Official Statement from the GLCCB:
We are extremely proud of the representation of diversity, solidarity and PRIDE at yesterday’s parade. However, we are aware and dismayed by the fact that 2 to 3 individuals who inserted themselves into the parade without knowledge or approval from the Pride committee, espouse views that are opposed to everything that we at the GLCCB stand for.
We hear your concern. We share your frustration.
We are being proactive in our conversations and open in our communications with members of the LGBTQ/SGL community who are affected by the unsanctioned individuals and their divisive messages.
Our mission is, and will always remain, to support, protect, and value the many identities and viewpoints within our community.
We will NEVER stand with those who attempt to divide, demean or threaten these values.
— The GLCCB Board of Directors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pride weekend may be over, but Pride month is still going on! For a complete list of upcoming events, please visit our events page. Have an outreach/partnered event you’d like to submit to be added to our calendar? Please click here.
GET INVOLVED
BECOME A SPONSOR
Interested in exposure for your company while also showing your support as an ally to the LGBTQ/SGL community? Become a sponsor!
HELP US
Your tax deductible donation allows the GLCCB to help more than 800 individuals from the community each month.
VOLUNTEER
We need you! Please volunteer your skillset and time to help build a stronger community.
ENTERTAINERS
The application has closed and applicants will be contacted shortly with a decision.
WALK WITH US
The application for walking in the parade has closed and applicants will be contacted next week with more information
VENDOR SPACES
The application for vendors has closed and vendors will be contacted early next week with space and vending information.
Activists of the Year
AVA PIPITONE
Ava Pipitone is a Co-founder of HostHome Inc., the Executive Director of the Baltimore Transgender Alliance, and a worker-owner at Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse. She invites authentic community healing through the spoken word and egalitarian spaces. Housing LGBT folx, building collective worker power, and empowering the transgender community are the fruits of her labor.
Functioning as a collective of transgender parents, business owners, artists, and activists, the BTA lifts up the voices of Baltimore’s transgender and gender non-conforming communities. The BTA is one of the only peer run transgender advocacy organizations in Baltimore.
www.bmoretransalliance.com
www.facebook.com/bmoretransalliance
@alliancebmore
www.HostHome.help
@HostHomeHome
ERRICKA BRIDGEFORD
Erricka Bridgeford trains mediators, teaches conflict resolution skills, co-organizes a movement that rallies Baltimore City to avoid violence during three-day weekends and performs rituals for every person who is murdered in Baltimore. Her life has been impacted by murder since she was 12 years old, and she has been working for over 20 years to ensure that murder does not have the last say. From addressing rape culture, to advocating for death penalty repeal, Bridgeford’s ability to influence social injustice is fueled by her commitment to transform her personal pain into “hope in action.”
Bridgeford is the director of training at Community Mediation Maryland, co-founder and co-organizer of Baltimore Ceasefire 365 and an inspirational speaker. Her awards and recognitions include: Outstanding Volunteer Contribution to Victim’s Services by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (2015), Best Baltimorean by City Paper (2017), Peacemaker of the Year by Baltimore Community Mediation Center (2017) and Marylander of the Year by The Baltimore Sun (2017).
BALTIMORE PRIDE 2018 GRAND MARSHALS
SHAWNNA ALEXANDER
A Baltimore native that’s been entertaining for over 37 years, Shawnna has been seen on numerous occasions and stages as an emcee, Comedy Queen, and an activist involved in many charities (including Youth Homelessness, HIV Awareness, Leather Titleholder
Send offs, Drag Entertainer send offs, Gay pride Rallies and Benefits Along with Chase Brexton, Aids Action Baltimore, 12 days of Baltimore and Movable Feast just to name a few).
She has held many very proud titles over the years in her drag career such as Former Queen of Pride, Former Miss Equality Maryland , Former Activist of Year, Miss Mixers, Miss Rowan Tree, Miss Stage Coach, Miss Hippo, Miss Queen of Comedy and Baltimore Queen of Benefits—Shawnna is the founder of Miss and Mister Youth Prince and Princess, a title that helps LGBT youth entertainers evolve in the business with respect for the craft and the sense of helping even.
