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JERSEY CITY’S 4TH ANNUAL LGBTI PRIDE FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2004

Co-Host:  Jade Esteban Estrada-has been lauded by the Los Angeles Times as "a master entertainer" while Out Magazine christened him "the first gay Latin star." Jade Esteban Estrada recently hosted the National Puerto Rican Day Parade festivities for HBO Latino. Currently on his global tour with his one-man show ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 which has been highly praised by the international press and soon to be filmed, he is currently in production for ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2. He took part in the historic BEING OUT ROCKS joining Melissa Etheridge, Sarah MacLachlan, Cyndi Lauper and others on the CD compilation for the Human Rights Campaign. Catch him on the PBS show In The Life (in Spanish) or on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning police drama The Shield on FX. He has also been awarded the prestigious Premio Estrella from LLEGO in Washington D.C. for his outstanding work in the entertainment industry as an openly gay Latino. He is also the artistic director for the Experiencia Dance Company. Log on to www.GetJaded.com or www.IconsVolume1.com for more info.
Co-Host:   Michele Balan has performed on Comedy Central, the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, RSVP cruises, Women's Music Festivals, Dinah Shore Weekend, Aspen Gay Ski week and clubs and theaters across the country. Michele has a new DVD "Live Just Barely.." recorded at Joe's Pub. (www.michelebalan.com)
DJ Louis Morhaim One of the rare breed, forty-three year old native New Yorker, Louis Morhaim has been playing records since the early days of Disco. When he's not busy running his esteemed nine year old business, Heartbeat Records in Greenwich Village, or writing his weekly music column for Next Magazine, he is more than likely preparing for his latest in a long series of ongoing monthly CDs.
Well versed in all styles of dance music and regarded as the source for cutting edge music, Louis doesn't like to pigeonhole himself as a DJ that plays one particular style. Quality dance music is the only prerequisite.

He has played at clubs and private events on Fire Island, in East Hampton and at various venues in New York City including Sea Tea, SBNY, The Center Dance and has had a residency at the award-nominated Club Cielo in the far West Village. He has recently had mixshow guest spots on dance radio, including "The Twelve Inch" on WLIR and Sirius Satellite Radio. His latest endeavor has been acting as music consultant for all the Armani Exchange stores worldwide for their in-store music program.

He is proud to announce the upcoming tenth anniversary of Heartbeat Records.
heartbeatnyc.com
Janet Villas will be singing the National Anthem at this year's JC Pride Festival. She has sung with the New York City Opera chorus for 18 years, appearing in many operas. She has sung with most of the opera companies in the Tri-State area. As a classical soloist, she has performed with the Grace Choral Society in New York and is the soprano soloist for Christ Episcopal Church in Glen Ridge. She has performed in musical theatre, jazz quartets and has seventeen solo appearances singing the National Anthem, including the N.Y. Mets, the N.J. Devils and the NY/NJ Juggernaut, women's professional softball team. She has written three cabaret shows that have had successful runs at "Don't Tell Mama" in New York. She recorded her debut CD, "Something Wonderful" in 2002. Janet has appeared in many benefits for Hearts and Voices, The Actors Fund and the Jewish Guild. Janet is also a teacher at the Brooklyn Friends School.
(janetvillas.net)
Laura E. Pople (Key Note Speaker): the current president of two NJ organizations, the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition and Jersey Pride, has been an activist for over 15 years. Upon coming out she jumped right into activism and joined her company's lesbian and gay employee group, LEAGUE-NJ. By 1991, Laura began her first tenure with the Coalition as its Vice President and core member of the A-634 task force, which spearheaded the campaign to add sexual orientation to NJ's Law Against Discrimination. In 1992, while Laura was President of the Coalition, NJ passed this into law and became the 5th state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Not content to stop there, she formed the parade committee of the Coalition, which produced NJ's First Annual Pride Celebration. In 1994, the parade committee formed its own organization, Jersey Pride, and named Laura as its president. Laura also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Jersey Pride's critically acclaimed pride magazine, The Jersey Gaze.

