 This is Think Tech Hawaii. Community Matters here. Aloha and welcome to our inaugural episode of Out and About on Think Tech Live streaming network series broadcasting from our downtown studio at Pirate Air Plaza at the core of downtown Honolulu. I'm Winston Welch and I'm delighted you're joining us today where we're going to explore a variety of topics in general on organizations, events, and the people who fuel them in our city, state, country, and our world. As a disclaimer, any views or opinions expressed by me are strictly my own and are not connected with any organization. That said, today joining me in the studio are Joe Bach, Melvin Jadoling, and Francine Beppu of the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation. We're going to talk about the Legacy Foundation and the upcoming Pride Parade and Event in Honolulu on Saturday, October 21st. So with that, I'd like to welcome our guest to the show. Thank you for coming. Thanks for having us. Thank you for having us. So, you know, this seems like the topic du jour in the last forever since I've been alive, but especially in the last 10, 15 years. But, you know, can you tell us first, what is the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation and what does it do? Well, the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation is a non-profit organization, 501c3, organization here in Hawaii. We have a variety of initiatives, one of which is Honolulu Pride, kind of organizing and running that popular and family-friendly and educational series of events. We also have opened and managed the Waikiki LGBT Center, where we host a lot of other LGBT organizations from around the city and state, give them a place to work, and then we have other educational and other objectives as well, to further benefit and help the LGBT community at large. Okay, Ed, you know, when you say LGBT community, what does that mean? What does LGBT mean and what should we be hearing when we're saying that? And feel free to jump in. So, again, that's been, you know, the topic of interest lately, nationwide, internationally. I think initially, when everyone started out, it used to be LGBT, but that encompasses so much more, right? As the conversation opens and we're more connected in this diverse world of people, I think, you know, it encompasses so much more than that. So, we don't want to be limited to that. So, it's LGBT, traditionally gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, but it's a very, we're a very inclusive organization. Okay. And nomenclature is always evolving. Evolving, yes. I think that's definitely what we want to represent is while the name LGBT is for four letters, we're really looking at that, as we said, LGBTQ plus. And as the, as we continue to evolve as a, as just as an organization and as a society, though, we're, we're looking at how best to include everyone. And I think that becomes always that discussion for that we can always have. But knowing that the LGBT Legacy Foundation is really one that brings together our community. And I think what Joe is saying about our two key projects, kind of a little pride in the parade, but also the LGBT Center, it's really the center for all LGBT, Q plus organizations to come and gather, increase opportunities for them to better our community, increase knowledge and share what they're having, their gifts and talent. So, I think the center is a really a great project of our foundation. And that's an opportunity for people and people as in terms of volunteers to come and support the center, help us open our doors so we can become even more, have more of an open door for everyone to just come and use the space as well. And where is that space? So that space is actually on Pal Colani. It's, um, correct me on the address. That's correct. In the, it's, it's located within the Waikiki Community Center. So the same place where the, the health center is, and there's a, there's a fresh fruits and vegetable market once a week and a preschool, various martial arts and language courses, all kinds of community events happen there. Okay. And how many different groups would you say use the center on any regular basis? I think right now, um, Randall, um, my husband's actually the court, one of the coordinators for the center. If you go on HonoluluPride.com and you click on an LGBT center, you can actually click and see the, a list of over, I believe 15 to 20 who regularly use the center for their monthly meetings or for rehearsals and practices, or just to, um, find out the next community event that they're doing as well. So we do have a lot of groups using that space. So the LGBT Legacy Foundation is really sort of a, a space for the community to come together, all kinds of different groups that might come in there, and just, it's free to use, I'm guessing. It is. Okay. And are you all volunteers? Do you have a paid staff or is this the slave of love? The, um, Legacy Foundation is entirely volunteer, um, managed. Um, same with HonoluluPride. It's a completely volunteer organization. Okay. We're always looking for great volunteers, people who are, who are interested in making a difference and shaping not only HonoluluPride, but the greater foundations, um, initiatives as they, they think need to happen to help the community. Okay. So it's, so if I want to, if I have some group that I'm starting that, um, that I think I, I'd really like to promote that, is that something where I would just go to your website and then, uh, and say I'm interested in using your space and, and then just send an email and then you guys are going to go back to me or there's a space right there