Rochester Pridefest will kick off Thursday evening and culminate on Sunday with a Pride Celebration in Peace Park. In its 18th year, Rochester Pridefest is organized by the Gay and Lesbian Community Services of Southeast Minnesota.
“The last couple of years, with defeating the marriage amendment in Minnesota, then Minnesota legalizing same-sex marriage, and this year with the Supreme Court ruling — there’s a lot to celebrate,” Bill Broring, chairman of the board of Gay Lesbian Community Services of Rochester, told the Rochester Post-Bulletin. “It’s an exciting time in our nation’s history.”
Rochester Pridefest kicks off with a happy hour on the patio at the Wicked Moose and Thursday at 6:30.
Friday night features a movie, “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar” , at Peace United Church of Christ. At 9:30pm on Friday, the Rochester Art Center is hosting All Together, Now, an evening of contemporary queer cinema and performance. The event will include: Never a Cover, 2015, Lauren Tabak and Susie Smith (San Francisco, CA), Work of Art, 2012, Chris E. Vargas and Greg Youmans (Bellingham, WA), The Infamous T, 2013, Melissa Koch, Grey Duck Pictures (Minneapolis, MN), and live performance, A LESBIAN’S GUIDE TO SELF-CARE!!!, by Kat Marie Yoas (San Francisco, CA)
The Rochester Art Center notes: “Curated by Susannah Magers, Rochester Art Center’s Curator of Art & Public Engagement, these selections reflect contemporary investigations into concepts and themes relevant to the queer experience now, such as: the importance of queer community space; navigating the art world as a queer cultural producer; the concept of a family of choice; and queer desire, self-discovery, and self-care. Each explores these themes through numerous approaches, including social documentary, satire, auto-biographical narrative, and humor.”
On Saturday, the Pridefest Family Potluck will be held starting at noon at the West Silver Lake Shelter. People are encouraged to bring a potluck item. The potluck will also feature T-Time with Michael Hughes who will talk about issues facing the transgender community. The first ever LGBTQ Teen Prom will be held at the Rochester Public Library from 6-9pm on Saturday evening.At the Wicked Moose starting at 8pm, Dragagonza will present “Color Me, Beautiful.” Doors are at 6:30 and cover is $10 for this age 21 and up event.
On Sunday, Pridefest kicks off with a worship service at Peace Church starting at 11am. The Pridefest main event will be at Peace Plaza beginning at noon:
12 noon- PrideFest Celebration kicks off with guest appearances by Miss Gosh Alice Jones, Mayor Brede, Representative Tina Liebling, Rabbi Michelle Werner.
1 pm to 2 pm LP and the 45s — a live Rochester area band playing the greatest musical hits of the past 50 years
2 pm to 3 pm OVATION!– A 12 voice LGBT acapella singing group from the Twin Cities — totally Fabulous!
3pm to 4 pm Drag Hour! Miss Brandy Merlow emcees Rochester Finest Female Impersonators as they rock the Plaza with their entertaining performances.
4 pm Closing Remarks/Main Event ends