GayGuideToronto.Com’s very own Man On Top, Maha is set to host the Village Stage on Sunday July 04 2010 from 8:30 pm until 11:00 pm.

The Village Drag Stage will host a stellar line up of Drag Kings, Queens and Burlesque!

Looks like it is going to be A Very Maha Pride!

Performers include: Degenderit Cabaret, Zippers Angels, Carlotta Carlisle, GIA, Michel Doiron, Divinesque, Eddie Barnett, Michelle Ross, Ivory, Daytona Bitch, Divine, Genderfuct, Miss Conception, Sofonda Cox, Laura Landauer, Dirk and Flare.

Pride Toronto’s 30^th anniversary festival features local heroes, international stars, literary lights, interactive arts and everything that is diverse, inclusive, queer and progressive on 9 stages spread over 35 blocks in downtown Toronto.

“Pride-goers can see Cyndi Lauper on the new Queen’s Park stage as part of the expanded Dyke Day program along with local favourites The Cliks, Saidah Baba Talibah, Dragonette, Betti Forde and more” says Mary Zondanos, Arts and Entertainment Manager at Pride Toronto.

Alternaqueer expands its program across the weekend with Lovers Love Haters (Debora Cohen from The Organ’s newest project), MEN, Misstress Barbara LIVE w/ Girls On A Ducati, Ryan G. Hinds, Josie Cotton, Woodhands, Diamond Rings, Private Life (Katie Stelmanis), Copenhagen’s Fagget Fairys and many more.

Divas reign supreme this year with Zelma Davis (from C+C Music Factory), Lolene, one the UK’s hottest exports, local darling Nancy Rancourt, resident Pride diva Simone Denny, Amanda Morra and R&B sensations Ivana Santilli and Jully Black.

Pride Week 2010 also features the TransVerse program, celebrating the Trans community with America’s Best Dance Crew Vogue Evolution, a commissioned dance piece by local superstar Scott Fordham (‘Full of GLEE’), Buck Angel, S. Bear Bergman, Alec Butler, Girlyman – who recently collaborated with Margaret Cho on her upcoming album, San Francisco hip hop notable Katastrophe and more including the official after party done in partnership with Pride Toronto’s South Asian program, FunkAsia!

Dance takes on many forms with Project Dance back for Round Two, along with Colour Me Dragg, Queer Idol’s tribute to Pride Toronto’s 30 year history, House of Monroe, FunkAsia’s amazing dancers, and – another first – the Pride Toronto Flashmob.

In 2010 for the first time, Pride Toronto introduces ‘Werq!’ a circuit music program which spans the whole weekend, taking over Wellesley stage.

“It all kicks off with Aqua Pride, a co-presentation between Pride Toronto and Prism Festival,” says Zondanos. “Prism is one of North America’s largest circuit festivals and we are proud to working with them again.”

The Werq! Stage features Ana Paula, Isaac Escalante, David Morales, Australian dream Kitty Glitter, Honey Dijon, Cajjmere Wray, Mike Viera, Pierre Fitch and others.

The Blockorama stage returns for the 12^th year with a solid line up of resident favourites and new discoveries in George Hislop parkette, including DJ Memphis Sugar, Nik Red, Ayo Leilani, Craig Dominic, Abstract Random, Troy Jackson, Michelle Ross, Ill Nana, Unruly Twin, DJ Bugo and Jojo Flores.

Those hot for electronic music can join JELO, Robb G, The House Moguls, Sydney Blu, Hector Fonseca, Dwayne Minard, MC Flipside, DJ Blackcat, Adam K & Soha, Panic Bomber, Deko-ze, Don Berns AKA Dr. Trance, Neill Macleod, DJ Ritu (BBC radio), Brandon Sek, Chiclet, and  the Yes Yes Y’all crew.

“Pride Toronto’s Village stage includes a stellar line up of Drag Queens, Kings and Burlesque,” Zondanos says, “featuring the Degenderit Cabaret, Zippers Angels, Carlotta Carlisle, GIA, Michel Doiron, Divinesque, Eddie Barnett, Michelle Ross, Ivory, Daytona Bitch, Divine, Genderfuct, Miss Conception, Sofonda Cox, Laura Landauer, Dirk and Flare.

For the younger set, Fruit Loopz produced by Supporting our Youth includes two stages with youth artists in sunny Alexander Parkette, complete with Toronto’s most talented young musicians, slam poets, dancers, actors and drag artists.

The Community Café, Pride Toronto’s community space in which performers donate their performance to the festival in celebration of the community includes the Asian Community AIDS Services, Canadian Tamil Congress, NIA, Bold Steps Dance Studio, Queer Dance Community, Hula Sun Village Dance Troupe, Sapphire Dance Productions and 88 Days of Fortune.

The Pride Lounge, the festival’s singer/songwriter space, will feature performances from Michael Caplan, Meridith Shaw, Melissa Li (from Good Asian Drivers), Michelle Mondesir, Shawnee Lynne, eMKeh, Jaceyln Holmes, Rachel Newman, VIVIV and more.