on the, um, like if you get again, you go to HonoluluPride.com, there's a menu link that says LGBT center. Okay. It's, there's an about the center, if there's some frequently asked questions and how to book the center. So definitely you can reach out that way, share what your, um, intentions are, what your, what your meetings are, and more than likely, um, as long as we're available, we can allow that space for you. Okay. So that's a great community resource. And can you tell me about the funding of that, where it comes from, uh, if there's any general sort of funding that, that you can point to or is it a mismatch of different things? It's several different things. I mean, we have some great corporate sponsors, um, donors, uh, to the foundation on an annual basis. We also have fundraisers throughout the year, um, one of which is HonoluluPride. We have a fundraiser in the, in the springtime, uh, which is kind of our, it's our annual, um, legacy award where we give and we recognize someone who's made a great commitment to the community, the LGBT community. And, um, that's our visionary award. Um, and then we have other smaller fundraising initiatives, but it is, um, you know, a lot of small donations as well. Um, the community really has reached out to support us. Okay. And you're 501c3, so it may be tax deductible depending on your circumstances, depending on our circumstances and the event. Uh, but yes, definitely. Okay. Uh, so you're, you have two signature events, uh, main signature events and one in the spring, like you said, which is an award ceremony honoring somebody in the community who's contributed, uh, greatly for during that year or perhaps during his or her lifetime. Right. And then you have the Pride in the fall. So Pride is traditionally in June. Um, but this year it's in October. And why is that in October here in Hawaii? Is it just because it's hot in June or hotter? I'll jump in. I think I'll jump in on this. Yeah, we'll let Joe speak. There are a couple of reasons. This is the second year we've had, um, Honolulu Pride in June, I'm sorry, in October. Um, one because it's, um, it's, I think better for the community. Um, and we want the community to participate as much as possible. Um, there are fewer people traveling outside of Hawaii. Um, you mentioned the weather is a little bit better. Uh, it's great. The festival is a fantastic experience. It's outdoor, um, at the shell, uh, something that, um, we recommend everybody come and try, um, LGBT or not. We have a lot of allies to come to support. Um, it's also a great opportunity for people who don't live in Hawaii to come and experience Honolulu Pride. Um, because it's not competing with any of the mainland, you know, New York, LA, um, San Francisco prides that happen in June. It's an opportunity for people to come to Hawaii and experience, you know, the aloha of Honolulu Pride. Okay. You guys have something to add to about that? Oh, exactly. Um, exactly. Again, what Joe just said, um, a lot of the prides, you know, you're kind of torn, um, being in New York, New York and San Fran, it's the same pride weekend. You know, it's, um, it's, uh, not a peak season in October here. So it's easier for people to get here, um, not as expensive and competitive. And so, you know, in the future, we would love for this to grow into something as a, you know, gay destination travel. Oh, so is Hawaii Tourism Authority, uh, maybe supporting, uh, pride with some, some money or have they recognized the value of, of this type of event and, and, and stepped up to the plate at all? Um, I'll say that the, uh, Hawaii Tourism Authority has definitely taken an interest in Honolulu Pride and, um, we're looking forward to working with them, um, next year. Okay. That's, that's, that's great. Our society's evolving. I'm understanding that we need to value all people, I think. And, and this is part of that. But, you know, some people will say, you know, what is pride and why do we need pride and what, what do you, what are you proud about? And, you know, what, what does that even mean pride? Can you explain the background of this and why it's still relevant today? I think, um, I think this is a great conversation for all of us. I'm going to kind of just add it to the, the last question about, um, pride. Pride really then maybe is a year long thing. We should be proud of like the history of where we've come and where we're heading towards our community, the things that we've accomplished and just really just how much more we feel safe and free to be who we are. Um, another part about what we do as a foundation though, in terms of honoring pride is we still look to June and we have a family picnic. We still have a splash of water from water park event that we do. So we still try and do a lot of those things, but the focus is in October, because that's a really great opportunity to really enliven our community. If you drive down to down in Colorado, you can see rainbow banners saying Honolulu right now. And I think it's really for me just about being able to feel, feel really comfortable being an out gay person and know that there's been a lot of, you know, a lot of challenge that, that we face. And so we can do this openly and feel comfortable about it. And there's still work to be done, but that's another thing. It, it shows how many allies show up at the parade parade. How many allies show up to our festival. And that really shows how large of a support of community in Hawaii. The parade, I think one of the great things about the parade and just being in Honolulu and having it in Waikiki is that the, the parade has traditionally left from