InterPride 2006 ROCKED

I had the distinct privilege to attend the World Conference for InterPride and can not express how truly incredible the event was. I met the most amazing people, attended many informative workshops, got the chance to pick the brains of the leading Pride organizers from all of the world, was entertained by very talented singers and comedians, was able to help promote Little Rock Capital Pride, learned the ins-and-outs of the organization, was able to contribute to the policy decisions, ate some great food and even found time to do a little partying (OK, a good bit of partying :-) I am still reeling from the sheer intensity of the experience. I made some great friends that I can not wait to see again and again. Next up is the Prides of the SouthEast (POSE) conference hosted by our friends in Columbia, South Carolina February 16th-18th.

INTERNATIONAL THEME FOR 2007
UNITED FOR EQUALITY

Old Friends doing well for themselves

I was watching the news last night and I saw a childhood friend, Pat O’ Brien. Pat is now the Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk. Ironically, the day before my mother had been going through some old boxes and we found this picture from the local newspaper. Keep in mind that this WAS the very early ‘80s (so NO comments about the funny clothes or the haircuts!) That’s me on the far left, Pat on the right in the back and standing to my right is State Representative Will Bond a very good friend of my mine growing up.

Food and new friends

On Wednesday, Kamrin, Barb and I went to Sidetracks to decorate for Boo Bash. We had a fun time and (thankfully) some of the bar patrons pitched in to help. I can't say that I was all that helpful with the decorations (I always say that I did not inherit the segment of the "gay gene" for decorating), but I did have fun with Kamrin and Barb and even got the chance to chat with a cute guy in town on business (of course he was happily coupled--as is generally my luck---but it was fun flirting nonetheless). Kamrin knew a guy there that told her about a luncheon today for HIV-Positive people at the bar. So, I went and had a really good time. I was so afraid of feeling isolated when I moved back home as an HIV+ person, but I have started to build a circle of friends here within the positive community. Anyway, the lunch was fun and hopefully I will get more "plugged in" with community.

One week until InterPride 2006!

Next Thursday I will be flying to Portland, Maine for the InterPride 2006 World conference. I am SO excited! Besides being able to learn all of the ins-and-outs of planning and promoting a successful Pride event, I will get to network and socialize with more than 200 Pride planners from over 50 organizations around the world. Here is a partial list from http://www.ip2006.org/

Albuquerque Pride, Inc.Assoc. da Parada do Orgulho GLBT de S. Paulo BrazilAtlanta PrideBoston Pride Committee, Inc.Brooklyn PrideCalifornia LGBT Tobacco Education PartnershipCapitol City Pride-Des MoinesCentral Alabama Pride, Inc.Chesapeake Pride FestivalCity of West HollywoodConnecticut PrideDakota Outright-Bismarck-Mandan Pride FestivalDivers-CiteEqual GroundFundacja Rownosci/PolandGay Pride RocklandGLBT Twin CitiesHeritage of PrideHuman Rights Alliance/Santa FeJersey PrideKentuckiana Pride FestivalLA Pride/Christopher Street WestLittle Rock Capital PrideLong Beach Lesbian & Gay PrideLong Island Pride Parade, IncMaine Civil Liberties UnionMid-South Pride, IncMotor City PrideNorth Hampton PrideNorthern Arizona PrideNorthern Michigan PrideOKC Pride, IncPride Greater Fort LauderdalePhoenix Pride, IncPittsburg Three Rivers Pride FestPride Alliance of Long IslandPride Community Center of North Central FloridaPride HoustonPride of Monterey CountyPride Ottawa-GatineauPride South FloridaPride St. Louis, IncPride TorontoPRIDEChicagoProgressive Organization of Gays/PhilippinesProject Gay RussiaRainbow Celebrations/OmahaReykjavik Gay PrideRoanoke PrideSan Diego LGBT PrideSan Francisco LGBTPCC,IncSo. Florida Diverse MinoritySouth Carolina PrideSouthern Maine PrideSt. Petersburg PrideUnity Foundation dba Pridefest SA Vancouver PrideVerein Gay Pride Christopher Street Day Zurich

Halloween events for great causes!!

Come out, come out wherever you are

Today is National Coming Out Day! I know that coming out is a struggle for all GLBT people and can be especially difficult depending on where we live. I know that I felt that in order to live my life openly and honestly as a gay man, I would have to leave Arkansas and distance myself from my family and people that I thought would not accept my gay identity. In hindsight, I know that I did not give enough credit to both family and friends to be accepting. Coming out can be such an act of love, faith and trust. I hope that we all take this chance to re-evaluate our trust in the people around us to love us and truly want our happiness.

Back home

I got back to Arkansas last night from my trip to Atlanta. Whew, am I tired! I left Tuesday, drove all night, spent 8 hours doing healthcare stuff, had lunch with my wonderful ex,
Richard, cleaned out my storage unit, spent the night at my friend Greg's house, got up, drove back to Arkansas and unloaded all of my stuff. Can you say, "SHOT OUT"?!?! Now our little place is even more cluttered than before and we have to find "someplace" to put all of this stuff. Luckily the neighborhood I live in is having a community yard sale in the morning, so I am hoping to off-load a fair amount of stuff and score a few much-needed bucks to boot. I also have our monthly meeting of LRCP at 3:00 tomorrow, so I am looking forward to some down-time on Sunday.

(Then)...And now

As promised----here is Suzanne and I today. I think we have held up pretty well :) We had a wonderful visit tonight and her kids are ADORABLE!

Well, I am off to Atlanta tomorrow. I am not looking forward to the drive (about 11 hours each way) but I am looking forward to seeing my ex and getting some more of my stuff out of storage. It always feels like Christmas to me when I get reunited with my stuff that I haven't seen for months.