After last year’s socially distanced car processional and virtual Pride celebration, Come Out With Pride returns with a week packed full of in-person events for its 2021 outing.
But even with a series of in-person events, COWP will have several safety measures in place to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with offering COVID-19 vaccinations on site during the Pride festival Oct. 9, COWP will be asking everyone to wear masks even if vaccinated, practice social distancing, wash and sanitize hands often and stay home if you are not feeling well.
The first official COWP event, “The Gay 90’s Musical,” kicks off at the start of October and plays for six shows — Oct. 1, 2, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. in The Starlite Lounge at Savoy. “The Gay 90’s Musical” is the first-ever live theater show sanctioned as an official Pride event. Tickets are $25 each and a portion of the proceeds will go back to COWP. (You can read more about how the show organizers were able to bring the musical to Orlando here.)
Zebra Coalition starts the week of COWP off with the return of its annual Drag Race 5K fun run/walk on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. Now in its fourth year, Zebra’s Drag Race 5K will be held as an in-person and virtual run so anyone, no matter where you are, can participate. Lace up your sneakers or dust off your heels, all footwear is acceptable, and join your fellow runners/walkers at Harbor Park in Baldwin Park. Registration is $45 for adults and $25 for youth under age 25.
The Orlando Gay Chorus brings “Honoring Trans & Gender-Expansive Singers” to the First United Church of Christ on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. The event will feature Dr. Joshua Palkki, director of choral activities at California State University in Long Beach, who will speak on issues affecting transgender and gender-expansive singers, including the mechanics of a changing voice and how to make singing spaces more welcoming. The evening will also feature a panel of trans and gender-expansive singers discussing their personal experiences and a reception provided by OGC. This is a free event with no need to RSVP beforehand.
Les Vixens brings their Diznee Burlesque Show, hosted by Southern Nights Orlando, to Pride week on Wednesday, Oct. 6 starting at 8 p.m. Les Vixens take you on an adventure into Diznee After Dark with a full-scale burlesque production. Doors open at 7 p.m. but come early for the cocktail hour starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25.
OGC is back on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. with a concert at the Lake Eola Bandshell in downtown Orlando. “We Shall Overcome: Celebrate LGBTQ+ Diversity” will be an evening of spoken word, music and art celebrating and acknowledging LGBTQ trailblazers of color highlighted by testimonials from queer people of color. The event is presented by OGC, QLatinX, Bros in Convo and The Central Florida Sounds of Freedom. This is a free performance with ASL interpretation provided by Valencia College.
Friday, Oct. 8, will feature a trio of official COWP events. First, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando presents its third annual Pride Shabbat at Orlando City Hall at 6:30 p.m. The event is free to attend and will be available both in person and virtual. In person attendance is limited to 50 people, so RSVP as soon as you can.
The evening’s next event will be the return of Watermark’s Movies Out Loud at the CMX Cinemas Plaza Café in downtown Orlando. Join hosts Jeff Jones and Sabrina Ambra as they roast the cult classic “Showgirls” with hilarious commentary as the film plays on the big screen. “Showgirls” stars “Saved By The Bell’s” Elizabeth Berkley as a girl who arrives in Las Vegas with only a suitcase and a dream of becoming a top showgirl. “Showgirls” is heralded as one of the best “bad movies” ever made. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door with a portion of proceeds benefiting COWP.
The night’s final event will be Orlando Leather Pride Night at Savoy starting at 9:30 p.m. This is an official COWP event for all genders and sexualities, sponsored by the Woodshed Orlando, the Orlando Hound Pound and the Orlando Kinksters. The event will include a Florida Leather titleholder panel featuring Puppy Stolas, Florida Puppy 2022; boy bryan, Florida Leather boy 2020; Blade Onyx, Mr. Ramrod 2019/2020; and Girlfriend Florida, Florida Community Bootblack 2020. A leather-themed drag show, hosted by Chantel Reshae, will begin at 11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9, is the big day as not only does COWP make its great return to Lake Eola for its Pride Festival and The Most Colorful Parade but also the National Trans Visibility March marks its return to an on-the-ground march with its first march outside of Washington, D.C. taking to the streets of downtown Orlando. (Read more about the NTVM in our current issue. You can find a copy near you by going here.)
But first, get your start with Pride Morning Brunch at The Hammered Lamb starting at 10 a.m. Kick off your day with a build-your-own cocktail special featuring Tito’s Vodka, with $3 from each drink benefiting COWP. Brunch goes until 2 p.m. with the last seating being at 1 p.m.
The Pride Festival starts at noon with an array of vendors on Robinson Ave. for the Pride Marketplace and tons of information along the Sponsor Walk. That leads into the Amphitheater Stage, featuring entertainment throughout the day, hosted by Darcel Stevens, including “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums Kylie Sonique Love and Gottmik, MrMs Adrien’s Gaga Ball, Moonshot Acapella and more. A second stage, the Unified By Pride Stage, will have music provided by DJ Tracy Young and DJ Scott Roberts. Along the Eola Dr. side of the park, look for the return of the Kids Fringe Rainbow Ranch and the newly added Dry Dock Sober Area.
The Most Colorful Parade starts at 4 p.m. with a new parade route this year starting at Orange Ave. and E Washington St. The parade moves down Orange Ave., turning on E. Central Blvd. heading passed Lake Eola before turning up Summerlin Ave. and ending at Robinson Ave.
Don’t miss the fireworks over Lake Eola at 9:15 p.m. before heading to the official COWP After Party.
The official Pride After Party, hosted by AMOR, will feature four clubs with four different vibes under one roof. Happening at 41 W. Church St., Club 1 will have Dj Brianna Lee playing House Beats with a 10:30 p.m. showtime, hosted by Darcel Stevens and featuring Jazell Barbie Royal and Armani; Club 2 will have Dj Jonex playing Latin Beats with a 12 a.m. showtime, hosted by Neema and featuring Orusha San Miguel, Amalara Sofia, Clara San Miguel and Michelle Royal; Club 3 will have Dj Flawless playing Hip Hop Beats with a 1 a.m. Hot Spot Show featuring Angelica Sanchez and Khloe Damore; and Club 4 will have Dj Scott Robert playing Top 40 and Dance with an 11 p.m. showtime, hosted by Bearonce Bear and a $100 cash prize for the best leather look. The After Party will have free admission for anyone 21 and over before 10 p.m., then only $10. The event is $15 all night for ages 18-20.
Recuperate Sunday, Oct. 10, with the Come Out With Pride Brunch at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival starting at noon. Brunch includes a delicious buffet, drink specials and live entertainment from DJ T’Don Marquis, DJ Marisa Maddox, Ce Teneal and more. Tickets are $50 per person and include food and non-alcoholic drinks.
COWP’s official events wrap up later that day with Pride Night with the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center at 6 p.m. Join the Magic as they take on the San Antonio Spurs in a preseason game. Ticket prices vary and a portion of each ticket sold through the designated link will benefit COWP.
For more information, as well as links to purchase tickets and/or RSVP to all the COWP events, go to ComeOutWithPride.org.
