Quest Magazine Volume 17 Issue 5
Cover Feature on N.E.W. Pride Alive

GL

Pride Alive's Spring Fling: Just The Start of Something Big!
Interview by Mike Fitzpatrick

The unseasonably hot weather that greeted Wisconsin last week may have been Mother Nature's April Fool's joke, but it reminded many that Wisconsin's gay pride season is just around the corner. The headliners have been named in Milwaukee, and pride committees are active statewide.

In northeast Wisconsin, that means the NEWPride committee's annual major fundraiser is just weeks away. Quest's Mike Fitzpatrick recently caught up with NEWPride co-chairs Andrew DeBaker and Andrea Schultz to find out what's up with what in two years has become - after PrideFest and Twin Ports Pride - Wisconsin's largest gay festival in terms of attendance.

Quest: Pride Alive is just two months away - what do you think is the most exciting new thing about this year's festival?

Andrea: Without a doubt, Pride Alive's entertainment line-up this year is leaps and bounds above anything Northeast Wisconsin Pride has ever seen. Quest readers are the very first to hear this: this year's headliner is club diva Ultra Naté! Ultra Naté and one of the hottest DJ's on the East Coast will get Northeast Wisconsin on their feet and dancing under the stars to the latest of her nearly dozen hits, "Twisted."

Andrew: And if that wasn't enough, opening for Ultra Naté will be the crazy comedy duo of Deven Green and Joel Bryant. Some of you may have seen Deven's "Welcome To My Home" web video series, while some of the local heathens may have been saved by Deven's alter ego Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian. If you haven't experienced the saving grace of Betty Bowers, you need to Google her!

(Editor's Note: Readers can also look for Quest's interview with the amazingly graceful Mrs. Bowers in an upcoming issue. In the meantime, point your browsers to: www.bettybowers.com)

Quest: To remind folks that Pride Alive is on its way, you've got a major social and fundraising event coming up in May. Can you tell me about it?

Andrew: Yes! We are definitely excited about this year's Spring Fling! Join us Saturday, May 1 at TC Dance Club International (formerly the Adagio Dance Studio) in Appleton for a night of dancing, amazing food and unique giveaways!
The night begins with a Champagne reception at 6:30 PM and continues with an authentic Italian cuisine prepared by Angelina's Restaurant of Green Bay at 7 PM. Enjoy an open bar throughout the evening. The sultry sounds of LA singer Gennine Jackson will set the musical tone for the entire evening. For those not very familiar with ballroom dancing, there will be dance instruction by the TC Dance Club staff.

Andrea: This is not an event to be missed! But reservations are limited and thus highly recommended. Because of the open bar, this event is for those 21 and over. Black tie is also optional. There will also be an official "after" bar party following the Spring Fling at Rascals Bar & Grill.

Andrew: Tickets are now on sale, cost $50 each and can be purchased in person at Rascals Bar & Grill, or online at: www.newpride.org. For more information, people can email either of us at: info@newpride.org. They can also get questions answered by calling 920-471-3260.

Quest: Pride Alive has expanded beyond being just a one day festival as it's grown up over the last few years. Has that happened again in 2010?

Andrea: Yes it has. Last year we expanded to five days of events. This year we bring back some of those from 2009 as well as a few new ones. On Tuesday, July 6, will be a return of the "Safeguarding Our Lives Together" legal workshop for same sex couples at the Harmony Café in Appleton. Issues such as living wills, powers of attorney, adoption and Wisconsin's one year-old Domestic Partnership law will be discussed and explained.
Wednesday, July 7 will be the gala opening of the 2nd Annual Pride Alive Art Exhibition on Broadway in Green Bay. This year the event coincides with the Green Bay Farmer's Market. Come out to check out both the locally grown fresh food and equally fresh artwork from LGBT artists from around Wisconsin.

Andrew: Pride Alive has set Thursday, July 8 for its first-ever major youth-oriented event. It will be held in connection with Harmony Café of Green Bay. You can check the Pride Alive website (www.newpride.org) for future announcements about the event's specifics.
You'll also want to swing by the Liberty Hall Conference Center in Kimberly on Friday, July 9 to see another Pride Alive first: Mr. and Ms. Pride Alive being crowned at the official Pre-Pride Party. The evening will kick off with a spaghetti dinner at 7 PM, followed by the Mr. & Ms. Pride Alive pageant and show starting at 8:30 PM.

Andrea: The week will again wrap up with Sunday brunch on July 11 at this year's official Pride Alive hotel: the Hilton Garden Inn near Lambeau Field in Green Bay. We'll have more details up on the website shortly.

