Sacramento Bee
Monday, September 4, 2006
Section: Metro; Pg. B1
Headline: Diversity came in all hues at Rainbow Festival
Byline: Pamela Martineau
A Tina Turner impersonator lip-synced “Rolling on the River” on a stage Sunday at the Rainbow Festival in downtown Sacramento while thousands of gay and lesbian couples—and singles—wandered along K Street, perusing food and information booths.
In addition to the teriyaki bowls and rainbow-colored shaved ice for sale at some stalls, visitors were offered a chance to mingle with political activists who championed gay rights issues.
There were the Log Cabin Republicans who set up camp near organizers with the Lambda Letters Project. Volunteers offered a sign-up sheet to show support for Equality California—a political action group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Monica Johnson, 26, of Plumas Lake said she came to the festival to collect signatures for Equality California, in large part because of her sense of patriotism. Johnson served two terms in the Air Force in the Iraq war.
“As a heterosexual female who’s married and who is an Air Force vet, I served my country so all people could have all their rights,” Johnson said.
Sunday’s street fair capped the three-day Rainbow Festival, which offered opportunities for frolicking and making political and social connections.
The festival reminded Isabelle Nava, 60, of Sacramento of days not too long ago when gays and lesbians did not feel safe enough to walk the street arm in arm, let alone organize a festival.
“I remember the days when we couldn’t do this,” said Nava. “It wasn’t safe.”
Nava said that the old days of hiding one’s identity were exhausting.
“It’s the lying part that wears you down,” she said.
But Sunday was about celebrating one’s identity.
“This is a large celebration of diversity,” said Mary Doyle, 49, of Sacramento. “And I like the fact that the money raised goes to charity.”
Organizers of the festival, which was held on K Street between 19th and 20th streets, said they expected about 10,000 people to have wandered through the gates during the three-day period. They guessed about 3,000 people attended Sunday’s fair. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the festival.
Organizers had braced for protesters at the event, since some anti-gay activists have shown up at several gay events in recent months. By late Sunday, none had shown up in Sacramento.
“It’s 2006. We live in a world where gay is something that’s acceptable to a lot of people,” said Mike Johnston, executive director of the Rainbow Festival. “There are a lot of people who frankly think it’s no big deal anymore.
“But every once in awhile, we get reminded that it isn’t always like that,” Johnston said in reference to protesters who have shown up at previous events.
Jeff Scott, of Sacramento, a member of Log Cabin Republicans, said he felt it was important for members of his group to attend the festival to offer a Republican perspective.
Group members collected signatures in support of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom they consider to be very “gay-friendly” in his legislative efforts.
“It’s very important as a gay Republican to show that there is diversity in the gay community,” said Scott.
Lenny Stinson staffed a booth where volunteers sought participants in a study on gay biological brothers. The study, at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., seeks a molecular genetic link to sexual orientation.
“We’re trying to disprove the myth that being gay is a choice,” said Stinson.
Those interested in obtaining more information on the study may learn more at www.gaybros.com.
Information on Equality California, the Lambda Letters Project and Log Cabin Republicans of California is available at the following Web sites: www.eqca.org; www.lambdaletters.org and www.ca.logcabin.org.
All profits from the three-day festival are donated to charities. For more information on the festival, visit www.rainbowfestival.com.