During this past year, Laura and the Domestic Partner Task Force of the Coalition have worked tirelessly to once again make history. In January, NJ became the 5th state to offer domestic partner benefits. And on Saturday, July 10, 2004, doors opened in City Halls around the state as NJ's first domestic partners were registered. Laura, with Jersey Pride and NJLGC, was instrumental in producing a Celebration of this historic day in Maplewood, NJ. Not one to rest, she and Jersey Pride are currently planning NJ's 14th Annual LGBTI Pride Celebration for June 5th, 2005 in Asbury Park. And Laura and NJLGC are hard at work on Honor 2004, NJ's Annual LGBTI Achievement Awards, to be held on October 16th, 2004." (www.njlgc.org)
Shirley Acosta began singing in her high school choir. She has won numerous awards including the prestigiousTeen Arts Festival Award in North Bergen, NJ.  In 1990 she worked as a backup artist for Double Platinum Productions a.k.a Subliminal Records. Shirley sang the National Anthem at Jersey City’s GLBTI Pride Festival in 2002 and was also part of the entertainment in 2003. She was also a featured performer during Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach(JCLGO) Fundraiser at Albert's in Jersey City. She is currently working in a cover band named Detroit Diesel doing 60's and 70's Rock & Roll.  (shirlski72@yahoo.com)
Stephanie Adams is the first Playboy Centerfold to come out as a lesbian and is also the founder of Goddessy.com and Sapphica.com. All this, and she’s written a series of seven books about astrology, new age, spirituality and metaphysics, with three more due on the shelves before the end of 2004. Current projects include special Playboy appearance and editorial contributions art exhibit featuring her paintings as well as a controversial Sapphic novel. She is also from Jersey City!
Axis Danz is a performance company that combines dance choreography, themed costumes, and special lighting effects with a distinct stylized movement using weighted fabric.   High concept, innovative, mesmerizing---Axis Danz offers up a visual feast unlike anything you've ever seen before.   From MTV to Visionaire, companies on the cutting edge are now discovering Axis Danz as the unique performance experience that will energize and inspire any event. (www.axisdanz.com)
Cheer New York is a volunteer cheerleading and dance squad by and for the LGBTI community. Through performances, which combine cheerleading, dance and extreme stunts, Cheer NY inspires hope, encouragement, spirit, strength, support and understanding in audiences wherever they perform. “The group (Cheer NY) dazzled the crowd with high-jumping, spirited acrobatic passing”, Jersey Journal August 25, 2004. (www.cheerny.org)
Experiencia Dance Company
Dawn Columbo of Tendu Magazine raves that the Experiencia Dance Company is "exquisite, seamless and energetic inciting enthusiam and positive energy a definite must-see!" Founded by artistic director Jade Esteban Estrada in January 2004, this innovative dance troupe is the resident dance company of Teatro La Tea at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center in Manhattan's thriving Lower East Side. Experiencia has performed at Club Avalon, the Cutting Room, OW, Milagro Theatre, Knitting Factory, Illusions Nightclub and the 2004 NERP Interpride Conference. The women of Experiencia also have provided workshops and movement coaching for the Miss America Scholarship Program's preliminary competitions and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Queen Pageant. Experiencia is also host of the Experiencia World Dance Invitational where the dance company invites a chosen few of the best dance companies in the United States to perform at the world-famous Teatro La Tea. The company members are: Alexandra Andrade, Jessica Wittebort, Leah Kahn, Johanna Kullman, Christina Finamore and Lori Martinez. (www.iconsvolume1.com/exp.htm)
Moment of Silence: Reverend Anahi Galante is an Interfaith Minister, the founder of United in Grace in Jersey City, and she is a long time contributor to JCLGO. For the past 5 years she served with monthly gatherings, partnerships, and organizing the Hudson County Town Hall meeting “All Roads to Justice.” She is an advocate and a prophetic voice for LGBT people. She served in THE OASIS at the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and as a chaplain of the ARC pastoral care team ministering to the families of the 9/11 victims
The Hazzards are Sydney Maresca & Anne Harris. They have been playing the ukulele together in NYC since meeting at a party in 2000. Originally known as “The Ukes of Hazzard”, they recently shortened their name to stay on the right side of the law. Their single “Gay Boyfriend” offered a straight eye for the queer guy and the video was downloaded over a million times on the internet. In July 2004 they performed on Comedy Central’s World Stands Up series. (www.hazzards.com)
Karen Jacobsen has relocated to New York from her home country Australia. Karen is a pop piano, singer songwriter who has toured around the world. She has opened for Norah Jones and has released two independent albums. “… undeniably earnest and commercially accessible”  Billboard Magazine, May 2001. Karen has also won numerous national songwriting contests and her new album “Here in My Heart” is due out this summer. (www.Karenjacobsen.com)
Keyth Lawrence and the Purple Circle has been compared to Coldplay and Rufus Wainwright. Keyth has performed to packed houses at NY’s Fez and Knitting Factory. Len Rogers, Stonewall Society describes Keyth’s voice on his new single “Leaving” as “cool with consistent vocals which entice and enhance”. Keyth is currently on tour promoting his new CD “Figures”. (www.keythlawrence.com)
The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, established in 1979, is one of the leading lesbian and gay musical organizations in the United States. Their mission is to provide the lesbian and gay community with a supportive and friendly environment for musical and artistic expression and, through performance, to promote social acceptance, equality, and harmony for all. They welcome interested individuals of all orientations to come see for themselves how artistic dedication within a social environment can create quality entertainment that pleases, educates, and challenges us to grow.
(www.lgbac.org)