Quest: Let's talk about the big day. Who's performing at Pride Alive on July 10?

Andrew: In addition to Ultra Naté and Deven Green, we've got the funky sound of the Chicago band Flameshark. By popular request, Glamarama will return as well. They wowed the crowd in 2008 and you asked for more. Also, our newly crowned Mr. and Ms. Pride Alive will each perform on the main stage.

Quest: There more to Saturday than just the festival, there's also a 5K run, correct?

Andrea: Yes, the Pride Alive Five 5k run/walk will start at 9:30 AM, with the route starting and ending at Joannes Park after taking runners and walkers through the streets of downtown Green Bay. This year we once again have partnered with two local charities who will benefit from the run's proceeds. This way we continue to demonstrate that the LGBT community is a part of the larger community, and wants to give back just as other segments of the community do.
You can sign up before June 21 to take advantage of this year's "early bird" reduced registration fees. Quest readers can also look for the race registration form in future issues of the magazine to receive the reduced rate.

Quest: You have some exciting news for folks who may want to come in to enjoy the full weekend and save money at the same time. Tell me about it.

Andrea: Last year we introduced the Pride Alive VIP Package, allowing people to enjoy all of the week's events plus a few exclusive items for a low, hassle-free price. Once again, for only $50 people who buy the 2010 VIP Package will get more than $100 worth of items, including admission and access to VIP seating to Friday Pre-Pride Party, an official Pride Alive T-shirt,
admission to the Sunday brunch, and "meet-and-greet" access to our headliners for the first 40 people who purchase a VIP Package.

Andrew: And for those coming in from out of town, the Hilton Garden Inn in Green Bay is our official hotel sponsor for 2010. Guests can get a special rate by simply calling 920-405-0400 and mentioning "Pride" when they make a booking during Pride Alive.
We're also excited to announce - new for this year - the Pride Alive "Cheap Drinks for Life" mug. For only $5, people can purchase a Pride Alive mug, allowing them to lock in 2009 beer prices when they refill their mug - forever. That's right - forever! As prices creep up over the next few years, those who purchase a mug will be able to drink all the beer they wish for only $3 each.

Quest: You also have made some moves to ensure the festival is stable for years to come. How have you made that happen?

Andrew: NEWPride was created in 2007, partly in response to the discriminatory anti-marriage amendment passing in 2006. From the beginning Rainbow Over Wisconsin (ROW) - the organization that actually came into being after the first ever Alive With Pride picnic back in 1995 - has been an invaluable partner, serving as the not-for-profit fiscal agent for the Pride Alive festival for its first two years.

Last February, NEWPride sought to formalize this relationship by becoming an official program of ROW. Both the ROW Board of Directors and NEWPride Executive Committee felt this setup created a more stable structure, helping ensure Pride Alive continues for years to come.

Quest: Speaking of other LGBT and allied organizations, is there still time for groups and organizations to get involved with Pride Alive?

Andrea: Of course! The Vendor Booth packets became available recently. To apply for booth space, groups should visit our website (www.newpride.org) to download the form, complete and send in. Keep in mind this year booth locations can be picked by vendors on a first come, first serve basis, so they're going to want to get their forms in as soon as possible to get the best spots. We're also always looking for organizations and businesses to join us as sponsors, as well as donating items for the Pride Alive raffle. Finally, we are always excited to partner with great organizations to help fill our volunteer positions. If you are part of, or know of a company, group or organization that would like to get involved, please let us know!

Quest: Wow, I suspect most readers were completely unaware of how much work has already gone into setting up this year's Pride Alive. How can people keep up with all the additional exciting news about Pride Alive?

Andrew: All information can be found on our website at: www.newpride.org If you're not networked as friend of ours already, join us either on Facebook or MySpace. We've also entered the Twitter world recently to let people know what's going on.

Quest: Anything else you'd like to share about the Spring Fling or Pride Alive?

Andrea: We've said from the beginning that Pride Alive is your event. If there's something you'd like to see in your Pride, let us know. Or better yet, get involved! We definitely have room for you to become a Task Leader, or get on board to one day become a co-chair of the event. It's only with the hard work and commitment of dozens of people that Pride Alive happens each year. Get involved!

Editor’s Note: Continuing our 17-year commitment as Wisconsin’s only truly statewide professionally-printed LGBT news and entertainment publication, Quest will continue to bring our readers updates about all pride festivals occurring around the Badger State throught the Spring and Summer. Look for our third special edition of the Milwaukee PrideFest Pride Guide coming in May.