By Craig Fiegener
InstantRiverside.com

An event like the Riverside Pride Festival hasn’t been held in the city in nine years, and never to the degree witnessed on Saturday. A concert stage — which hosted drag artist RuPaul at the end of the night — anchored the middle of White Park, flanked by booths pitching everything from politics to food to religion.

Ten different churches used Pride to reach out to area gays and lesbians.

And at 1 p.m., two young Riverside men used Pride’s small outdoor chapel to get married. They’ve been a couple for a few years, and with November’s upcoming vote on same-sex marriage, they wanted a ceremony while it’s legal.

Several other weddings were scheduled in 15-minute blocks.One couple (pictured) in matching suits — together more than 30 years– brought the crowd to tears as they said, ‘I do.’

For Pride-goers who weren’t interested in matrimony, the main stage was a worthy attraction. Early in the day, local bands and gay rappers worked the crowed with an innate sense of on-stage comfort.Later in the afternoon, singer Niki Haris (pictured) — who’s had some experience with Pride gigs — worked the crowd with an engaging, flawless mix of anthems, uplifting dance music, pride themes and cover tunes.

Comedian ANT is known for his off-color humor, but unfortunately, what has worked well on TV didn’t play as smoothly to a live audience. ANT ’s drive from Los Angeles apparently inspired him to tell the crowd that Riverside appeared to be a city littered with low-class citizens and lawbreakers. When his jokes about minorities and the city didn’t receive laughter, he claimed to be “testing new material.” His set was too long and too insulting.

Fortunately, ANT was only the warm-up act for the real show.

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Drag diva RuPaul took the stage with a sense of ownership and worked it with a genuine respect for the audience and the event. When there was a small technical glitch, the singer stopped and told the crowd, “You know what? This isn’t good enough for Riverside — not at all.” He started over, and the crowd couldn’t have been happier

The event at White Park — the first park ever dedicated in the city — marked the first time a Pride event has been held at a Riverside park. According to organizer David St Pierre, more than 2,000 people attended.

E-mail your own Riverside Pride 2008 pictures and video to info@instantriverside.com. InstantRiverside.com will present video coverage of the Riverside Pride Festival on Monday.

You can watch our previous coverage of the day same-sex marriages became legal in Riverside County by clicking here.

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Sunday, September 14, 2008

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