Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 21:29:56 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Subject: Erie, PA Bicentennial Float Submitted by: Kidithart@aol.com Submitted by Greg Valiga on 5-26. I may not be online much friday to answer questions, etc. because of my involvement in the preparation of the float, and also the media attention. 1995 marks the bicentennial of Erie, PA. Among the many events scheduled to celebrate the occasion is the huge "Parade of the Century", which will be held on Saturday, May 27. The Bicentennial Commission accepted a float proposal from the Erie lesbigay community. The community had mixed emotions about the project, but forged ahead with the plans. On Sunday, May 21, the commission published a list of all the units in the Erie Sunday Times. The float committee expected trouble, and it began on Tuesday. A local hate-radio talk show host began spewing lies and distortions about the float and the lesbigay community. By Wednesday, we had a full-blown media circus. Our enemies say this is a family parade and we should not be permitted in the parade. They indicate they will not attend. They insist the float message is political, which is not allowed by the guidelines. The float itself is a tent-type plywood sign with the official logo covering 3/4 of the float, and the words "contributing to Erie's growing workforce", and "Erie's lesbian, gay, and bisexual community" in a pink triangle on the ends. The Commission has been very supportive and has insisted that the float will be in the parade as planned. The Vice-Chair pledged to resign from the commission before the actual parade if the commission made any type of plans to exclude the float. Unfortunately, by Thursday, the commission, the Mayor's office, and each individual commissioner had received so many negative and hateful calls (and threats), a few officers decided to hold a meeting to discuss what should be done. They concluded that the words "Erie's lesbian, gay, and bisexual community" had to come off the float. The actual float committee had previously discussed deleting this as a good PR ploy, since pictures of the float with the wording and the pink triangle were shown on local TV and the print media. The committee felt the prior exposure would ensure the masses would know which was the lesbigay float. On thursday night, the float was vandalized. "Fags", "fuck you", "never assholes" and other gibberish were scrawled in flourescent orange paint over the entire float. The police and media were alerted. We have only one day to finish retouching all of the painting, and we are not sure it is possible. The committee is running out of enthusiasm and energy. Calls and faxes are needed to counter the right wing nuts. Contact the bicentennial office at (814) 455-6959, FAX (814) 455-7361, to let them know they should not back down in their decision to allow the float. Thank them for making the positive statements to the media. Suggest that the float be included with the hateful graffitti intact. Call or FAX WFLP 1330 AM to protest the dishonest, deceitful, incendiary speech of Pat Campbell. This 'man' has the most discusting radio call-in show imaginable. Offices (814) 835-5000. FAX (814) 835-8395. Contact the Erie Morning News and thank them for being supportive. Tell them that there are many who support what the Erie lesbigay community is doing. Call (814) 870-1681 to speak to Jeff Pinski, Managing Editor. FAX (814) 870-1632. Finally, contact Mayor Joyce Savocchio by FAX at (814) 870-1208 to express your support.