The Chair's Opening Speech at Second Pride Festival

Lee McKay's, the Chair of Second Pride, speech at the opening of the Second Pride Festival yesterday.

The Second Pride board, Lee McKay, Bock McMillan & Tootsie Nootan
(missing in the picture is i0n, who is currently on sick-leave.)
Photo by JJ Goodman

"I promise I won’t interrupt the party for long! I want to thank everyone for coming out today for the opening of Second Pride 2019, and the debut of our newly redesigned Second Pride region. We hope you’re ready to have some fun and celebrate Pride!

We’re doing something different this year in that we now consider our region to be a permanent build that will remain in place for the foreseeable future. We are also a Second Life Gateway region and will soon have new people entering Second Life right through our own Gateway in the northeast corner of the region. I hope you’ll go check out the progress on that. It will be opening in the near future. 

If you’re curious about how this build came to be, I was watching a video of Diana Ross performing in Central Park in 1983, and the shots of the park and the buildings in the background just looked and felt inspiring. I showed a really simple mockup of the idea to Bock and to his husband, Tomais, and within days, the building started, spurred on by a very generous donation of all these buildings in the Old NYC collection from Schultz Bros. We thank them for their generosity! This is a build that we want you to explore and enjoy. There are all sort of places to wander, stroll, sit, watch, meditate, reminisce, play, and just be. It’s a walking space, a place to take photos, bring friends, hang out, play games, and more. We will no longer be one or two events per year. We expect to have parties on a regular basis, starting soon.

This year, we are celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, considered to be the catalyzing moment in the push for Gay Rights. With the current political climate and with our rights being slowly but methodically eroded from us once again, there is no better time for us to reflect on the events of that night and the nights that followed, and to consider the battles fought then, and the battles that are to come, because they are coming. We need to draw from the strength of the heroes of that night…Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Storme DeLarverie (Stormy Delahveay), Danny Garvin, and so many others. We honor them for the stand they took that night, and we pledge to continue their fight.

SP Meeting 10/06/18 - Minutes Posted

The minutes from the Second Pride Board meeting on October 6th, 2018, have now been posted on the Second Pride website.

Here's a link directly to the minutes (url).

After the eventful meeting, the Second Pride Board now has the following members.

Chairman
Rez Vale-Starfall™ (DJReZ Cyberstar)

Secretary
Mikey Vale (MikeAdam)

Treasurer
Bock McMillan

Events/Marketing Director
Nicky Windstorm (DunceMidwest)

Community Relations/Marketing Director
i0n (AlPrunty)

Security Director
Tootsie Nootan

Building Director
Starter Evenstarr (starter232)

Technology Director
Lee McKay

Installation of SP New Board Today

In a notice in the Second Pride Festival Group, the chairperson Rez Vale-Starfall announced, that the new board members will be installed on the board on Saturday, October 6th, 2018 at 12 PM (noon) SLT.

At the event, Rez will also be announcing the candidates for Community Relations Director.

The event will take place at the Second Pride HQ (SLurl), hope to see you all there!
---

After the installation, the Second Pride board will consist of the following people.

Chairman - Rez Vale-Starfall (DJRez Cyberstar)

Secretary/Treasurer
--- Secretary - Mikey Vale (MikeAdam)
--- Treasurer - Bock McMillan

Infrastructure Director
--- Security Director - Tootsie Nootan
--- Building Director - Starter Evenstarr (starter232)

Outreach Director
--- Events Director - Nicky Windstorm (DunceMidwest)
--- Community Relations Director - vacant
--- Marketing Director - Jimmy Augustus-Gracemount (jimmmmmy)

Technology Director - Lee MacKay

(In bold and underlined I give you the board positions directed by the newly adopted bylaws, under them in cursive are the positions according to the previous bylaws under which the recently ended election were run. According to the new bylaws, those positions are to be maintained until any of them become vacant when the responsibilities will be transferred to the remaining director. As of 2020 the only positions available will be the ones decided by the new bylaws.) 

SP Elections 2018 Update & Proposal of New Bylaws

The election for the Board of Second Pride 2018/19 is running according to schedule.

The board members with a year remaining on their tenure are
DJRez Cyberstar, Chair,
MikeAdam Resident, Secretary, and
Lee McKay, IT Director.

Candidates running unopposed (and will be automatically seated) are

Nicky Windstorm, Events Director,

Bock McMillan, Treasurer,

Tootsie Nootan, Security Director, and

Dee Sparta, Community Relations Director

Positions with more than one candidate
Marketing Director
1. Jimmy Gracemount
2. Kaiden Brandt

Building Director
1. Starter Evenstarr and
2. Devin Drakon

The two last positions will be voted on, starting September 1, 2018

Q&A for candidates
All the candidates are answering questions from the membership until August 28, so hurry up and get your questions in at the Second Pride website (url).

