Just a little over a week till the 23rd annual Out in the Park is held at Town Point Park for the first time.

We have some great pre-pride events to enjoy as well as an awesome interview with ODU Out’s President Katie Mills. ODU Out began in 1987 and continues to be an active gay/straight alliance at the Norfolk university.

Altdaily: What do your friends and loved ones call you?

Katie Mills of ODU Out

Katie: Well everyone calls me Katie.  Mary Catherine Mills is a bit too formal for me.

What is your involvement and/or position with the LGBT community of Hampton Roads?

I am President of ODU Out, Old Dominion University’s LGBT organization on campus. I am a huge advocate for LGBT rights and I strive for the best for the LGBT and allies at ODU.

Who has been the most inspirational figure in your life and why?

That is a hard question. I don’t think I can narrow it down. All of my friends and family have been extremely supportive and have inspired me to continue. However, if it was just one I would have to say Grandma Crawford. She has been through so much and yet she is able to maintain herself and still show love.

If you could have lunch with one person in Hampton Roads who would you choose, why, and where?

I would have to say the leaders of the LGBT movement in Hampton Roads. I would love to exchange stories and plans for making Hampton Roads wonderful for LBGT and allies.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Honestly, I would say getting my BA in History. Other than that I hope to supplant that with putting ODU Out on the map.

What is the thing you love the most about Hampton Roads?

I love the diversity. I came from an area that was fairly closed off and so being able to see such support and diversity is amazing.

What is the thing you hate the most about Hampton Roads?

Although it is diverse it is also fairly apathetic. It is hard to bring groups together without immense struggle. However, that has been changing in the last couple of years.

What advice would you give 16-year-old you?

Don’t be afraid to seek out help. Also never compromise yourself for the sake of others.

The Braveness Test…What is the most embarassing thing the general public could know about you?

The most embarrassing thing about me– I play Dungeons and Dragons and other various role-playing games. I am a huge nerd.

What is the place to be in the next seven days?

I would have to say hanging out with my boyfriend and friends.

Now Katie would like to share her “coming out” story…

I don’t really have an enlightening coming out story. I found out that I was attracted to girls and guys when I was 14. I told my dad and till this day, he still thinks it is a phase.  It wasn’t until college though that I found out that I was not a bisexual but a pansexual, gender and sexuality have no importance to me when choosing a partner. I have come to terms after many years of fighting with myself and I have begun to love who I am.

Now for this week’s events…

God-des and She ( pic | thetaskforce.org )

FRIDAY MAY 27TH

Come out to the Hershee Bar from 9pm to 12am for the first dance club night with DJ Roadtrip, who will be spinning his own mix of dance hits. As always enjoy great drink specials with Thomas, Burt, Chuck, Aaron and the gang. Front bar and back bar is open all night long.

SATURDAY MAY 28TH

Hell’s Kitchen will host “Thank you and Good Night“- music in the 757 photography exhibit from 6pm to 10pm. The last day for this exhibit will be June 30th, so don’t miss out. Photography by Beth Austin Digital Imagery.

FRIDAY JUNE 3RD

The Naro will play Vidal Sasoon as a pre-pride movie. Check the column next week for times.

Elements of Waterside invite you join them in an evening for the leaders, volunteers, and supporters of Hampton Roads Non-profit and community based groups that serve and service the LGBT community of Hampton Roads. For more information contact Shannon Bowman at shannon@motleymediaconcepts.com .

SATURDAY JUNE 4TH PRE-PRIDE EVENTS

The Wells Theatre will host “The Sounds of Fabulous” by the Hampton Roads Men’s Chorus from 8pm to 930pm. The Chorus will sing a wonderful array of broadway hits from Ragtime, Wicked, Nunsense, and much more. Also enjoy “Feelin’ Groovy” from the Stonewall era. Songs from our favorite “Divas” Barbra (my personal idol), Diana, Donna and Liza will follow. Together, they will move through our gay anthems of the 80′s from Culture Club, The Bangles, and more. Purchase tickets from Ticketmaster, the Wells Theatre box office, or here.

