In 2006, Raine Cole and Darryl Hall were members of the committee that rebooted Pride in the Queen City. The group was formed in response to the collapse of Charlotte Pride following its turbulent 2005 event. As members of the inaugural Pride Charlotte Task Force, Cole and Hall helped make the slightly renamed, substantially revamped […]

This year, visitors to the annual Pride Charlotte festival in Uptown Charlotte will notice two distinct changes. With larger crowds and more vendors, Pride organizers have responded by expanding the physical festival grounds and putting into place programs for recycling and environmental protection. Since 2006, the Pride Charlotte festival has been held on the property […]

For the entertainment portion of its event, Pride Charlotte brings in performers with regional, national and international exposure. One of the returning performers who has enjoyed the broadest success is award-winning gay singer/songwriter Josh Zuckerman. Through extensive touring in the U.S. and Europe, Zuckerman’s work has reached a wide-ranging audience. In fact, his second album, […]

Ira Levi – One of the first vocalists signed to legendary mega-dance label Strictly Rhythm/WEA in the 90’s, singer songwriter Ira Levi is one of the first Dance artists to cross over and to be signed by a major label. His Billboard singles include “Free Your Mind” and “We Came To Work It Out” . […]

Pride Charlotte 2008 is pleased to present this year’s emcees! Riley, a.k.a The Westcoast Kid, moved to North Carolina in 2005 bringing with her the love of community and the mastery of gender variance. Riley volunteers on the Pride Charlotte Task Force and sits on the board of directors at the Metropolitan Community Church of […]

Bank of America Main Stage 11:00 Pride Kickoff 11:20 Gay Mens Chorus of Charlotte 11:50 Spoken work artists 12:30 Rodie Ray 01:15 Drag Kings 01:50 Queen City Outlaws 02:20 Ira Levi 03:00 Melissa Reaves 03:45 Sugarbeach 04:15 Josh Zuckerman 05:00 Drag Queen Show Q-Notes Community Stage 12:30 One Voice Chorus 01:20 Transgender Adventures in History […]

As anyone who has ever attended Pride festivals knows, such events tend to attract protesters in the form of “street preachers” who harangue folks as they come and go about their “sinful” ways. Who are these people who seem to have nothing better to do than annoy those trying to have a good time? Isn’t […]

Located in downtown Charlotte’s business district, the Blake Hotel offers 308 oversized guestrooms with individual climate control, WIFI, On Demand movies (diplayed on a state-of-the-art 36-inch flat-screen TV) and IPOD docking stations. They also offer a complimentary continental breakfast. As the official accommodation of Pride Charlotte 2008, the Blake Hotel is offering a special room […]

Wednesday, July 23 Documentary Film Viewing: ‘Southern Comfort’ “Southern Comfort” is the moving, true story of Robert Eads, a transgender man living in rural Georgia dealing with health care discrimination, but also finding love and support from his close-knit group of friends. This unforgettable film won a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival […]