Posted on 09/14/2005 10:42:51 AM PDT by SmithL
The Rainbow Community Awareness Project of Knoxville, a local group supporting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, announced plans Tuesday for its "Come Out Knoxville" celebration.
The celebration, which includes activities stretching over two weeks starting Oct. 6, coincides with a similar national event. Gary Elgin, director of Rainbow Community Awareness Project, said this year's events mark the largest celebration ever in Knoxville.
"This is the very first time that we have taken this amount of days to celebrate," he said. "It's the first time we have taken it to this level, and we are extremely excited.
"This is also the first time that the mayor has recognized the gay community and one of its events," he said. "Any time you can bring this information to the public, it will help people better understand who you are and relieve the anxieties and dissipate the fear that seems to guide people's opinions."
Among the scheduled events are several concerts and lectures, a cabaret show that highlights advances in the GLBT community and a coming-out workshop that educates and encourages homosexuals to live openly and honestly.
The keystone event, the Come Out Knoxville March and Rally Festival, will be Oct. 15 downtown.
Bob Galloway, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, which serves as Knoxville's GLBT Community Center, said events are open to everyone, and he encourages all to attend.
"The first priority is for the persons living in fear and self-hatred," he said. "We want to encourage them to come out and live openly. There is a large gay and lesbian community in Knoxville that is under-represented, and we want people to know there is support.
"Our second priority is to inform others and educate them about this community. We don't want to shut anybody out - all are welcome."
Elgin said: "My biggest hope is that we are able to reach as many GLBT people as possible and give them the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with their community," he said. "So many have disappeared after the pride events stopped happening. We just want to work together."
For more information on the events, visit www.rainbow awareness.org.
Regressive Sprawl continues....
You forgot about all those folks at Home & Garden Television.
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