After a great evening with the boys, drive down the street just a bit and join the girls for the rest of the night. God-des and She will return to the Hershee bar to kick off Pride with a bang from 9pm to 12am. Tickets are $10 in advance here or $13 at the door.

Suzanne Westenhoefer ( pic | Pegasusnews.com )

LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Out in the Park entertainment:

12pm Narissa Bond

12:20pm The Julie Clark Band

1pm Pride Boat Parade

1:30pm Hampton Roads Men’s Chorus

1:45pm King and Queen of Pride/Diana Rhoss

2:15pm Suzanne Westenhoefer: Semi Sweet

3:pm Special Appearance by the DC Cowboys

3:50 Naomi Black & Jennifer Warner

4:10pm DJ Lady Miss Kier

5:pm Wicked Jezebel

5:45 Rah Element

Looking for a place to chat with other LGBT Christians outside of church? Go here to join “LGBT Christians” today.

Hampton Roads Pride still needs volunteers for fundraising events and Out in the Park. If you would like to volunteer please go here to fill out our volunteer form. If you would like to help, but can’t fit volunteer work into your schedule, you can make a donation by using our PayPal.

Contact any of the Board of Directors, and mail checks or money orders to Hampton Roads Pride P.O. Box 1064 Chesapeake, Va 23327. We also invite you to be a community partner (sponsor with or without vendor space); our community partnership applications are available here.

Deployed Military Care Packages

I want to send a care packages to military members from the LGBT community, that are deployed and missing Hampton Roads. Participation is easy. Just make a purchase, put who it’s from, and then give it to me. I will mail it all together. If we have a high volume of packages I will package them in several boxes and hopefully they will get mailed fairly regularly. I only have four names of military members at the moment, but will gladly accept more. It will be a nice surprise for them. Good items include, but not limited to, cigarettes, protein bars, candy, beef jerky, phone cards, gum, Pringles or any other canned chips (these ship nicely), thoughtful cards, pictures of friends, lunch bucket type microwaveable meals (or canned food with pop lids like Ravioli, etc.), magazines, books, and letters if you want to write an appreciation note. Also, I’ve been told that some of the service members don’t have cameras, so some throw-a-way cameras would be helpful, so that they can take pictures of all the fabulous countries they visit. For more information please contact me at 2dmiller6@gmail.com.

Coming June 2011: The LGBT Center of Hampton Roads located at 25th & Llewellyn, Norfolk. The center will provide a safe space, services, resources, education, and support to the LGBT community of Hampton Roads. Access AIDS Care is very excited about its opening thanks to a grant from The Elton John Foundation that helped make it all possible. For more information or to get involved please contact De Sube at 757.640.0929.

You can vote for The Best of Gay Hampton Roads here, until August 3, 2011. The award ceremony will be held September 10, 2011 for ticket purchase here.

Military Care Package ( pic | give2thetroops.org )

ODU Out has a new faculty adviser for the fall semester, Dr. Tom Chapman, a professor in the Department of Political Science and Geography. He is excited to take this role and meet all of the Out students this fall.

A group of firefighters who call themselves “The Misfits” have come together to spread the word that our friend Sara Jones needs help. As many of you know she is a big inspiration in our community and is battling her third fight with breast cancer, which has metastasized to her bones. The former firefighter has been one of our strongest. The Misfits are asking you to start a blizzard of dollars by sending one dollar to Sara Jones P.O. Box 270183 West Allis, WI 53227. This money will go to help pay for the $60,ooo in medical bills that insurance will not cover. Team Jonesy appreciates your support.

ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS

Tangos Tavern will host karaoke every Thursday night at 8pm with lesbian KJ Trina Jacinto.

The Rainbow Cactus Co. Open Monday 6:30pm-11pm and Wednesday-Sunday 7pm-2am. Wednesdays are 18 and up with Latin dance lessons from 8pm to 10pm; DJ Arrick 10pm to 2am. Thursdays karaoke with KJ Jimmy and a pool tournament at 8pm. Fridays include two DJs drag racing and a drag performance at 10:45pm. Sundays are 18 and up with dinner specials (college ID gets you in for free), Wet-n-Wild contest, and drag show at 10:45pm.

