| Our Latin
Community
by Jamie Awad for the San
Francisco Spectrum
Hola and Happy Gay Pride to everyone visiting our lovely
city. We are now in the middle of a very busy Gay Pride
season. For many Latino's, this means gathering with friends
at all of the popular Latin dance stages at the various
pride events.
Long Beach Pride, which took place on Saturday and Sunday,
May 17 & 18 always kicks off the Latino Pride season,
as I like to call it. This year Long Beach celebrated
it's 20th anniversary with record crowds on both days.
The Fiesta Caliente area was celebrating it's 6 year anniversary,
and saw a huge increase in the number of people who attended
the event.
Here is a rundown of what's taking place this month with
the San Jose, and San Francisco Pride events:
San Jose Pride:
Saturday + Sunday, June 7 & 8 @ Discovery Meadow
Park
San Jose Pride always boasts the best weather of any of
the June Pride festivals. With temperatures in the high
70's, the sun is always shining on this jewel of an event.
This year, the festival is playing host to a number of
Dance Music Diva's on the two entertainment stages: On
the Main Stage, CeCe Penniston and Crystal Waters rein
supreme, while on the Club Papi and Watergarden Dance
Stage, Kim English and Gioia Bruno of Expose perform.
DJ's Marco (Muevelo), Jorge Terez (Club Papi), Franky
(Queer Thursday's), and Chili D (Octopussy) play all the
best in House, Hip Hop and Spanish music on Sunday afternoon.
For more information about San Jose Pride visit: www.sjpride.com
San Jose Pride Parties: What would a successful
pride festival be without the parties that go with it.
Here are some of the hot ones to check out.
Friday, June 6: Latin Explosion
@ The Bench and Bar in Oakland.
Charles and the gang have been throwing the Kick Off Party
the last 3 years for their many southbay fans, and this
year will be no different. In addition to sexy go-go dancers
and a delicious free buffet, the club is also hosting
the Official Emmanuel CD release party. For more information,
call 510-444-2266
Friday, June 6: Octopussy @ Club Wild in
San Jose, 175 N. San Pedro Street
The Southbay's #1 Lesbian party throws down a huge event
on a special night with Gioia Bruno of Expose performing
live on stage. This is going to be one hell of an event.
Doors open at 9:30pm and close at 2:00am. For more information,
call the Ocotpussy line at 408-792-3466
Saturday, June 7: Muevelo @ Club Wild in
San Jose.
Get ready for this hot blooded Latin party complete with
Expose live on Stage, and some of the sexiest Latino dancers
around taking it all off for your enjoyment. This party
is always packed every year, so make sure you arrive early.
For more information, visit the website at www.papipresents.com
Saturday, June 7: San Jose's version of
the Pink Party taking place at Mac's Bar and Waves nightclub
located in the Post Street Alley area. This is always
a cool event to check out with scores of very good boyz
and girlz all around.
Sunday, June 8: "PRIDE A DEEPER LOVE"
San Jose Pride's Official After Party @ a brand new location,
the Voo Doo Lounge, 14 S. 2nd Street across from Lido's
Nightclub. This venue is only 5 minutes from the festival
site. Performing Live: International Dance Music Diva:
Crystal Waters, singing her # 1 Dance Hits "100% Pure
Love" & "La Da Di" Doors Open at 7:30pm and close
at 2am, 21 + over with ID. For more information, call
408-888-9999 or check the webpage at www.papipresents.com
San Francisco Pride: Sunday, June 29
@ Civic Center Plaza:
The worlds biggest pride festival is back with 10 stages
of entertainment, including the extremely popular Latin
Pride Celebration area hosted by Club Papi and Latin Explosion.
Performing live on the stage this year: Back By Popular
Demand "Sonora Dinamita", along with Spanish Pop Diva
"Minerva" from Spain. Also appearing direct from New York,
Freestyle Diva's "The Cover Girls" and House Music Sensation
"Dolce" The Latin Stage has always been one of the hottest
entertainment venues at pride, and this year will be no
different.
