Orlando Black Pride Celebrates Diversity and Equality

Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Serving the LGBTQ community for more than a decade, Orlando Black Pride will take place June 4-8 at the the Stay Sky Suites, the host hotel on International Drive; Pirates Dinner Adventure; Club 369; and other venues in Orlando with a schedule that includes parties, a bowling night, a professional networking event and a commitment ceremony.

The event, traditionally held the first week of June, kicks off from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 4 with a Minority LGBT Business Professional Networking Event at a location to be announced. The following evening, Bowling for PRIDE, one of OBP's signature events, will take place 8 p.m. to midnight June 5 at AMF Sky Lanes (7401 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando). A $15 donation will provide unlimited bowling, shoes, a live DJ and other entertainment, as well as the facility's midnight bowling experience with lane lights and sound system. Proceeds will benefit HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Orlando area.

An official welcome reception for all Orlando Black Pride attendees will begin at 4 p.m. on June 6 at the host hotel, followed by Orlando's only 21-and-up LGBT event at Club 369 (369 N. Orange Ave.). Admission to the party is free before 11 p.m. and $10 after 11 p.m., and includes entertainment by special guest radio DJ Truz from Atlanta.

DJ Blaze and DJ Risqu� will be featured at OBT's traditional Saturday-night blow out party, which will be held this year from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on June 7 at Pirates Dinner Adventure (6400 Carrier Dr.). Everyone is invited to come out for the evening, which will benefit the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation to support breast cancer research. This celebratory PRIDE event will feature JuiceBox, Oohzee, Arquez, and Kiala Santi and hosted by Antwanette Chanel Roberts. Tickets are $25 at the door.

Held simultaneously with Gay Disney, one of the largest LGBT events in the country, Orlando Black Pride aims to provide empowerment through unity and pride while promoting community health and wellness, and social justice to the African-American LGBT community of Central Florida and beyond.

"I am very proud of the organization I have been able to develop for the community over the years and we are very excited about the events we have planned " said Tricia E. Duncan, founder and president of Orlando Black Pride. "We hope everyone will come out and support our activities, which may be the last for OBP under my leadership. Having developed it into a highly anticipated annual event, it's time for me to hand the baton to someone else who would like to take what we have built and run with it for a new era of OBP starting next year. We are forever grateful to all the individuals - straight, gay, black and white - who have supported us over the years."

Orlando Black Pride is sponsored by Orbitz.com, WET Lube, Barefoot Wine and Bud Light. For a full schedule of Orlando Black Pride 2014 events or more information, log on to orlandoblackpride.com or call (407) 977-2997.

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by Kilian Melloy , EDGE Staff Reporter

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.

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