Sarah’s Irish Pub-Tuesdays are LGBT night 6pm to 9pm.

Lavender Light Dinner in Williamsburg- Tuesdays are dinner at a different venue every week from 6:30pm to approximately 8:30pm. Contact Terri at baileygurle@yahoo.com

UNO’s Chicago Grill-Pride night on Wednesdays.

TRANSition Your Life Clinic-4pm to 7pm Mondays are free and confidential HIV testing, health screenings, and prescriptions for hormone therapy. To schedule an appointment please call 757-640-0929; ID and Social Security Cared required.

Klub Ambush-Open Monday-Sunday 5pm-2am; all shows start at midnight. Mondays, hanging out with the guys. Tuesdays, Sandra Lopez and show cast. Wednesdays, The Noami Black Show. Thursdays, male dancers and different weekly host. Fridays, dance party with hosts DJ Red Man and Naomi Black. Saturdays, different Diva Saturday. Sundays, SIN Sunday specializing in service industry night.

The Wave-Tuesdays, Goth night with DJ Danny. Wednesdays, Studio Wave disco. Thursdays, throwback Thursdays with DJ Danny and Drew B. Fridays, Indie/New Age/Alternative/club step night with DJs Danny and Drew B. Saturdays, House night with DJs Stan, Jeff Lube, and Danny. (Open Tuesday & Thursday 10pm-2am, Friday 5pm-2am, Saturday 10pm-3am).

The Garage-Mondays, steamed shrimp 5 for $1. 3 oysters for $1. Tuesdays, 50 cent tacos and karaoke. Wednesdays, Drag Spectacular with Porsche Stevens-Ross and male dancers. Thursdays, Supper Specials for $7. Fridays, $5 crab cake plate and $6 shrimp plate, and men’s night out with DJ Glen. Saturdays, party with Disc Jockey DJ. Sundays Karaoke and Tea dance at 4pm, male dancers at 8:30pm, and drag show with male dancers at 11pm. (Open 8pm-2am Monday-Friday and Sunday 10am-2am).

The Hershee Bar/HeBar- Mondays, pool league. Tuesdays, $5 steak dinner and karaoke with Jimmy. Wednesdays, shrimp night and Happy Hour. Thursdays, pool tournament and social pool league. Fridays, show night with DJ John to follow. Saturdays, DJ Dana rocks the house. Sundays, karaoke with KJ Jimmy. Open 4pm-2am 7 days a week.

The Raydius Bar (formerly known as The Corner Pocket)- Mondays, Spaghetti and Salad Night with karaoke at 9pm. Tuesdays, drag shows. Wednesdays, happy hour from 5pm-9pm with DJ and bartender SONIC premiering movie night. Thursdays, dinner specials of 15 cent shrimp and 10 cent hush puppies, happy hour 5pm-9pm, and karaoke at 9pm. Fridays and Saturdays, drag shows. Sundays, karaoke with Kay. (Open 5pm-2am 7 days a week).

Smackwater Jack’s- Wednesdays, that fun loving lesbian Linsey Hutton, from Tootsie’s karaoke, will be your KJ for the night beginning at 8:30pm-1:30pm.

Scooter‘s Sports Bar- Every Thursday night come out to enjoy drink specials and a live performance by that hot lesbian duo, Undercurrent. Show starts at 9pm.

The Voodoo Lounge- Thursdays, Thirsty Thursday drag show at 11pm (cover charge begins at 10pm; must be 18 or older), and midnight dance party to Hip Hop and dance hits. Fridays, dance party with happy hour from 7pm to 9pm, dinner special from 6pm to 8pm, and appetizer special from 9pm to 10pm. Saturdays, speed date at 8pm and dance party at 10pm. Sundays, male review 11:30pm and a live DJ all night; 21+ only on Sundays. (Open Wednesday-Sunday 9pm-2:30am).

So many wonderful opportunities to come together in the next two weeks. I hope to see all of you at the events leading up to Out in the Park 2011!  Old Mr. Webster defined pride as a feeling of self-respect and personal worth. What is pride to you? Something to think about. Till next time, find your pride.

Have an event or announcement you would like to see in my article? Email me at 2dmiller6@gmail.com .