Greetings from the Board
Welcome to Baltimore Black Pride 2011! :: It is our great pleasure, as the Board of Directors, to offer our heartfelt greetings and personal invitation to join us as we come together as a community under this year's theme I Was Born This Way: X-Pression of Yo-Self to celebrate the 9th Annual Baltimore Black Pride.
This year's celebration is a week of sensational activities held October 4th through October 11th, which features many of our popular events from previous years, like the Friday evening Meet and Greet featuring jazz artist Kim Walker and her band Rapture; the Cultural Affair featuring the vocal stylings of mezzo soprano Tona Brown, and a youth summit . Our newest addition of events this year is the screening of Blueprint, a film produced and directed by Baltimore-native Kirk Shannon-Butts at the Creative Alliance on October 5, 2011 at 7:35 pm. Also this year we are partnering with youth health educator Jamal Hailey in a Youth Town Hall meeting on Friday October 7th and a Youth Run the World Summit on October 8th. Also on Saturday, October 8th, BBP along with Baltimore Heritage will be hosting 30 Years of African-American LGBT History at Metropolitan Community Church of Baltimore (MCCB), from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. After we conclude our afternoon event, you can take a break to prepare for a glamorous evening, stepping out in your best dress or suit, as you attend our 9th annual fundraiser, The Cultural Affair. We have been so graciously permitted once again to host our event at the nationally-recognized Eubie Blake Jazz Institute and Cultural Center. Every year during this event, we recognize individuals or organizations that have made a positive impact on the African-American LGBT community. This year's recipients of the Icons We Love awards are Delegate Mary L. Washington of Baltimore's 43rd District and Archbishop Carl Bean, native Baltimorean and founder of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement. You'll hear classical music, partake in a buffet and cocktails, and later dance the evening away.
Sunday, October 9th, will begin with a high energy morning service with Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore (UFCB) and Metropolitan Community Church of Baltimore (MCCB) jointly worshipping together in a interfaith service at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center. The inspirational message will be given by UFCB's own Reverend Sam Offer. Later that afternoon, celebration abounds at the Fall Festival held in front of Club Bunns, now in its 25th year of providing entertainment and hospitality to our African-American LGBT community. You will find health and wellness information, food, and live entertainment, as you X-Press Yo-Self.
October 11th, embrace and celebrate National Coming Out Day as BBP and GLCCB hosts a Youth Mixer and Fundraiser, the proceeds of which will go to support the activities of The Den; a youth drop in center and safe place for LGBTQQ youth in Baltimore. Lastly, the A-List party will be the finale at Club Bunns as we say THANK YOU for your participation and contribution toward a fabulous week of memorable events.
The BBP Board would like to give a special shout out to DJ Lord Byron for creating a BBP Schedule of Events promo video, Born This Way available on You Tube. Also, acknowledging our collaborations with Baltimore Heritage, Kirk Shannon-Butts, Tona Brown, Jamal Hailey, Elizabeth Wilson, Rev. Sam Offer, Phillip Lovett, Coppin State University students, and the GLCCB, we say Thank You for your gifts and talents.
The Board has labored long and hard over the past months to bring you the upscale events that the community has requested. We hope that you participate and network at all the events. None of it would be possible without the generous support and combined efforts our friends, families, community stakeholders, sponsors, and allies. We salute your continued support and commitment in assisting us as we advance our mission of equality, economic empowerment and social justice for same gender loving African- Americans. We embrace and celebrate our Blackness everyday. We say Thank You and God Bless.
Be a Pride Sponsor!
Show your support for pride through sponsorship :: Baltimore Black Pride represents the collaborative efforts of many people within our community. When you become a sponsor, you show your pride in community and your commitment to bettering the lives of your friends and neighbors. There are several different sponsorship levels available this year. Each comes with its own set of benefits and recognitions. For example, you see one of our Gold Sponsors acknowledged above. Choose the sponsorship level that's right for you and become a sponsor today! You can become a sponsor using our secure online PayPal service, or by filling out a Sponsorship Form and mailing it in with your contribution. Visit the Sponsorship Information page for more information.