3:30 TBA

3:30 – 3:45 Cherry Poppins, Jenni Hoag, Foxxie Lane, Tasha Salad, Tramp Towers

3:45 – 4:00 Sky Black and The Kings of Dayton

4:00 – 4:15 Delta Blake, Shampaine Lopez, Maqualia Jaa, Arykah Alvarez, Howard Wayne

4:15 – 4:30 Jackie O’Toole, JJ Lopez, Rachel Torrez Kolbe, Niomi Necoll Onassis,

4:30 – 4:45 Diamond Black, Daray Lorez, Ashton Brooke, Patterson Michaels

4:45 – 5:00 TBA

Sat, June 4th Prdeapoloza 1-6pm Masque Parking Lot

Special appearance by  recording artist Pepper Mashay! A family friendly event with entertainment, food, games, and more!! Plus Pepper and the Masque Hostess show that night!!!

Sat, June 4th 8pm  Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus @ Victoria

THE ULTIMATE BOY BAND REVIEW
Get ready to scream and faint with excitement as the DGMC thrills fans of all generations with a musical look at America’s singing heartthrobs – the boy bands! The chorus has scanned the decades from the ’50s to the ’00s and everything in between to find your favorite songs; you know, the songs you crank up and sing along to while you’re in the car. They are all here for you from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the Beatles, the Osmonds, Crosby Still Nash & Young, the Village People, the Bee Gees, the Temptations.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased through  www.ticketcenterstage.com or from a chorus member.

Pride Night At The Neon

Sun, June 5th  2- 6pm Family Potluck Picnic

Ernst Park at 1030 E David Road will be the location for the family friendly cookout.  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.  Bring along a side dish or dessert. Fun and games will be planned for all ages to have a blast.

Thurs, June 16th  Pride Night at the Neon 7pm

We Were Here is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.

Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.

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Sat, June 25th  Pride Dinner 7pm, Sinclair

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary by hosting the annual Pride Dinner.   Featuring bawdy comic Suzanne Westenhoefer and  Dayton Police LGBT liaison Sgt. Wendy Stiver to act as key note speaker.  In both serious and light hearted ways, these two women will help the Pride Dinner celebrate Pride 2011. The evening begins at 5 PM with an impressive business and non-profit exposition with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. At 7 PM dinner begins and is followed by awards and recognitions, Sgt. Wendy Stiver’s keynote speech, and Suzanne comedy show. The evening ends with the annual Big Gay raffle drawing for many prizes.
Tickets are $45.00 with an early bird special of $40 per person or $400.00 per table of 10 if purchased by May 1, 2011.  Contact the Center for more info at 274-1776