Alamona Beach Park and travels down Kalakawa and ends up at the festival grounds in Kapilani Park at the shell. But going through kind of the main thoroughfare of Waikiki and you see the, the outpouring of support not only from our local community, but all from the visitors and tourists who are there. It's a really, it's a fantastic parade route. And it's great to see again with the rainbows over Waikiki, the banners that are all throughout Waikiki during pride season. They're up right now. So if you're in Waikiki, be filled to check them out. And those are all sponsored by individual donors. And yeah, so it's, it's, it's great to have, to be proud and to have the ability to be out and be who we are and celebrate that. Yeah, because it's certainly not the case. And a lot of places around the world. So yeah, and we'll, I know we're coming up here shortly on a break, but I'd like to talk a little bit more about that and then some reasons why you all got involved and, and then some details about pride when we come back from our break. I'm here with Out and About on Think Tech Live streaming network series. We're talking with Joe Bach, Melvin, Jada Lang, and Francine Beppu of the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation. We'll be back in a minute, so stay tuned for more of the story. This is Think Tech Hawaii, raising public awareness. My friend mother, what big eyes you have. She's saying all the better to see you with my dear. What are you doing? Okay. Research says reading from birth accelerates the baby's brain development. And you're doing that now? Oh, yeah. This is the starting line. Posh. And this is over. You're dead. Read aloud 15 minutes. Every child, every parent, every day. I just walked by and I said, what's happening guys? They told me they were making music. Hi, we're back and we're live and I'm Winston Welch and this is Out and About on Think Tech Live streaming network series. And we're talking about the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Center and its upcoming parade and event and where we left off. It's a benefit for the community, but it's also benefits the community because it lets people see that we're here and we're part of the community and we're happy to be part of the community participating in things. And you've got a whole bunch of events coming up associated with this. I saw over 20 online that you've got. So can you walk us through what is word of the events and how can we participate in them and find out more information just briefly? I think I'll start off with maybe with our kickoff. I mean already we're starting to blanket all of Waikiki with our rainbow banners hanging along Kolokawa Avenue. Just to start getting us in the spirit of Pride and seeing that yes, we're not just in one space, but we officially start off the Pride event celebration this Wednesday at UH Manila. I'm at the UH Campus Center from 10 to 2. It's the official coming out day as well, October 11. So they're doing a whole program for basically the community. I mean it's a youth focus event because it is on the UH Manila campus. But if the public wants to go out there and check it out, they can. Also on that same day at 2 o'clock, when we're at community college is doing a national premiere film screening of another film that is a bit more has a bit more of a serious tone to it, but also talks about the realities of how some states still view what being gay is and how how states think that it's still not right. So we have two major events and then of course I'm going to kind of jump all the way to the end and I think that's where I'm going to let these two talk about because it's the parade in the festival. It's the big big event that we want to really celebrate and then everything in between leading up to that. There's a bunch so sorry I'm going to be on the winward day just talking about that but I'll let you two talk about the other stuff. Right so you know it's a jam-packed month I would say starting again with national coming out day and then leading up to that all the full list of events you can find on HonoluluPri.com. HonoluluPri.com. HonoluluPri.com starting from you know we're gonna let's take it from the last event. So the last event's on the 22nd it's a pool party even at the surf jack. Then we have the parade and festival on the 21st. Which is a Saturday. Which is the Saturday so that's I say the most colorful parade in the state. Okay and Joe was mentioning that it goes down Cala Cala Avenue but where is it that people go out and and and and view this or join in if they if they so okay well you're familiar with every other parade through Waikiki it starts at Alamoana Beach Park on the diamond head side okay and it goes all the way through Cala Cala on the main street okay and then it ends at the zoo and then followed right after that by the festival okay shell we traditionally have people who are watching the parade all the way from Alamoana down to the zoo okay naturally it's a little bit more there's a more dense crowd throughout Waikiki right in the middle but all scattered throughout yeah it's it's a great experience. And what time does that start? 