by Mikael Frank Audebert - Executive Producer for Event Development | COWP 2010
I was asked again this year to be part of this amazing production Come Out With Pride has become. With one change: I was promoted to Executive Producer for Development. Needless to say that I am extremely honored and excited at the same time to be donating my time to such a great cause, hoping to contribute in making this year's edition one to be remembered for years to come. In 2009, working on Come Out With Pride has helped all of us on the production team, including myself, go through a very difficult year. Its excitement, challenges and the ability to grow one's network and knowledge though the organization has been extremely helpful to a lot of us. All leading to the amazing satisfaction of delivering the best event in Orlando's gay history..at least until this year!
Once again, on 2010 an amazing team of 20 unpaid volunteers (it is important to point it out as some believe we financially benefit from this) is about to kick start the production of a new edition of Come Out With Pride. Set to become the largest event of the region with a budget this year exceeding $150,000, this year's pride will be celebrating great Gay athletes. 10-10-10: A Pride Of Olympian Proportions will take place October 7 through the 10th. We expect over 60,000 from all over the country celebrating during a 4-day period.
We are currently working on a great line up of legendary headliners, from comedians to singers as well as creating over 7 different events of various sizes. The production team welcomes a few new faces this year: John Wiltsey (Allied Events Director), Mark Cady (Marketing Director), Diana Stefanyszyn (Fundraiser Director), Jake Green (Public Communication Director), Charles Orden (Sponsorship Associate) and Rick Claggett as Executive Producer for Operations.
The profits generated by Come Out With Pride go directly into programs such as grants for worthy LGBT or LGBT related causes, MBA Cares (a new program for Senior Citizens in nursing homes) and the development of programs that promote diversity in the workplace and the growth of gay owned businesses.
Stay tuned for more information. We will keep you updated as often as possible. In the meantime, visit http://www.comeoutwithpride.org and find links to be added to our Facebook fan page or follow us on Twitter.
You may also visit the MBA website (parent company of Come Out With Pride) to learn more on how to become a member and join a great cause: http://www.mbaorlando.org
Thank you to all of our sponsors, city and county officials and State representatives for their continuing support in bringing Orlando the largest LGBT celebration.
See you in numbers on 10-10-10!
Mikael Frank Audebert
Executive Producer for Development & Board Member | Come Out With Pride, Inc.
Technology Director & Board Member | Metropolitan Business Association
Showing posts with label come out with pride orlando. Show all posts
Showing posts with label come out with pride orlando. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, October 2, 2009
Joseph Rocha to attend Orlando Pride Festivities
Come Out With Pride 2009 marketing director Mikael Frank Audebert extended an invitation to Joseph Rocha, a Navy veteran who was recently featured in the news for his 2-year long hazing and abuse by fellow officers. He will be in attendance on Friday October 9, 2009 at the official pride event Armed & Ready being held at TASTINGS downtown Orlando. Armed & Ready pays tribute to heroes, especially Gay veterans, in the Military. The event will be entertaining all while bringing awareness to the outdated and unjust "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies of the U.S. government.
Joseph will then fly to Washington DC for the National Equality March and to promote the repeal of " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies.
Joseph's attendance is made possible thanks to the generosity of RE/MAX Town Center and Charlie Orden.
More information on Pride weekend official events: http://www.comeoutwithpride.org
Excerpt from an AP bulletin:
Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.
An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out.
Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.
An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out...
...Rocha said he enlisted in the Navy in 2004 to demonstrate his commitment to earning an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy after he wasn’t admitted to the school.
In June 2007, he was accepted at the academy prep school in Newport, R.I., where candidates can build the academic skills they need to be accepted to the four-year academy. While there, Rocha said depression resulting from his experience in Bahrain made him decide to tell school officials he was gay. He was isolated from other students for two months, then honorably discharged in October 2007.
"I was faced with the idea of being in a navy that condoned this for another decade," Rocha said. "I wouldn’t have allowed myself to live like that anymore."
A letter from Rocha’s doctor at the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco confirms that he has been diagnosed with PTSD.
Rocha, now a student at the University of San Diego, hopes he can one day return to serve openly in the military as a Marine Corps officer.
"I’m just waiting for the policy to be repealed," Rocha said.
Joseph will then fly to Washington DC for the National Equality March and to promote the repeal of " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies.
Joseph's attendance is made possible thanks to the generosity of RE/MAX Town Center and Charlie Orden.
More information on Pride weekend official events: http://www.comeoutwithpride.org
Excerpt from an AP bulletin:
Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.
An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out.
Joseph Rocha, now 23, decided to leave the Navy in 2007 by telling his commander he was gay, in violation of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the constant hazing while he served with military dog handlers based in Bahrain to support the Iraq war.
An internal Navy investigation into his unit found dozens of examples of hazing and sexual harassment against multiple sailors between 2005 and 2006. The result of the investigation was not clear; a copy of the report released under the Freedom of Information Act has all recommendations blacked out...
...Rocha said he enlisted in the Navy in 2004 to demonstrate his commitment to earning an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy after he wasn’t admitted to the school.
In June 2007, he was accepted at the academy prep school in Newport, R.I., where candidates can build the academic skills they need to be accepted to the four-year academy. While there, Rocha said depression resulting from his experience in Bahrain made him decide to tell school officials he was gay. He was isolated from other students for two months, then honorably discharged in October 2007.
"I was faced with the idea of being in a navy that condoned this for another decade," Rocha said. "I wouldn’t have allowed myself to live like that anymore."
A letter from Rocha’s doctor at the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco confirms that he has been diagnosed with PTSD.
Rocha, now a student at the University of San Diego, hopes he can one day return to serve openly in the military as a Marine Corps officer.
"I’m just waiting for the policy to be repealed," Rocha said.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Letter from Congressman Alan Grayson to Come Out With Pride
Orlando's Come Out With Pride & our local LGBT community are extremely honored to have the full support of their U.S. Congressman. See letter below.
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