[Fwd: [GulfCoastTIDE] “Local Community invited to Come Out Pensacola! 2005”]

[Tom Dempsey]

Contact: Jon Durre, President
Organization: Gulf Coast TIDE, Inc.
Email: jond...@GulfCoastTIDE.org
Phone: (850) 433-9852

"Local Community invited to Come Out Pensacola! 2005"

Pensacola, FL – Come Out Pensacola! 2005, a weeklong celebration of
diversity and equality, will be held Oct. 9 through 16 at various
locations in Pensacola. Sponsors hope the event will foster
understanding and better communication between the local Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and the straight
community.

"Come Out Pensacola! 2005 is like nothing ever attempted before in
Pensacola. It is exciting to see the community and the service
organizations rallying around the idea," said Event Chair Steve
Gillette. "We want to use this week to pull together the LGBT
community and to make strides toward creating a real spirit of
appreciation for diversity in our area. Rather than being something
offered just for the LGBT community, we're offering something for
everyone in the Gulf Coast area and beyond."

Come Out Pensacola! 2005 begins at 8 p.m. Oct. 9th with a kick-off
party downtown. During the week, educational and celebratory events
for the entire community are planned. Events include a seminar
entitled "A Dialogue on Same Sex Marriage," a Student Activist
Workshop to help students, parents and school officials make local
schools safer for LGBT students, an interfaith worship service, a
performance by Eric Himan (nationally recognized gay rockabilly
singer), a LGBT film festival, and a Sunday Gospel Brunch.

A Community Fair and Celebration is the centerpiece of the weeklong
activities. Held Oct. 15 at Bayview Park, the community fair features
live entertainment with WPMI personality Darwin Singleton hosting a
stage; food, art, craft, retail, and beverage vendors;
representatives from a wide variety of non-profit services including
health/hospice, HIV/AIDS services, diversity groups, LGBT services;
and political parties and issues-based organizations.

Gulf Coast TIDE, Inc., provides education, empowerment, and
visibility within and beyond the Gulf Coast LGBT community. For more
information, visit the event website at: www.comeoutpensacola.com, or
learn more about Gulf Coast TIDE at www.gulfcoasttide.org.








Gulf Coast TIDE, Inc. - http://www.gulfcoasttide.org - is an
organization providing education, empowerment and visibility within and
beyond the Gulf Coast lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
communities serving as a point of contact for existing groups and being
involved in advocacy efforts to promote tolerance, equality and diversity.