"To participate, you will need to have an account on the website if you don’t already have one. Then click on the candidates link under “2018 Election” above and the conversation will be beneath the candidates opening statement."

Discussion of Proposal For New Bylaws
A proposal for new bylaws was introduced at the board meeting yesterday. There is a ten-day discussion period open for members.

Read the proposal (you'll find it under Documents) and take part in the discussion here (url)

Second Pride - Call for Board Candidates (Updated)

The minutes of the Second Pride annual meeting on July 30, 2017, have been published on the Second Pride website. You will find the minutes in the right hand column.

Left to right, Tootsie Nootan, Viktor Sandman, Jak Calcutt & LLedge Eames
(Marge Beaumont wasn't able to attend) 

A quick summary of the reports from the board members would be that this years Second Pride festival was a huge success, with lots of visitors, wonderful venues and builds, few security issues and loads of donations.

The board thanked everyone and the board members were in turn all lauded by those in attendance for their good work for the community and the organization.

After setting aside funds for tier for the Second Pride sim for the coming year and some petty cash, there will be roughly US$1,000 for the board to donate to charity. The board is considering donations to either The Rainbow Railroad or The Human Rights Campaign Fund.

The biggest surprise was the news that the whole board is stepping down, every single one of them. All the positions will be open for the election of new candidates.

The election timetable is as follows (all dates are of course SLT).

1. August 1 - September 3, 2017 - The Second Pride Festival group is closed for new members until the end of the election.
2. August 7-20, 2017 Call for candidates.
3. August 20-26, 2017 Question & answers period 
4. August 27 - September 2, 2017 Elections

The election committee will be headed by LLedge Eames as the outgoing chair.

---

Those considering submitting their candidacies will find a Board Candidate Submission Form (here).

Please take the time to consider how you - or perhaps a friend - could serve the LGBT+ community in SecondLife and send in your Candidacy.

---
UPDATE 8/13/2017
Lee MacKay, the current webmaster for the Second Pride website, in a comment on Google+, informs me: "It's also very important to note that anyone wishing to participate in the Q&A portion of the election process MUST create an account on the website to do so. The Q&A will take the form of comments beneath each candidate's statement, and a working, verified login is required to post or reply. This applies to the candidates as well, of course. - SP Webmaster"

Thank You, Board & Volunteers of Second Pride 2017

The fountain and the globe

I have just finished reading LLedge Eames closing statement for the 2017 Second Pride Festival. It begins like this (For the complete statement please go to The Second Pride website (url)):

"Thank you for an amazing 2017 Second Pride Festival!

As the sun sets on yet another wildly successful and my last Second Pride Festival season. I’d like to take a moment to say some thank yous. I am so grateful for this years outpouring of participation not to mention I had the pleasure of working with some of the most amazing talents from across the grid.

Our 2016 – 2017 Second Pride Board. Jak Calcutt with his outstanding builds and designs, creating a feast for our eyes, Marge Beaumont for her behind the scenes accounting, Tootsie Nootan and her security team (Levi & Kit) keeping us all safe, and Viktor Sandman for all his patience scheduling and wrangling our performers. To our volunteers. Kahvy & Garrett Smith for undertaking and creating some fantastic social media buzz along with all those bloggers. Lee McKay and his webmaster skills that put us back online."

The shopping mall

After thanking the sponsors, vendors, performers and others that contributed to making this one of the best festivals ever, he goes on to thank the attendants and then finishes

"On more than one occasion I was greeted by complete strangers and then thanked for providing them with such a true and wonderful pride experience. It was comments like that and many more that told me we had hit our mark. I can’t begin to thank this team enough. You ALL really outdid yourself and should be proud of all you accomplished.

As I mentioned earlier this is my last year as Chairman. It has been such an honor to be involved in this organization. As much as I am ready to step down, I will miss it and all the nuances. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to bring my hope and joy to you all through this wonderful outlet."

The Japanese Garden, a permanent exhibition

Well, I would in turn like to thank the board of Second Pride for - yet another - amazing and enjoyable festival. This Second Pride festival is up there among my top three all-time favorites since I first started going to Pride in SecondLife in 2008.

I can hardly imagine all the hard work and dedication our board and the volunteers put in to this venture - and all the work they did the rest of the year - for the LGBT+ community in Second Life. 

It is even harder for me to understand why the boards dedicated work throughout the year has sometimes been met by criticism by fringes of the community, especially those who do not lift a finger or support the efforts in any way whatsoever. 

The memorial chapel

Second Pride must exist first and foremost for the LGBT+ residents in SecondLife, to be an inworld presence, to offer support to other smaller LGBT+ organizations, and to represent our community to the surrounding community and to Linden Lab. All else must, in my not so humble opinion, be secondary to that.