Lady Marisa has been entertaining since 1996 and can be found throughout the Tri-State area performing for charity events, parties, special guest performances at various clubs as well as hosting her own shows. Her career gained notice after performing for several charity events in Asbury Park, NJ. What she never knew at that time was how those charities benefited her future career in drag. This 5 foot 7 size 2 Capricorn also enjoys making some of her costumes, working with new music, hot dancers, working on her website and getting email. Marisa is noted for impersonating famous characters such as Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers, Britney Spears, Annie Lenox and Cher .
(www.ladymarisa.com)

Empress Vizcaya: Miss Gay New Jersey 2004
- Strong Supporter of AIDS Awareness
- Developed Fund Raising Benefit Shows with MGNJA, Inc. to help individuals
- Guest Appeared on Maury Povich, Ricki Lake
- Benefits at Jersey Pride, Beacon Light, Virgin Mega Stores, including other various AIDS benefits organizations

Mr. Gay NJ, Alan-Joseph is set to be Master of Ceremonies for RAINBOWFEST scheduled September 19, 2004, and has plans to release a compilation CD featuring a few new tracks of his own and some of the hottest names in the gay recording industry to help raise more funds for charity. In addition Alan-Joseph is also no stranger to the art community. With 17 years experience and thousands of images at his disposal this seriously talented photographer has been published in well over 120 periodicals in just 5 years.
Robin Renee has been touring up, down and all around the country. She has been compared to Joan Armatrading and The Beatles by the Courier News. She emerges with her new band through a passionate medium of edgy rock, pop sense and the sonic impact of chant. Her new CD “All Six Senses“, is the real-life chronicle of one caught in the act of transformation. (www.robinrenee.com)
Scandelle “Great….A Lot of fun….I enjoyed it”, Matthew Breen OUT Magazine music editor. Scandelle has been performing all over the New York City area from Splash to Don’t tell Mamma’s. His new single “Afterlife (Twisted Dee Anthem Mix)” is this summer’s Dance Anthem. Don’t be surprise to hear Scandelle on KTU’s song list. Scandelle is powerful music for today’s LGBT Community! (www.scandelle.com)
Victoria Stiles the long legged beauty has been performing at the Sanctuary Coffee Shop, The Den and other venues for several years promoting a positive attitude in her shows. Victoria Stiles once said," I love to see people smile", as her reasons for performing. This year she marched with Gay Activist Alliance Morris County GAAMC at the New York City March. (victoria@dennightclub.com)
Josh Zuckerman  Although he may look like a teenage heartthrob, his sound isn't your typical "boy band" pop. He is a rising singer/songwriter with a new CD, the aptly titled "A Totally New Sensation". The title track from that CD was nominated for an Outmusic Award. The music is radio-friendly pop and bona fide American rock, with just a touch of country, and some state-of-the-art electronic touches and special musical effects throughout. But underneath all the fun, there's no less than 100% authentic feeling and emotion in his vocals, as well as real experience and honesty in his lyrics.
(www.joshzuckerman.com)
Check back soon for updates to this year's Entertainment Line Up
For performance information contact: Entertainment Coordinator at: entertainment@jclgo.org

For media information contact: Media Coordinator at: media@jclgo.org


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