There is a lot that can happen in a year. And for some members of the island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning community, this past year has been an exciting one with the passage of same-sex marriage in Hawaii
There is a lot that can happen in a year.
And for some members of the island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning community, this past year has been an exciting one with the passage of same-sex marriage in Hawaii and the delivery of two Supreme Court rulings upholding the legal process.
It is a milestone that Lamba Aloha members say they are incorporating into this year’s 21st annual “State of Tropixotica Trance” Kauai Gay Pride celebration.
“Marriage equality was such a huge event here in our state and certainly around the country, so we just wanted to celebrate Hawaii, and the bigger part of it is celebrating the state of marriage equality,” Lambda Aloha spokesman Ross Martineau said.
This year’s three-day event will kick off at 5:45 p.m. today in the Aston Aloha Beach Resort lobby with an inaugural Celebrate the State Pride Expo, featuring about seven to eight Lamba Aloha business supporters, including Kauai attorney Joe Moss in Lihue, Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea, and Hula Baby Biscotti and Ko Bakery in Kapaa.
“We want to make sure that the community knows who their friends and supporters are — these are the people who have advertised with us, donated items for our silent auction and many of them have been repeat supporters,” Martineau said. “It’s also informational as well because it lets people know what resources are out there, if someone decides to get married.”
A free movie on the hotel lawn, featuring the film series “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” will be held shortly afterward at dusk.
The celebration will continue on Saturday with the event’s annual fundraising dance party — for those who are at least 21 years old — at the Aston Aloha Beach Resort, featuring DJ Bliss, Charlie Cox, Bianka Princess Hanalei, Diamond Westwilliams and Boz LaMici.
Doors will open at 7:30 and live events, along with dancing, will go until 1 a.m. Sunday.
This year’s festivities will close on Sunday with the event’s annual pride potluck, which is jointly hosted by Lambda Aloha and Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Kauai at Lydgate Beach Park.
The potluck will begin at 11 a.m. in the small pavilion near Kamalani Playground.
All proceeds from Saturday’s dance party and silent auctions held on all three days, including items from Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach, Aspire Furniture and 9th Island Sports Bar and Grill, will benefit Lambda Aloha programs and services.
Individual tickets for Saturday’s dance party can be purchased online for $25 until the end of today or $30 on the day of the event at the door.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Lambda Aloha website at: www.lambdaaloha.com, call 826-4429 or send an email to LambdaAloha@gmail.com.
