The high holy celebration for the LGBT community is here! (No, I’m not talking about Halloween.) It’s time for PrideFest! With rainbow flags waving, dance music thumping and people laughing, the Summerfest grounds are sure to be the place to be seen this week. If PrideFest’s live entertainment, frosty beers, dancing, comedy, shopping and food aren’t quite your thing, be sure to hit the Pride Parade on Sunday! That has turned into quite the party on its own.
Pride week isn’t only a time to celebrate the person you are, although that’s a helluva good reason to celebrate! It’s also a time to honor those who fought for equal rights before us. It’s a time to commemorate those who marched for equality in spite of the fact that they could be fired, arrested or, far worse, harmed along protest routes. Pride week is a time to remember local performers who risked being arrested because full-drag was illegal in this city at one point. It’s a time to remember heroes who came to the rescue when the AIDS epidemic hit Milwaukee. It’s a time to remember those who fought so our voices could be heard today. Use this week to celebrate their voices, courage and determination, which ultimately made the world a better place.
See the list of happenings and get out there and have some fun this week! I’ll be back with the advice portion of “Hear Me Out” next week (email your questions to DearRuthie@ShepEx.com) but until then, have a great Pride week everyone!
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 4: The Big Gay 5K at Veterans Park (1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive): Lace up your running shoes because the folks at the Milwaukee Gay Sports Network are hosting their fourth run/walk for charity. Registration is $30 in advance (aidswalkwis.org) or $35 onsite, with proceeds going to the Sports Network as well as AIDS Walk Wisconsin. Check in at 5 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. race. Join the post-run party at D.I.X. bar, 739 S. First St.
June 4: Street Eats Wars at The Backyard (2155 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.): Shepherd Express and The Backyard have teamed up for a weekly cook-off where you choose the winner. Every Thursday night (around 5 p.m.), three food trucks dish out their best fare…and you vote for your favorite. The winner then proceeds to the next level. Cold beer and live music round out the scrumptious weekly scrimmage. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets.
June 5: Bay View Gallery Night at Various Venues: Hundreds of artists, vendors and businesses show their wares during this creative night of artsy-fartsy fun! You’ll even find live jazz, food trucks and kid-friendly activities along the route. Visit bvgn.org for a complete list of venues and artists participating in the 5 p.m. art crawl.
June 5-7: Milwaukee PrideFest at Henry Maier Festival Park (200 N. Harbor Drive): The granddaddy of all LGBT social scenes, this much-anticipated party is considered by many to be the best pride celebration in the whole gosh-darn country! From dueling drag divas and leather-clad beer bears to crazy comedy cafés and popular dance pavilions, there’s something for everyone at PrideFest. Check out the Miller Lite Mainstage for headlining shows “BJ Daniels Revue” (Friday night), Ani DiFranco (Saturday night) and En Vogue (Sunday night). PrideFest opens its gates Friday, June 5 at 3 p.m. See pridefest.com for schedules and more.
June 6: Pretty on Fleek Rainbow Affair at Shank Hall (1434 N. Farwell Ave.): Celebrate pride with rappers, drag performers, DJs and the cast of the movie The Lies We Tell But The Secrets We Keep during this great change-of-pace event. Doors open at 9 p.m. with the show starting at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $20 at the door. Call 414-232-7853 or stop by shankhall.com.
June 7: Roxie Beane at Walker’s Pint (818 S. Second St.): Join the gang of “The Pint” as songstress Roxie Beane jams out during a free concert before the Pride Parade. Tip a few back to toe-tapping tunes at 12 p.m. and make it a pride-filled Sunday to remember.
June 7: Milwaukee Pride Parade: Grab your lawn chair and nab a sidewalk spot for what many believe is the crown jewel in Milwaukee’s rainbow crown. Step off is at 2 p.m., with a route that begins at Second Street and Lapham Boulevard, runs up Second and concludes at Second and Oregon streets. Learn more at prideparademke.org.
Have a question for Ruthie or want to tell her about an event? Email DearRuthie@Shepex.com. Catch her web series at ruthiesbitchinkitchen.com, and learn about her charity at ruthieskennelclub.org.