11 a.m. 11 a.m. from is the kickoff from Alamoana Beach Park. It starts so it's starting right in the middle of the day for the parade. Yes. Okay so that's going to be a hot parade a little bit maybe maybe it'll be cloudy weather. Bring your umbrellas and your beach hats. Okay and what if I want to join what if I want to go down there and say yes I'm happy to be a member of this community or a supporting ally and just and celebrate our diversity and humanity how is that possible can I just show up or do I have to register somewhere or how does that work? To be a part of the parade you do need to register and we have we have actually a great number of floats this year more than we've ever had before I think it's over double the number of last year. We're over 30 already and we have like we have nonprofit groups we have schools just a lot of folks really coming out to celebrate. Private entities yeah we've got a lot of different participants so that's great if you have an organization we would help people sign up if you can't get it together in two weeks for this coming Pride we know let's start planning for next year already. And you certainly of course come out so your support for the community by standing on the sidelines and waving a flag waving a flag dressing in your colorful clothes and just showing that I was going to say like today I'm wearing one I'm wearing our official pride shirts so if you go to HonoluluPride.com you can actually pre-order your shirts get them at a better price now online it's $15 for a shirt or $18 for a tank top it will be a bit more on the day of the Pride festival so if you can pick it up go online right now guarantee your shirt sizes too so that's a really good opportunity and so in terms of like just covering and showing your your support of the Pride events for the whole month it's really you could buy a shirt pick it up and start wearing it all the way up until Pride festival day. Actually that reminds me also available on the HonoluluPride.com website are all access passes everything benefits the community and it's a non-profit so the all access passes it gets you into every single event okay for Pride so for example I mean there's 20 so I know it's difficult to remember but the week of the festival starting that Monday on we have events with Bloomingdale's with Urban Outfitters we have events at Wisp in Waikiki we have a Noahu Party bus Barcrawl we have you know the Youth Advocacy programs we have Scarlett we have Pulas, White Party, Black Party, Educational Events, Party the 13th, Two Pool Parties, Yeah Right at the 13th Black Party. There's a lot of opportunity and the VIP all access pass is a really great opportunity because it gets you into all these events gets you into at the Pride festival there's a VIP line so you can skip like the normal line okay but of course at the same time these passes include a shirt as well so you don't have to buy a shirt and a pass you can just buy the pass but buy an extra shirt for your auntie or somebody else yeah yeah we really do recommend people check out the event calendar on HonoluluPride.com okay the theme for this year's Pride I'm not sure if we talked about is actually celebrate the rainbow we have we're celebrating diversity our community is extremely diverse and so are so are the events that we're having okay so if you're just looking to have a party and have a good time or if you want a little bit more cultural experience we have that you know there's even like a cheer event which is it's going to be a lot of fun so yeah we recommend everybody come out and celebrate and whichever way sounds most fun to you now I so the the parade's going to go all through Waikiki and at the zoo and then it's going to move over to the shell is that correct so the the festival is actually at the shell doors open at 1130 okay and it goes until six okay so we we would like to encourage people to you know as the parade moves towards the the park and the shell just start moving along with it you know sometimes people who are in Waikiki may not know that there's a big festival going on in the park so we we hope people spread the word and come out and enjoy a great entertainment schedule we have a lot of we have a stage for performers musicians and dancers coming from the mainland a lot of local performers we have a full lineup a whole line and there's going to be a lot of food there that's available for purchase food alcohol non-alcoholic beverages okay now in the past I've noticed like there's been like those jumping gyms for kids and it's a very family friendly environment uh is that is that still the case now that it's moved to the shell it is a family friendly environment for sure I don't think we have a bouncy house we don't have one I did want to also mention that sometimes folks um um who may look at may have questions about accessibility of the the grounds we do have um ground we do have accessibility access for for all of our community so you may want to just visit honolulu pride dot com and look at the location of the pride festival so we'll put a link in there to show where the accessibility entrances are so then we can have everybody find find a way into the space and there's going to be a whole bunch of community groups that are yes that are there so it's a great time to come down and find out about those different groups and how like the the 15 groups or so that use the center and there's probably going to be more than that as well a lot more of how many boosts that you know how many I don't have the final count on the booth definitely not but I and I wish we'd check the final registration a lot there's a lot and you know there's crafts and other things too um so there's vendors not not only sure about what they do in their organizations but selling pride themed things for themselves yeah a lot of new things and that just so you know the the festival is uh there's a suggested donation at the door but it is um you know it's a suggestion we want it everyone in the community to be able to come out and enjoy pride with us oh that's that's terrific so when they get to