Indianapolis-- Pride 2004 will be held the weekend of June 12-13, 2004. The weekend begins with the second annual gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) parade. The Parade will once again begin on the corner of College and Massachusetts Avenue. Parade step off will be at 10:00 a.m.
Immediately following the parade, the Pride Festival will be held in University Park. The Festival will run from 11:00 am ? 7:00 pm. The Festival will begin with The National Anthem sung by Halcyon, Florida's leading lesbian singing duo. Local artists and Female Illusionists will provide entertainment. Headlining the event will be Crystal Waters, CeCe Penniston & Abigail.
Behind the effervescent "La De Da" chant of Crystal Waters' top ten pop hit "Gypsy Woman" was a detailed account of the day to day life of a homeless woman in Washington D.C., a woman who "Wakes up early every morning just to do her hair". It was that kind of detail-realistic, direct, and empathetic - that brought the character to life and plunged into the consciousness of top 40 and dance club fans the world over. The work of a true storyteller.
Three years later Crystal Waters returned with her second gold album storyteller, the follow up to her gold selling surprise album. Within this new cache of songs rich in detail and soaked up with infectious dance grooves, Crystal again delivered her 4th and 5th #1 billboard dance hits "Relax" and "100% Pure Love" which also was certified gold.
CeCe Peniston has successfully toured with Grace Jones, Peabo Bryson, Tasha Scott & Tony Terry in "The Wiz" performing throughout the U.S., in addition to performing in successful runs of both "Treat Her Like A Lady" and "When A Woman Is Fed Up", fulfilling a personal goal and dream. CeCe was requested personally by former President Bill Clinton to perform at both of his Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies in Washington D.C. and by Mrs. Hillary Clinton for her political achievement. CeCe was also personally requested by Michael Jackson to perform at RFK stadium in a concert to benefit the tragedy of 9/11.
Abigail has been described as "A devastating diva with a difference" since she released "I Fell You" on All Around The World Records in 1992. "Could It Be Magic" on Klone Records, shortly followed and debuted at #1 on the U.K. NRG chart. After a taste of success, Abigal released a cover of K.D. Langs "Constant Craving". This was her foray into the American dance scene. The single was so big that the import was #1 on the dance music authority's Hi-NRG international chart for 19 weeks! Her next release, a cover of REM's "Losing My Religion" brought Abigail additional critical acclaim in ten countries and firmly established her as a Hi-NRG dance artist in America. Following the cover song route, she then released the dance version of Nirvana's "Smells Like A Teen Spirit". The single entered the U.K. national charts at #29 and peaked at #2 on DMA- Dance Music Authority's Hi-NRG Chart.
Pride weekend will conclude on Sunday June 13, 2004, with a Pride Picnic to be held at Garfield Park. The Picnic will be from 12:00 p.m. ? 2:00 p.m. The Pride Celebration will conclude with "The Back Alley Tea Dance" at Metro Bar on Massachusetts Avenue with DJ Wayne Shepard from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Organizations and vendors who are interested in participating in the Pride Celebration may obtain vendor applications; parade applications or performer applications at the Indy Pride Web Site . Funds raised from the Pride Events are used to support scholarships for GLBT youth in the state of Indiana .