4th Annual Brown Party Weekend:
This huge Latin Circuit event is one of the biggest in
the Country. This year The Bench and Bar and Club Papi
will be hosting the Official Brown Party events: These
are two Latin events not to be missed.
Friday, June 27: Latin Explosion at the
Bench and Bar, 120 11th Street in Oakland.
This is the Official Kick Off Party for the Brown Party
Weekend, and it is always a packed house. Special Guest
DJ Marco (Muevelo) spins all the best in Spanish and House
Music. Come check out 8 of the hottest Latin Strippers
on the West Coast. Visit www.bench-and-bar.com
for more info.
Saturday, June 28: THE BROWN PARTY "BROWN
PRIDE....BROWN LUV"
@ Club Papi, located at Space 550 in San Francisco. Join
over 1500 hot blooded Latino's for this amazing event.
Club Papi features 3 Caliente Dance floors, performances
by "MINERVA" & "THE COVER GIRLS" Incredible laser
and light show, plus 10 of Papi's hottest go-go boyz.
Doors open at 10pm and close at 4am. Visit www.papipresents.com
for more information, or call the Papi Line at 415-675-9763.
Other Cool Spots to Check out:
Esta Noche on 16th and Valencia Street's plays host to
San Francisco's longest running Latin drag show. This
bar is a cool place to check out and meet some of the
cute Latin boyz of the famed Mission District. Lalo's
on Market Street, the Pendulum and Zapata Taqueria in
the Castro are also just a few of the cute places hang
out while you are here.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SAFETY ALERT: Sexual Assaults/Robberies occurring
in the Castro/South of Market
Where: CASTRO/SOUTH OF MARKET
What: Recently there have been reports of a woman
and FTM who whose drinks were adulterated in a queer bar
in the Castro and then later raped. There have also
been reports of persons in SoMa gay bars whose drinks
were adulterated; the persons were later robbed.
COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND WITNESSES
NEEDED:
CUAV is calling on the community to spread the
word regarding sexual assault awareness. We are asking
members of the LGBT community to please put this safety
alert out in bars and clubs, regarding these instances
of people being drugged, robbed and/or sexually assaulted.
Witnesses who may have seen and/or heard incidents, please
contact the Sex Crimes Unit of SFPD (415) 553-1361and/or
Tina D'Elia, CUAV Hate Violence Survivor Program Director
(415) 777-5500.
TO TAKE ACTION:
If anyone wants information regarding sexual assault and
hate crimes please call:
CUAV (415) 333-4357/HELP
San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR)
(415) 647-7273 (647-RAPE)
Community United Against Violence is encouraging all
community members to avoid leaving your drinks unattended
and to avoid leaving clubs and parties by yourself at
any time.
Call for Volunteers! /Necesitamos Voluntarios:
For the /Para el
QUEER LATINA/O ARTS FESTIVAL/ Festival LGBT Artistico
Latino
June 1, through June 27th
www.quelaco.org
or lgbt_quelaco@yahoo.com
We need: Necesitamos:
- Assist artists backstage!
- Help Hang art shows!
- Hang and focus lighting!
- Stage manage!
- Usher!
- Sell concessions!
- Data collecting
- and in general to help out with the Festival's various
tasks !
Get The Deep And Meaningful Satisfaction Of Volunteering.
Some Experience That You Will Never Forget!!! Una experiencia
que nunca se olvidara!!
Check out the website for the full lineup of festival
events:
www.quelaco.org or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quelaco
and then click "files".
TO VOLUNTEER, please e-mail Virginia Benavidez
with your preferred dates and special skills!!!! Para
voluntariarse, favor de llamar a Virginia Benavidez- Deja
tu mensaje en el 415-273-1041
Or leave a message at 415-273-1041.
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