Busting Through The Orange Curtain

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It's no secret that lives changed forever as marriage equality was quickly ushered in and then out in 2008. Born of bittersweet roots, Orange County Pride reflects a community in transition-one that's busting through the "Orange Curtain."

The fight leading up to what was ultimately the passage of Proposition 8 brought together a small army of Orange County residents who made it their battle and the mission of the Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC) to create equality and respect for all people in a progressive Orange County.

It's a task others not so long ago might have called "mission impossible," since Orange County is better known for its conservative politics, recalls Heather Ellis who at- tended the first OCEC meeting with her girlfriend Roseanne Faul. The couple joined the volunteer-driven Legal Committee and were amongst approximately 75 enthusiastic people who've been hard at work ever since, as they set out to win the uphill battle.

A determined group, the OCEC is quickly bringing LGBT Pride back to Orange County, as they host the Orange County Pride Festival for the third consecutive year on Saturday, August 13. "We want to have Pride in our own back yard so everybody doesn't have to drive to San Diego," Ellis quipped, quickly adding; "Not that there is anything wrong with San Diego!" After all, Ellis and Faul were standing smack-dab in the middle of the San Diego Pride Parade staging area. Utilizing local Pride events as advertisement opportunities, a couple dozen O.C. Pride volunteers traveled to West Hollywood, Long Beach and most recently San Diego, where Ellis and Faul, now Pride co-chairs,spoke to The Rage Monthly about the upcoming O.C. Pride Festival.

The theme of the festival is "Busting Through The Orange Curtain," a perfect phrase to describe the event in the largely conservative county. The couple admitted to having conservative roots themselves, "Prior to Proposition 8 we had few LGBT friends," they explained. That changed when they began to mobilize and participate in the fight for marriage equality-it was then they realized they weren't alone. "Surprisingly, there's a large number of LGBT people who reside in Orange County," Faul said. However, unlike their neighbors to the north in West Hollywood or south in Hillcrest, most have assimilated amongst the general population like Ellis and Faul. This might deter others, as O.C. is without a well-defined LGBT neighborhood, but local organizers see their glass as half-full.

"Most major cities where there is a Pride event have a gay neighborhood, but Or- ange County doesn't, so for one day we gather in Hidden Valley to celebrate O.C. LGBT Pride as one community, "Faul noted. She hopes the event will be able to open hearts and minds one-by-one, "We've found that we have many straight allies who are very supportive," she continued. "The more visible the LGBT community of Orange County becomes the more support we'll gain." Once again, the event is a true reflection of the community it represents.

The couple has even turned their house into O.C. Pride central. "We do everything out of our house, the dining room table has become the Pride office," explained Ellis. The event is truly borne out of grassroots effort, "before we had the first celebration in 2009, there hadn't been a Pride in Orange County in nearly a decade," Faul said.The previous incarnation of the Orange County Pride celebration was lost after it moved to the University of California Irvine and was ultimately folded into a campus diversity summit. "They diluted the LGBTQ event, so it fizzled and ultimately ended," Faul said.

While it's unclear as to the reason the event disappeared originally, other things are much clearer for some. The political climate is slowly changing among a small group of people in Orange County, more has changed for others."The last time a Pride celebration was held in Orange County, I was impersonating a straight girl," Ellis joked. "We've all come a long way,"Faul added, explaining Ellis is a reflection of the Orange County LGBT community, which has develop a clearer identity in recent years.

Both agreed that the honor of co-chairing of the O.C. Pride Festival is a great responsibility-one which aids a personal coming out progression reflecting that of the community. The couple admitted having only been to one Pride festival prior to falling into step as the O.C. Pride organizers. Indicating that they couldn't do any of it with- out the help of dedicated volunteers, working around the clock to make this year's event a festive success.

"We expect anywhere from 3,500 to 5,000 people," Ellis said, noting the event has grown tremendously from the 450 people in attendance three years ago. The organiz- ers promise a great entertainment lineup, combined with fun and showcasing festivities all the best the Orange County LGBT community has to offer.

There is still room for those interested in being a part of the festival, as nonprofit and for-profit booths are still available to sell products, advertise, educate and meet one another. Food and beverages, including alcohol, can be purchased and enjoyed in the park-like setting of Hidden Valley-the location of the O.C. Pride Festival. "Above all it's going to be a fun day, one where everyone is accepted and can celebrate the diversity that is Orange County,"Ellis concluded.

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