PRESS RELEASE FOR PRIDE

THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE WAS SENT OUT TO MEDIA OUTLETS ACROSS THE STATE TODAY.

SOUTH DAKOTA PRIDE FESTIVAL 2007

The fourth annual South Dakota Pride Festival is being held at The Whispering Pines Campground in the Black Hills of South Dakota on July 21^st and 22^nd.

The Pride Festival is an annual event that brings together members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities, their friends, families and supporters from all over South Dakota to celebrate pride, freedom and respect for LGBT people everywhere.

Set up will begin on Friday evening July 20^th staring at 4pm. People are free to come and camp Friday evening. Festivities will kick off at approximately 10am on Saturday.

Headlining this year’s event is Linda Boyle, singer, songwriter from Chicago. Linda sings a variety of music from folk and pop to ethnic and modern. Linda will be performing Saturday evening at approximately 6pm.

In addition there will be dancing in the meadow starting at 8pm on Saturday. Equality South Dakota will be participating in this year’s event and will be running several carnival style booths to raise money for their ongoing efforts to advocate, to support and to protect the rights of LGBT people in South Dakota.

Many other organizations and vendors will have information tables and be selling items at the Festival.

Sunday will be set aside as a spiritual celebration; a telling of our stories by those participating in the Festival and an opportunity to connect with the various organizations helping with the festival.

Representatives from several national and regional organizations will be present to give workshops and advice on various issues of importance to LGBT people in South Dakota.

There will be games and contests for all ages. Camping is available. For more information visit the web site at: http://pridefestsd2007.blogspot.com/

The Center West located at 3601 Canyon Lake Dr. Suite 4 in Rapid City is sponsoring the Pride Fest this year; Phone # 605-348-3244.

The Center West and The Center East in Sioux Falls in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Health will be offering free HIV testing at the Pride site again this year.

For more information contact:
Michael Coats, Director
The Center West
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-348-3244
E-mail: mmcoats@thecenterwest.org