Shawnna’s views on Charities “I was there at the right time to help someone seen and unseen”
…So whenever you hear “Put ya hands to—getheeeeeeerrrr!” Echo from a microphone
your sure to find the one and only, Shawnna Alexander …
DAVON FLEMING
With a combination of soul, jazz, r&b & gospel, the would was bound to know the name Davon Fleming. With every song created to uplift & inspire he has spread the message of LOVE all over the world & made it his life’s work to heal the world music.
Before gracing the stage of NBC’s, The Voice, Baltimore Maryland native, Davon Fleming started singing at the early age of three. Fleming discovered his love for music growing up in church and throughout the years would go on to sing and study different genres of music. Through many adversities his perseverance and dedication would later open doors. Fleming went on to compete in the BET Gospel competition “Sunday’s Best” where he placed in the top 20 and went on to release his first single entitled “I need you”. Shortly after he toured throughout Italy and Switzerland making him an international artist.
In 2017 he became a contestant on NBC’s hit singing competition show, The Voice. There he amazed viewers and judges with his performances week after week. Fleming ended his run as a semi-finalist but left his mark by toping the charts at number one each week and being the only contestant in the history of the show to place in 3 different charts during a season (Pop, R&B & Christian) Fleming is currently working on his debut project and serving communities in his hometown where he holds the key to the city. Since the he had performed all over and worked with some of the industries top artist. Davon Fleming’s star is steadily rising and has no plans on falling anytime soon.
LATEST UPDATES
LADY LISA DRAG STAGE
Lady Lisa won the title of Miss Club Phoenix 2005, and she represented that title to the fullest extent.
In 2009, we received Lady Lisa’s biggest gift to the community ever. She found out that there might not be a Drag Stage in the park for Baltimore Pride due to a lack of funding. So what did she do? She singlehandedly lead a fundraising drive, bringing together Baltimore Drag Queens and Drag Kings, the Leather Community, and other performers, at numerous bars and venues in and around the Baltimore area, to raise the ALL of the funds necessary to insure that Baltimore Pride would have a Drag Stage in the park!
Lady Lisa is sadly missed by our community, her family, her friends, and ME! She was taken away from us way too soon… but she must have been needed elsewhere. We Love You, Lady Lisa!
Queen Of Pride
Sapphire Bleu is your current reigning Queen of Baltimore Pride 2018 and your forever Gay Miss Baltimore. Sapphire began her career in 2012. Through her passion for female impersonation, she competed for Queen of Baltimore in February 2015, where she became the last Miss Gay Baltimore. Then, she went on to compete in the illustrious Miss Gay Maryland America pageant in May 2015 where she placed 12th. Sapphire’s mantra for life is do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
KING OF PRIDE
Chris Jay is a queer non binary entrepreneur. They have worked on several major projects over the last 10 years to promote and celebrate local artists in the Baltimore/Washington area. Chris also has worked as a photographer for over 15 years and was awarded the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay DC award for Best Artist in 2015. Some of Chris’ past projects includes L.A.C.E. Magazine ( a local arts magazine based out of Baltimore), the L.A.C.E. Radio Podcast, the L.A.C.E. Media Podcast (which was voted best podcast for the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay DC award in 2015), former Co-Producer of Chocolate City Burlesque and Cabaret, and former Co-Producer of Pretty Boi Drag. Chris also performs as a drag king and was the winner of the Washington Blade’s Best of Gay DC award for Best Drag King in 2016 and is currently the reigning 2018 King of Pride in Baltimore. Currently they are working on a photo book which captures queer performers all over the country called The Queerbook: The Queer Performers Yearbook as well as several podcasting projects including the weekly Facebook Live Coffee With Chris Show which streams every Mondaymorning at 10am.
DID YOU KNOW?
Baltimore Pride is one of the oldest prides in the nation and has taken place for over 44 years!
The Baltimore Pride committee is all volunteer based.
This year Pride will have an even larger footprint than last year and the parade will stretch 11 blocks!
Baltimore Pride had a great economic impact on the City of Baltimore in 2017, particularly inside the footprint.
Baltimore Pride is the largest Pride Festival in MD and was attended by over 30,000 people last year!
The official PRIDE Week is taking place June 7 – 17, culminating in PRIDE Weekend.
Baltimore PRIDE and the GLCCB thrive on the generosity of people like you. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to keep PRIDE and the GLCCB going for years to come.
OFFICIAL PRIDE 2018 SPONSORS
Additional Sponsors:
