San Gabriel Valley Pride to Promote a Different Pride Experience for the LA Gay Community Sept. 17

Since 2001, San Gabriel Valley Pride has promoted a different kind of Pride Festival. In a day when most pride festivals chase parades, dance tents and the ubiquitous booze, SGV Pride (formerly known as Pasadena Pride) features a Lifestyle & Business Expo and highly popular Classic Car Show as their main attractions.

Chris Ramirez, President of SGV Pride, and a former 5-year President of Christopher Street West, the organization that runs the Los Angeles Pride Festival in West Hollywood, says that the difference between LA Pride and SGV Pride is notable. “San Gabriel Valley Pride is much smaller than the big city Pride events. The difference is the focus; where the big city prides focus on entertainment and alcohol, SGV Pride is more about home and hearth, reunions, and creating an experience for people who don’t get events done for them.”

One of these events is a highly popular Classic Car Show, featuring automobiles from 1973 and older, with People’s Choice, Best of Show and Mayor’s Choice awards. There will be several dozen cars from the vintage-era showcased at the event. Entries for the car show are still being accepted, and all of the car show entrants will receive gift bags.

Returning this year is the popular Lifestyle & Business Expo, featuring workshops and presentations on such topics as marriage equality, domestic partnerships, first-time home buying, personal safety and self-defense, as well as poetry readings. More than 40 businesses and community organizations serving the LGBT community will be represented at the event to show their support.

Along with the workshops, there will be free screenings of several gay films as well. “Sissy Frenchfry” and “See Me” will be screened at SGV Pride 2006; both movies will be followed by a Q&A with cast members.

“Sissy Frenchfry” is a high school political fable that explores what happens when personal freedoms are sacrificed to promote a culture of winning teams, financial gain, and above all… success and power. Directed by JC Oliva and written by Joe Brouillette and staring Steven Mayhew as Sissy Frenchfry

“See Me,” directed by Steven Liang, is a short 8 minute film about a coming out story of a Chinese American high school senior written for his traditional immigrant parents. Told by 17 year old Steven Liang, this piece depicts his life from middle school, struggling with his sexuality and identity, to his current life as a self- accepting LGBT activist.

San Gabriel Valley Pride 2006 takes place Sunday, Sept. 17 from noon to 6 p.m. The Lifestyle & Business Expo will be located at 85 E. Holly St. in the city of Pasadena. Admission to the Expo is free for all ages.

For more information about SGV Pride and for a listing of events, go to www.sgvpride.org.