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Gay pride parade and festival to be highlights of 5 pride days
Breast cancer seminar is tonight; floats will start the festivities at 10 a.m. Saturday

By Aldrich M. Tan
aldrich.tan@indystar.com

June 9, 2006

Indianapolis' gay community will be out in force Saturday for IN Pride 2006.

The annual event helps to raise awareness about the growth of the local gay community, said Gary Brackett, president of Indy Pride.

"Gay people don't solely live in San Francisco," he said.

Twelve parade floats and walking groups representing 65 organizations will travel down Massachusetts Avenue starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, said Scott VanKirk, vice president of Indy Pride and parade co-chair.

The parade is the main highlight of what is now five days of celebration.

There are various events, including a seminar at 7 p.m. today at the Phoenix Theatre about the effect of breast cancer on the gay community. There will be a reception immediately after at Aesop's Tables.

Six breast cancer survivors are this year's parade grand marshals, VanKirk said. They'll be aboard the pink grand marshal float.

"It's really more about the people than the floats.''

The IN Pride 2006 festival will take place in University Park immediately after the parade. This year's headline act is celebrity RuPaul, Brackett said.

The festivities conclude Sunday with a picnic in Garfield Park, followed by a dance at the Metro Nightclub & Restaurant.

Through the years, the festival has expanded from a small weekend gathering to a weeklong celebration.

Festival attendance grew from 6,000 in 2002 to 25,000 in 2005, Brackett said.

"We still have a long way to go, but it is super to see people come out and show their support for the community," VanKirk said.

Call Star reporter Aldrich M. Tan at (317) 444-6309.

FOR MORE INFO

Indy Pride's Web site is at www.indyprideinc.com.