Indianapolis - "There was no rain on this year's IN Pride Parade or Festival and the weather could not have been better," stated Indy Pride President Gary Brackett. The IN Pride 2007 Festival & Parade had record attendance with between 30,000 - 32, 000 people attending according to War Memorial Police and Marion County Sheriff's Department personnel.

Once again, several prominent Fortune 500 companies - like Eli Lilly, Wellpoint, Dow AgroSciences, HSBC, Osram Sylvania, and Chase Bank - joined with non-profits, food vendors and others to have booths to share information about their diversity programs and to support the events.

The Pride events kicked off on Saturday, June 2 with an Open House/Cookout at Indiana Youth Group (IYG). IYG provides a safe place, a confidential environment, youth development programs and support services which foster personal strength and wellness among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. IYG advocates on their behalf in schools, on the streets, and in the community. Young and old alike toured the facilities and honored the youth who just completed the first IYG Leadership Academy. Students in this program learn life and leadership skills to make them better citizens in the GLBT and larger community.

On Sunday, June 3, Indy Pride added an IN Pride Skating event at Skateland. This new event featured open skating, several races, and a fun social time for people of all ages. The Pride of Indy Band offered their second annual Pride Week Concert on Tuesday, June 5. The event was attended by approximately 300 people.

Pride Weekend began on Friday, June 8 with the IN Pride Educational Seminars: Go Red! Love Your Body & Your Heart. The Seminars were presented at the Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Avenue. Participants enjoyed a healthy discussion lead by Paula French, Co-Executive Director of Step Up, Inc.; Merrill Kenna, Executive Director of The Damien Center; and, Jill Perry from the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women sponsor, St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana. A reception hosted by the Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce was held at Aesop's Table immediately following the seminars.

Saturday's event began with the fifth annual GLBT Pride Parade. The Parade featured Grand Marshall Del Shores, author/producer/director. Mr. Shores is the playwright of Southern Baptist Sissies which is being presented at Theatre On The Square. His other credits include Sordid Lives, Queer As Folk and Dharma & Gregg. This year's parade featured 81 units including 21 floats. Highlights were the lesbian motorcycle group "Ride With Pride," walking groups from Cummins, Anthem, Eli Lilly/GLEAM, Dow AgroSciences/GLAD, floats from local bars and organizations, City/County Council Members, and the newly formed Pride of Indy Marching Band & Color Guard.

The IN Pride 2007 Festival was held once again at University Park in downtown Indianapolis. The festivities included a full-day of entertainment featuring local and national headliners. Gary Brackett, President of Indy Pride, welcomed everyone to the festival. The day's events included performances from local musicians Cynthia Laine and Cathy Morris; The Indianapolis Men's Chorus, The Indianapolis Women's Chorus; and Indy Pride Drag Divas. The festivities concluded with performances by national recording stars, Ultra Nate, Fredrick Ford & Amuka.

On Sunday, June 10, over 400 people joined with Pride at the Pagoda at Garfield park for a Cookout. The weekend festivities concluded on Sunday afternoon with a Pride T-Dance featuring DJ Chad King at Metro Nightclub & Restaurant.

The organizers and Indy Pride Board of Directors thank the over 100 volunteers who helped make the weekend such a success. In addition, the Board of Directors thanks the major sponsors for IN Pride 2007 which included Absolut, Corazon, Jaggermeister, Anhesuer-Busch, ID Lube, Jiffy Lube, Talbott Street, Kevin Warren/Century 21, Sam's Club, Indy Music Channel, Chase, The Word, Smooth Jazz 100.9/WYJZ, WTLC, Hot 96.3, Printing Partners, and NUVO.

Proceeds from the IN Pride events will be used to provide scholarships for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students in the State of Indiana; support for Indiana Youth Group (IYG), support for the American Heart Association, support for the Gregory Power Direct Financial Emergency Assistance (DEFA) Fund for those with HIV/AIDS.



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