Org hosts gala
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The 2017 Alliance for Full Acceptance Gala, Together for Equality, will be held on Oct. 14, 6 p.m., at the Charleston Gaillard Center Grand Ballroom, 95 Calhoun St.
Attendees can enjoy a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner, entertainment, live auction and after party.
Tickets are available online.
info: affa-sc.org.
Pride fest to hit Columbia
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Pride, Famously Hot!, will be held from Oct. 20-21 in the state’s capital.
The event kicks off with a preliminary party on Oct. 19, 10 p.m., at PT’s 1109, ,1109 Assembly St., hosted by Veronica La Blank. A $10 contribution is welcome at the door and goes to support the organization.
Then, on Oct. 20, head out to the new lighted Nighttime Parade down Main St. which begins at 7 p.m. Bring a group and march or watch from the sidelines.
Afterwards, join the Get Lit After Party at the Capital Club, 1002 Gervais St., with a musical performance by Lil’ Kim. Keep the rhythm going with a street dance at the festival in downtown Columbia, DJed by Mimi Imfurst. The evening’s entertainment also includes fireworks.
The following day, the festival heats up at 12 p.m. and continues to 9 p.m. Participants can see Betty Who at 4 p.m., Jody Watley & Shalamar Reloaded at 6 p.m., “RuPaul’s Drag Race” personalities Phoenix, Detox, Latrice Royale, Trinity Taylor and Kennedy Davenport at 7 p.m., plus enjoy Sabrina Johnston at 12 p.m. and Paris LeFaris at 1 p.m., Debby Holiday at 2 p.m. Additionally, on-stage speakers and other performers will entertain.
Ultra VIP Pride Passes are available for $100 and entitle festival participants to an open bar and catered food, entrance to Aftermath and more. Tickets are available online.
The Aftermath will take place at 10 p.m. at the Main Street Public House, 1556 Main St., with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performances and music by DJ Mimi Imfurst. Cover is $15 or free with a Pride Pass.
Prior to the Pride festival, community events will take place across the area:
Oct. 15, open house and volunteer reception, 2 p.m., at Harriet Hancock LGBT Center, 1108 Woodrow St.; Oct. 16, Transform Forum & Reception, 7 p.m., Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St.; Oct. 16, Pride Day at SC State Fair, all day, 1200 Rosewood Dr.; Oct. 17, LGBTQ Film Festival, 7 p.m., “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now?” and Oct. 18, “The Torchsong Trilogy” at Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main St.; and Annual Pride Picnic, 12 p.m., Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union St.
info: scpride.org.
Upstate sets Pride date
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Upstate Pride SC has announced that its Pride March & Festival will be held on Nov. 4, two months later than last year, for safety reasons.
Organization President Isaac Mintz said, “A few people left last year with heat exhaustion and bad sunburn. We don’t want to risk that again.”
This year’s event will feature food trucks, community vendors and stage entertainment, as well as a march through the city’s downtown area. There will also be areas for those who are 18 years of age and older, as well as one for a Kids’ Zone.
“Our goal is to double last year’s attendance, and we think it’s possible considering what we have in store,” Mintz noted. “We’re implementing a lot of the community’s feedback and adding in some ideas of our own, and we really can’t wait to share the excitement.”
“RuPaul Drag Race” stars Alexis Michelle, Nina Bonin Brown, Bebe Zahara Benet, Yara Sofia and Kimora Blac, plus other performers will entertain at the After Party sponsored by Pardon Moi French at the Spartanburg Marriott, 299 N. Church St. Doors open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 9 p.m. Music will be provided by Scott Robert from Orlando, Fla. Tickets are available online at ticketor.com/pardonmoifrench.
Email the festival committee chair Rodney Tow at rodney@upstatepridesc.org for more information on vendor space and sponsorships.
info: upstatepridesc.org.
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Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@qnotescarolinas.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.