Saturday, June 20, 2009

My "Touch Me In The Morning" Vocals Mix

As promised with last weekend's release of BLOWIN' IN THE WIND, and in celebration of this weekend's Baltimore Pride 2009 celebration click the cd cover to the left to listen to and/or download my TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING (Vocals) mix which, as a continuation of last weeks vocal mix, features Classic 'Gay' Disco, R&B, House and Trance tracks.

The 5th and final installment of my Pride 2009 series, though not yet completed and in celebration of NYC's Pride 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots while exploring TRANCE will also reflect on the Billboard Top 100 songs of 1969.

Back to this weekend's Baltimore Pride ... you may also enjoy my 14 February 2009 STAND BY ME Eclectic Mix which, as its cd cover, features one of my favorite photos from my 2008 Baltimore Pride Block Party documentation.

While my 33rd Annual Baltimore Pride 2008 photoessay webpage links to images at my 2008 Baltimore Pride collection at Flickr you will also find some never before seen 2008 Baltimore Pride Block Party and Parade images at my Ipernity albums.

HAPPY PRIDE!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

4th World Naked Bike Ride / DC Streaks Thru the Nation's Capital

For the fourth year in a row and in solidarity with thousands of riders in other cities throughout the Northern Hemisphere, Roger Paul of Bethesda MD lead the way in organizing this past Saturday's World Naked Bike Ride event in Washington DC.

The 2009 World Naked Bike Ride series officially kicked off on 7 March in the Southern Hemisphere.

Having begun in 2004 the first Washington DC event took place in 2006.

After first gathering at Franklin Square Park on 14th between I and K Streets in NW Washington DC on Saturday afternoon, 13 June 2009, the 20 to 25 'almost naked' participates stepped-off from 14th and I Streets for a ride to the US Capitol.

Where after a brief photo-opt the 20 or so 'almost naked' riders streaked through the streets for a final news rally in front of the White House.

While most participates in the 2009 World Naked Bike Ride / WDC event were from the Washington DC area, a few were also from the Baltimore and West Virginia areas.

While I have more photos to upload here are my three video projects from the 2009 event:

Visit my 4th Annual World Naked Bike Ride / DC photoessay and webpage for updates and more photo uploads.

Here is my 2008 WNBR/DC Ipernity album and Flickr collection.

Indicating that next year will be his 5th and final year, WNBR/DC organizer Roger Paul proposes that, in 2010, the World Naked Bike Ride/DC event be a MORE MASSIVE collaboration that will attract many other cities from around the area and, perhaps. throughout the nation and/or Northern Hemisphere to Washington DC.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Director of OPM John Berry Speaks at 2009 Capital Pride Festival

Confirmed as OPM Director on 3 April 2009, John Berry, the highest-ranking openly gay member of the Administration spoke at two sepeate Capital Pride events last week.

While I did not attend the Department of Justice employees annual Pride Awards last Wednesday I did capture OPM Director John Berry at the 34th Annual Capital Pride Festival on Sunday afternoon, 14 June 2009.

Click the video cover to view the video.

Though still under construction, visit my 34th Annual Capital Pride 2009 / WDC photoessay/webpage for ongoing updates.

“Ending a Century of Segregation: One High School’s Story” Documentary Film Premieres at Great Mills High School on 18 June 2009

St. Mary’s College of Maryland professor Merideth Taylor has produced a documentary film on the desegregation of Great Mills High School that will premiere in the high school’s auditorium on 18 June 2009 at 7pm. “Ending a Century of Segregation: One High School’s Story”, will run about one hour and give voice to those who experienced the desegregation process at Great Mills High School between 1958 and 1972.

The screening of the film will be followed by a panel discussion and refreshments. Panel members include Joan Groves, who was one of the first two black students to enroll at Great Mills after her parents sued the school system in 1958 to force integration. The panel will include former teachers and students, both white and black,who were at Great Mills during these years.

For more details and to read the entire events feature visit Baynet.com at Desegregation of Great Mills HS Documentary Premiere (6/18/09).

Click the above image to read the St. Mary's College of Maryland Press Release #09-127 dated 9 June 2008.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

WDC Artist Nicholas F. Shi Displays WHITE KNOT in Support of Marriage Equality

Often when passing through the intersection of 15th and P Streets in NW Washington DC I will make a point to photograph the artist studio window of Washington DC's gay artist Nicholas F. Shi.

Similarly, it is also my practice to photograph the Dupont Circle area including 17th and P Streets before the annual Capital Pride Parade.

It was during my Before the Captial Pride Parade Walk on Saturday afternoon, 13 June 2009, that after first noticing the Marriage Equality / White Knot sign in Shi's front yard ... the huge White Knot that hangs from the townhouse's front facade caught my attention.

A non-profit organization founded by Frank Voci in November 2008 in response to the passing of Proposition 8 in California and bans on same-sex marriage and the denial of equal rights for LGBT persons across the nation and around the world, White Knot for Equality's mission is to work to achieve equal rights for the LGBT population by.

Having also participated in the 15 November 2008 DC March For Equal Rights Against Proposition 8, Shi and his partner Frank Blackburn recently hung the White Knot on the facade of their townhouse in celebration of the Pride 2009 season.

To learn more about the artist Nicholas F. Shi visit his website.

And here is the White Knot for Equality website.