From: pridefest@tde.com Date: Tue, 01 Feb 94 18:10:08 Subject: Raise the rainbow/denver FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 1994 CONTACT: ERIKA FREIBERGER 412-825-8100 DENVER RALLY TO FEATURE NATIONAL LEADERS OF GAY GAMES, STONEWALL 25 AND RAISE THE RAINBOW DENVER -- Denver is invited to a major local pride rally to gear up for activities that will take place in New York City '94, on Saturday, February 5, 1994, from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. at The Metro Express, 314 East 13th Avenue (Denver). Local and national representatives from Stonewall 25, "Raise The Rainbow," and the Gay Games IV and Cultural Festival will be on hand to answer questions about the biggest combined celebration of gay pride in history, scheduled to take place in New York City between June 18 and June 26, 1994. The free rally will feature dynamic guest speakers including Cleve Jones, founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, plus brochures, travel information, and on-site event registration. The Denver rally kicks off a national series of local events planned by the three organizations to provide information regarding the unpreceden- ted international pride events scheduled for New York City in June, 1994. "The cooperation between "Raise The Rainbow", the Games and Stonewall 25 in coordinating these rallies reflects the spirit and unity of the community we will witness in New York next June," according to Jones, who works with "Raise The Rainbow" as chair of The Stadtlanders National AIDS Community Advisory Board. Stonewall 25 will provide information on the International March on the United Nations to Affirm the Human Rights of Lesbian and Gay People, the community's largest single event ever, to be held on June 26, 1994 in New York City. Stonewall 25 commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, when police conducted a routine raid on the Stonewall Inn and patrons fought back, sparking the modern day lesbian and gay rights movement. The March calls upon the United Nations and its member nations to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and people who have AIDS or who are HIV positive, under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Jones will introduce "Raise The Rainbow," the first major fund- raising project of the Stadtlanders Foundation. "Raise The Rainbow" will create the world's largest, one-mile long rainbow flag to be unfurled one time only, during the Stonewall 25 March in New York City on June 26, 1994. Every individual who registers to carry the flag will receive a commemora- tive strip of the flag following the event. In addition, all costs for "Raise The Rainbow" are underwritten by Stadtlanders Pharmacy, so every dollar donated by marchers will go directly to benefit AIDS organizations nationwide. Call 800-NYC-1994 for more information. A spokesperson will also be on hand to introduce Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival, a celebration of unity and personal achievement to be held in and around New York City from June 18 to June 25. The event is open to all, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status. Games organizers expect 15,000 athletes from over 40 countries to participate in 31 sports, with additional 5,000 Cultural Festival participants and 500,000 spectators. Travel information to New York City for these events is available by calling the official travel information number of Stonewall 25, 1-800-216-1880.