Literary program Proud Voices is back again with curator Susan G. Cole (Senior Entertainment and Books Editor at NOW Magazine) hosting an incredible and inspiring program with the Aqsa Collective, Truth Is…, Beth Ann Fisher, Christina Starr, Jess Dobkin, Rose Cullis, Krystle Mullin, Lex Vaughn, Mariko Tamaki, Jon Redfern, Shaun Proulx, Emma Donoghue, Pink Ink and Vivek Shraya.

Plot, Engage, Disperse, Pride Toronto’s interactive art program, returns again with students from the Toronto Alternative Arts school, youth from Sketch, life size twister, the “What Does Pride Mean to You” photo project from Pride Toronto’s Youth Committee, live graffiti, sketching and many other ways people can interact with the festival!

Pride Toronto’s new Spotlight Series showcases some of the individuals and organizations who contribute year round to the vibrancy of our cultural community. Carlyle Jansen presents ‘Crave’ a women’s erotic cabaret at the Phoenix, the women behind the ‘club skirts’ Dinah Shore present ‘Jet Setter’ at 99 Sudbury, and Matt Sims presents a special Pride edition of ‘HEY REBEL!’, one of Toronto’s best monthly all ages events at one of Toronto’s best venues, The Great Hall.

In addition, Zahra Dhanani of Funkasia, Nik Red and Shafik Kamani present the official Transverse afterparty at the Phoenix Concert Theatre; Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat present ‘CHERRY BOMB: PRIDE: A DEEPER LOVE’ at Revival; Big Primpin’ does a special edition at Wrongbar; Alan Kliffer presents ‘Gay for Comedy’ at the Panasonic Theatre and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives present a remount of their National Portrait Collection.

“And that’s definitely not all,” says Zondanos. “There are many other performers we will be hosting at Pride this year, so stay tuned!”

For a full schedule of events, including dates, times and locations, keep checking www.pridetoronto.com.

So imagine being surrounded by $800 Jimmy Choo (http://www.jimmychoo.com) shoes, giggling preteen girls, gaggles of gay men and adoring women. The one thing they all have in common is they are primping and touching up for an audience with Miss J. Alexander from America’s Next Top Model. That’s exactly what happened to at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14th at Holt Renfrew(http://www.holtrenfrew.com). iMaxFashion was there exclusively for GayGuideToronto.com. Two men and four women including the Host of Breakfast Television, ET Canada’s host, our own Sofonda Cox plus Hello! Canada’s Ciara Hunt (usually wears Alexander McQueen but didn’t for the walk off) all took to the runway. Though the competition was tough and Canadian model king Elmer Olsenwas a judge, the winner hands down was Ciara Hunt who strutted to much to audience cheers and Miss J.’s astonishment took the crown and sash clicking in Manolos. Hunt stated she did it for her two daughters. After the merriment died down Miss J. got 10 of the audience for a walk off which proved to be more cut-throat than an actually episode of ANTM! Miss J. took it in stride and did not have a bad word for anyone.

Miss J. Alexander

Sofanda on the Runway At Holt's Celebrity Walk Off...

Hello! Canada's Ciara Hunt - Queen of the Holt's Catwalk!!!

Me With Miss J. Alexander. Two fabulous dark-skinned gay men!!

Sofonda Cox rings in 2010 at Fly Nightclub, Toronto, Canada. Photo: SERIAL SEAN

Ok folks, this is it.

2010, the year in the 90′s that was supposed to give birth to hovercrafts, flying skateboards, and intergalactic travel (alongside 2 ties in a suit).  None of the aforementioned happened (thankfully, especially the 2 ties) – but, are you really surprised considering the claims of complete technological failure when we went into the year 2000?  There’s a reason these ideas are given birth and it’s not to meet a timeline – it’s to make people think, and react.  Precisely what I’m doing this year – reacting.

There has been a surge in the media in the last few years of only reporting bad news.  Where death and destruction certainly sells movie tickets, it’s not quite so popular when it’s actually real.  Taking a step backwards from the trend (as I usually do) I have resolved that 2010 (for me) will be all about the positive.

As this is my first entry for a year of positivity, I do have mention of a few wonderful events that happened over the holidays that brought warm smiles and cheer to everyone involved.  Toronto’s Fly Nightclub & Fire on the East Side Restaurant raised $4179 for the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish drive helping contribute to 70,000 underprivileged children experiencing a Christmas this year.  The funds were raised at the two establishment’s staff holiday celebration.

Another event that took place was the Mr. Leatherman Toronto Bottle Drive which saw $600 being raised for the LGBT Youth Line, an organization that delivers support to our community’s youth.  I was recently informed that another drive will take place in the summer so start saving those empties!  Hats off to both initiatives.

On a personal note, I will be contributing photographic & graphic design services to a few additional charitable/non-profit organizations this year.  As a business owner I strongly feel that giving back to the community and city that supports your goals and projects is important.  News of these projects will be detailed here in the near future.

With 2009  left in the dust and vanished from view (minus of course the annual filing with Revenue Canada) and 2010 glowing bright and sunny before us i think that in order to have a great year we all need to want to make it happen.  Take a more goal oriented mind frame, set some goals, make sure you have a plan to achieve them, and most importantly – make sure you have the best rockin` out great time with a stupid smile on your face all year long.

Together, we can make this year our best one ever!

SERIAL SEAN
xo