Come Out With Pride (COWP) organizers are just under halfway to their goal of raising the money needed to carry out the rescheduled event.
Orlando's annual pride event was originally scheduled for Oct. 8, but rain and extreme winds forced a postponement to Sunday, Nov. 13.
Mikael Audebert, COWP's executive director, said there are certain costs COWP will have to pay again to put on the event in November, such as barricades, tents, table, chairs and bar rentals. Security from Orlando Police will also have to be paid again. The duplicate costs total nearly $16,000. Audebert said that as of press time, organizers had raised about $7,000.
“Pride will happen no matter what,” he said. “If the funds don't get raised, we're going to have to look at different options.”
Audebert said a cover charge for the event has been discussed, but it's unlikely at this point that it would be implemented.
“We're really focusing on fundraising and other alternatives to make sure the costs [of the event] can be paid before we start on Nov. 13,” he said.
The rescheduled event will have some slight differences from the original plan, most obviously, the rescheduled date is a Sunday rather than a Saturday. Audebert said that is a temporary adjustment, and the plan is for the 2012 event to take place on a Saturday. Previous to this year, COWP was held on Sundays.
“The m major difference is that it will get darker much sooner,” he said. “We've decided to keep the parade at 4 p.m., but it will start getting dark by the time it ends and that will create a party atmosphere by the stage.”
That means COWP will end at 8 p.m., rather than the original end time of 9 p.m.
Audebert said the board is also working on keeping the fireworks over Lake Eola for the event's close, and that one sponsor has already been secured. However, event day bills take priority over the festive fireworks.
He said the community has really rallied around the fundraising for the rescheduled event, especially local businesses.
“If businesses can't come up with actual cash, they're putting together fundraisers to generate cash,” Audebert said. “It has been an amazing rally and people definitely want to see their Pride happen.”
Donations can be made at here.
The peripheral events, such as a kickoff party and brunch, are also still in the works. Audebert said the full schedule for those events should be finalized by Oct. 28.