the shell it's a it's a pay what you can or what you'd like what you'd like what you that's that's really great so it makes it accessible to everyone even though it's obviously costing money to rent the shell and so but it is a fundraiser for the community and and as you mentioned so there's going to be some educational component like this the the film at windward community college that talks about the situation even today in america where we think i know a lot of young people are still surprised because they're they're thinking oh well you know of course they have gay friends they have gay the gay family everybody has gay lesbian trans people in their lives and so they think this is all this is it's it's already over with i mean you have all your rights you have everything is that is that true or are we still are we still facing some sort of challenges we're still facing those challenges and in some states more than others and maybe on the um just what we hear in the news we really need to fact check and see what's going on but i wanted to mention too this saturday there is also something so if people can make out this this wednesday there's another educational thing um event right here in town at central union church that's doing one that talks about just the kind of like the history and the um where we're at politically and um with laws and regulations so that would be another great event but again as what joe is saying on the loop right dot com there's so many events that we could not we would spend all of this half hour time to explain every single event that we really encourage people to visit the site and take a look at it absolutely i i know that just this week what we saw from the uh our federal government came out with a ruling that reversed the past administrations ruling on as far as uh the ability to fire people on the basis of their sexual orientation and we've seen that the federal government has come out with a position saying go ahead fire it's fine that drives with about half the states i think at this point where you can still just be perfectly legally fired for being gay if your boss or if they think you're gay they say you know what you're a little bit gay and i don't like that because um it's like they don't need a reason they can say that and legally fire you so i think we still have some work to do here in hawaii we we don't face that because we're we have we do have protection in this state but we have to be very cognizant of the fact that you know in the rest of america it may not be that way things are always changing so um yeah we we encourage everyone to stay vigilant and pay attention to what's happening stay woke stay well very millennial of you yes well that's the things that you know and also it's great to see that uh you guys weren't around when the first pride came out i'm just guessing that you know uh so we're still looking at these issues uh you know more than 50 years later um so it's really interesting more than 50 years well we're coming going yeah i did say i think one of the things that we may have not been able to touch bases like what joe is saying is we're a volunteer-based organization but we can only make pride get better bigger and more inclusive by having all the voices of our community represented and um frenzine's a great example of someone who cared came out and wanted to share her expertise and and ideas and really help us shape this year's pride um i came in as a person who just knew it i have an it business and i said you know maybe we should have our online registration instead this year and so we did that and here i am as a board member today i think these are the opportunities for folks in our community to get involved get connected because the more you're connected in your community the more you're willing and understanding what's going on that might be affecting your overall you know life and what's happening so i think that's and and you create you create a social network of people who share the same values and social justice well i think that couldn't have been more well said to to unfortunately we're out of time to finish our program but that's exactly what it's about it's about being involved being interested in being aware so i hope can we come back another time and continue this conversation yes definitely thank you for having us and i would like to if i have a second just to say um honolulu pride alone is is a huge undertaking and the the center is a huge undertaking and we couldn't make it happen without the support of the hundreds of donors and and sponsors and people who have helped out um you know we've had just a huge outpouring of support again all the flags are donated and everybody who works at the festival and at the organization is volunteering their time so mahalo to them so come out and support your community and unfortunately we're out of time we have a lot more to talk about so you guys will come back later um i'm winston welch this is out and about on think tech live streaming hawaii we've been talking with joe bach and uh melvin ja du lang and francing beppu of the hawaii lgbt legacy foundation and the upcoming pride parade and events on saturday well actually it's going to be these it's already started so go to um legacy hawaii lgbt legacy foundation dot org or easier honolulu pride dot com honolulu pride dot com honolulu pride dot com so go there for a lot more information than we could get out today thank you for tuning in thank you for coming here today i will see you here every other monday at three for more information on out and about and think tech aloha everyone thank you thank you