KAILUA-KONA — For those who came to Kailua-Kona’s first Pride festival in years, it was more than just a chance to come together for celebration — it was a day promoting inclusivity for all.
“It’s not an event just for our community, and I think that’s really important,” said Joseph Smeraldi, 42. “It’s an event for everyone, and for people that may be outside our community to better understand our community and gain maybe a little bit of insight and maybe appreciation for what gay culture has to offer and what gay culture might be like.”
The Kona Pride Festival, held Saturday at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds, is part of a full weekend of activities taking place as part of Kona Pride Weekend. The events end today with a Drag Bingo Brunch at Island Lava Java. Tickets purchased in advance are required for that gathering.
Rocco Vick, owner of My Bar and one of the organizers of Kona Pride, said this year’s festival is the town’s first in six years.
“Being in the industry, I’m hearing what the gay population wants and needs,” he said. “And there’s so many people here that, some of these young kids that have just turned 21 and they’re coming out to the bars, they’ve never had a Pride in their own town … I feel like that is one of those things that kind of helps you evolve as a LGBTQ person is knowing you have a full community behind you and supporting you.”
Vick also noted the diversity of venues, including Gertrude’s Jazz Bar, Daylight Mind Coffee Co. and Island Lava Java, that are or were opening their doors for the weekend’s events.
“It’s just amazing to see it spread throughout Kona and seeing the response the local businesses are having to it,” he said. “So that means that I feel like that’s going to build a sustainable plan; this is going to happen annually so much easier now that this is proven that we can do it.”
Smeraldi, who was attending the festival with his husband Dan Paul Roberts, 41, said Pride events can be a great energizer when life’s struggles appear.
“It’s easy to forget how many — or you don’t even realize on a day-to-day basis how many — other gay people or people that are within the gay community are in your community,” he said.
And having those events that bring everyone together, he said, can be a way to restore one’s energy when life’s struggles come up.
“You’re like, ‘No, there are a lot of people — it’s not just me; I’m not alone,’” he added. “There are many people out there that are part of my tribe, my family. So it’s unifying in that way. It gives you solidarity.”
Roberts, who performs under the name “Candi Shell” and will perform at today’s brunch, similarly said Pride is an opportunity for those who might not recognize who is in their community. He called Pride a “rainbow blanket” accepting of everyone, and emphasized the inclusion of straight families at events.
“Seeing straight families is one of the most heartening experiences for me as a gay man at Pride,” he said.
And the tribe and family that celebrated together on Saturday came here from far beyond Hawaii, with many coming in from the mainland or even internationally for the celebration.
“It’s just always surprising to me, but in a wonderful way,” said Christopher Whipple, 40, of New York City, “that people will come from all over to come not just celebrate everybody else, but also to celebrate yourself. I think it’s a big deal to celebrate yourself, because we forget to do that all the time.”
He also noted the safe environment Pride events are, saying he’s never been to one where he didn’t feel completely safe.
“Every Pride festival is just love,” he said, “like everywhere you look is just people there to say, ‘Hi, who are you, have a hug and tell me about yourself.’ It’s so welcoming.”
Happy Pride Kona!
Meanwhile, Science remains unchanged.
Those born with XX Chromosomes are still female & those with XY chromosomes are still male.
All arguments to the contrary are political “Unicorns”, wishing they were real.
Am I the only person who remembers when these things were called what they are?
Perversions & Mutations should never be considered normal or acceptable.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b849c94dbc5287c7090f8445543e76e3178f8705494287c22344cea74c4313c.jpg
Amen!
Since y’all elected that Trump-turd and are so so proud to stand up for your misogyny, racism, guns, environmental pollution, and religious fundamentalism: Go f..k yourself! There’s no greater perversion than your thinking. I got a wild male rooster hanging out with my tomcat. They rub each other in all kinds of places. No, they will not have babies, they will not go to heaven, they are just happy priding along on this planet. And it ain’t anybodys’ business.
We seldom agree on anything, but the part about the same-sex rooster and tomcat is very common in nature. There are over 200 mammals which engage in same-sex sex. It’s been a behavior in humans and non-humans since time immemorial.
I’m glad we live in a world that allows bigots to express themselves. It allow us to shine a light on ignorance and decidedly unscientific viewpoints.
No one would disagree that ones birth sex is not determined by chromosomes: XX are born female and XY are born male. Start with the obvious. Yes, the sun does rise in the East, too. Obvious: you don’t win any points for that.
Then you take the obvious and set up a classic Straw Man argument: people who argue the XX is not genetically female at birth (and XY is male) are “political unicorns”. Well, duh, nobody argues that ones birth sex is not chromosomally determined.
Where you’re showing your ignorance is not understanding that one’s birth sex is only one part of what makes the range of human sexual expression, one’s gender identity. You use the terms “perversion” and “mutation” in your so-called “science remains unchanged” baloney, but these are not scientific terms.
They are human moral constructs and I can guarantee you that your neighbor, friends, colleagues, family members have different beliefs about what is “perverse”. I may find your sexual practices perverse, and, likewise, you may find mind perverse. It’s quite a silly argument to be on a high horse judging other peoples expressions of their sexuality. It’s actually the height of arrogance to pontificate your morals over those of others.
But to an even more important point: why would you care about what other’s do? Does that give others the right to call your behavior perverse? Can we call you a mutant because you might, by chance, be bald, overweight, short, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Republican, Democrat or a carrier of gene that might give you early onset Alzheimers?
Who was it that said, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her?”
Very telling that “mental illness/disorders” are totally absent from your DNC talking points.
You feel just fine with sociopaths, kleptomaniacs, the whole panoply of mental disorders are all just one big happy family and should be tolerated?
Paranoid, are we?
About what?
Paranoia is a irrational and obsessive distrust of other people. You seem to be exhibiting the characteristics of this with your characterization of gays.
Don’t you see the irony in using Darwin’s name while saying “mutations should never be considered normal or acceptable”?
His whole theory was based on mutations/variations!
But, alas, the understanding of science–as shown in your posst–does not seem very deep.
As a Proud Native Hawaiian Trans-gendered MtF born and raised in Hawaii I am comfortable in my own skin. I support all genders and accept all life styles, that’s what makes up the population of Hawaii, DIVERSITY! I feel we as native Hawaiians have been robbed of many things and to set aside one day to celebrate Pride that includes all races and genders is a great thing. A festival to pull the community together and let LGBTQ+ celebrate without hate or judgement is a start and way over due. This is not the dark ages, it;s 2018 people when is it gonna be ok to live without prejudice.
You mention being transgender then, in the same sentence say ” I am comfortable in my own skin”.
Would that be the male skin or the female?
You sound very confused.
Sorry this confuses you, I am not out here to tear down nor I do not feel the need to explain myself to you. All people have skin its how they perceive to look at and label them that makes it confusing. I can walk in public in the middle of the day and not be mis-gendered. My esteemed colleagues who know me personally in the professional world at the University of Hawaii will stand by me and my efforts to educate people on the medical term of being transgender. Get educated PLEASE!
I wonder what these people think about Islam ?
Radical Islam does not exist according to leftist dogma.
That is why homosexuals regularly travel to islamic countries.
Radical Islam does not exist according to leftist dogma. The leftists deposed messiah refused to use that term.
That is why hom-sexuals regularly travel to islamic countries and prance about holding hands nands kissing in public..