Gay/Lesbian Pride Community Picnic

Ridgefield News
June 11, 2000

Gay/Lesbian Pride Community Picnic

Marconi Welcomes Gay/Lesbian Pride Celebrants

June 11 -- Ridgefielders celebrated their diversity at the 4th Annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Community event today, and First Selectman Rudy Marconi became the first Town CEO to appear and address the annual event. Harvey Fierstein, gay activist, and Tony-award winning playwright and actor, called the First Selectman's participation "historic." Ridgefielders will remember that Rudy was also the first First Selectman to participate in the Town's Martin Luther King Birthday celebration, in January of this year. The biggest crowd ever attended today's event, and enjoyed the summer-like weather with a picnic on the lawn of the beautiful Community Center.

Boys' Night Out trio performs

The trio "Boys' Night Out" provided an eclectic mix of songs for picnickers

Harvey Fierstein speaks

Harvey Fierstein addressed the gathering

There was plenty of music at the picnic, but everyone was interested to hear from the speakers. Tony-award winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, a mainstay of Ridgefield's annual Gay Pride events, remarked on the fact that the gay community was truly "on Main Street" today. He challenged gays and lesbians to come out - "there's no excuse for not coming out" in 2000, in Ridgefield, Ct., Fierstein said. He noted that newly-elected Democratic First Selectman Rudy Marconi was a speaker at the event - the first time that the Town's CEO appeared at the event, and said of Rudy's participation: "That's historic!"

More than 100 turned out for the picnic

More than 100 people - twice last year's crowd - turned out for today's festivities.

Phil Lewis and Joseph Heyman

Event organizer and Democratic activist Phil Lewis (left) chats with Democratic Selectman Joseph Heyman.

Organizers reckoned that today's crowd was twice the size of last year's - a record in the four-year history of Ridgefield's celebration. First Selectman Marconi was joined at the event by fellow Selectmen Democrat Joseph Heyman and former Democrat Steve Zemo.

Dave Goldenberg sings

Dave Goldenberg entertains with his creatively tailored songs, just for the occasion.

Mark Robinson and Rudy Marconi

ROUND Chairman and DTC Vice-Chair Mark Robinson (left) visited with First Selectman Rudy Marconi.

Today's event was organized by Ridgefield Pride, and assisted by ROUND, Ridgefield's diversity organization headed by DTC Vice-Chair Mark Robinson.

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Ridgefield News June 11, 2000