One lesson to take away from the 18th annual Dallas Black Gay Pride: The best things in life are free
Dallas’ gay Pride parade may have been in September, but Pride in North Texas is far from over. In addition to Tarrant County’s planned Pride events, Dallas Black Gay Pride Weekend continues. And while some question whether “Pride” is even worth doing anymore, organizers of black Pride feel it provides an important service — not as a separate event, but a supplementary one.
“Black Pride often [focuses] on matters of HIV and AIDS, which are still so important in the black community,” says Jalenzski Brown, who heads the Resource Center’s United Black Ellument (U-BE) project. “There are parties but some serious things, too. We decided to add some artsy events — and we still want to do things where people can get something free.”
Events that U-BE is co-sponsoring with Dallas Southern Pride include everything from a skate party show to a barbecue. It kicks off Friday with a fashion show at the host hotel, the Crowne Plaza Market Center. That’s followed on Saturday with a mini-conference and workshops with topics like “What is love?” and “Polyamory and team building.” Even though these events technically aren’t free, “scholarships are available for those who can’t afford to attend, so they can get it for free,” Brown says.
Sunday, a “unity” barbecue at Bachman Lake — hosted by several different groups — is “sort of like this year’s festival at Reverchon Park, only it’s free,” Brown says. There’s also a roller skating party (again, free, including admission and skate rental).
There are more traditional “circuit” events, though, Brown promises.
“Lil Kim is in town performing at Gas Monkey, and DJ Rude Boy, a Dallas DJ will be spinning. And the straight ally Beat King — a rapper from Houston — is performing at The Brick Friday,” Brown says.
To see a complete schedule of events (official and unofficial), visit DallasSouthernPride.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 2, 2015.