I am saddened that the present board say they doesn't wish to continue, although I do understand their position. Hopefully some of them can be persuaded to continue, or at to return after some rest and relaxation from these responsibilities. 

My deepest gratitude, again, goes to the board of 2016-2017 for a job well done!

The main stage

All the pictures in this post show the wonderful work that Build Director Jak Calcutt did for this years festival-venue. I have them in a folder named "The sim that Jak built".

When Shit Happens... Let the Show Go On

As an oldtimer in both SecondLife and in first life, I know that sometimes shit happens. The important thing is how you deal with it, usually you just step over it and move on.

Sasha Laryukov as Madonna

That is what the cast of The Madonna Virtual History Tour had to do this evening when their dance master - who was going to lead all the newer dances of the show - was hit by a power outage in his first life and dropped out and couldn't get back in. Sasha and the remaining crew championed on and did the best they could without him.

I have seen the Virtual History Tour three times earlier - without technical difficulties - but I must say that this was the time I had most fun and was most moved.

A big reason for enjoying it so much was the wonderful and warm interaction between the crew and the audience in the face of adversity.

The fact that the show also was a beautiful tribute to our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Orlando in a very touching way that brought tears to my eyes. Unfortunately I couldn't get any pictures of that part due to a bit of weekend lag so the photos of their faces didn't rez for me.

I would like to thank Second Pride and all the performers for a wonderful experience!

SP Hugs 26 - 30

Mowgli Soy

Joseph Nussbaum

Tootsie Nootan

Andy Rennebohm

Carl Paneer (NakedCarl)

A Man's Best Friend & Other Tinies

Spanki and Guyke start fooling around

Tomais follows their lead with his cute dog avatar

Dog notices man

Man notices dog

Dog and man get closer, the angry penguin joins

Dog turns into a furry bear and gets mans full attention, penguin fumes

Man turns into mammoth and dog into Halloween bear

Tootsie Nootan and I (in my tawny leopard tiny). This is the first time Tootsie is taller than I am

"The True Reasons..."

Today I received in my possession a note card from Cortez Brandriss, who was earlier a candidate for Event Director of the Second Pride 2014 board but who withdrew her candidacy.

The note card is unmodifiable and was according to its properties created by Ms Brandriss, despite this I also sought to get a confirmation from Ms Brandriss. I did this before having read the last sentence in this note card, for which I ask Ms Brandriss' forgiveness.

My main reasons for posting this are twofold, Firstly because I love Second Pride and want it to grow and flourish for many years to come and, secondly, because I believe that the membership of Second Pride has the right to know what is happening behind closed doors. 

I will post it without any further personal comment, other than saying that these SP election seems to be turning out to be extremely ugly and messy, with personal attacks, anonymous bloggers and other monkey business. 

Marius Watz "Web Science artwork"

"7/29/2013 Re: Second Pride Election
C/c Second Pride Current Board

 To Doc Spad,

 I have been very confused as to why, what was supposed to be a very quiet and simple withdrawl from this election has turned to a large population of Pride Candidates and Voters coming to me concerned with my departure from the race.

 I was dismayed to find the answer to my question in a notice, sent by you on 7/27 to the entire Second Pride Community, that my reasons for withdrawing from this race were because of a ticket system.

 I tried to make this very clear when we first spoke, and I will clarify again now-- I withdrew from the Second Pride election because of *our* conversation-- a conversation in which the current Chair of Pride, yourself, came to me with an attempt to coerce me to join forces on a ticket with someone I have not ever met, as a means of throwing the vote. I withdrew my candidacy because I was uncomfortable knowing that the Chair of Second Pride was so willing to discuss other candidates with me, someone you barely knew. I withdrew because I felt that I was being asked to be a pawn in a dramatic game of manipulating the vote. The unprofessional freedom you took in that conversation was what caused me to withdraw my candidacy.

 I ran for Second Pride because I admired the outward professionalism of it's team of chairs, and I wanted to do something important for the LGBT community. Our conversation was steeped in drama that I did not want to be a part of, concerning people I do not know and have never met.

 I submitted a formal and professional withdrawl to Baz that did not go into these reasons, only to learn you have distributed a notice that has informed the entire Second Pride Group I left the race over the ticket system. Through this notice, you have not only publicly spoken for me with information that is not true, but you have also publicly pitted me and my withdrawl against the candidates in this entire election.

 I am outraged by the way you have handled this matter, and at the fact you have now brought me into the drama of Second Pride, when I have done nothing but gracefully bowed out of a situation you made uncomfortable for me to begin with.

 Please do not use my withdrawl as any future means to burden this election.

 With this notecard, I would like to officially announce the true reasons for my withdrawl. I ask that I am no longer contacted by any member of Second Pride about this election.

 Sincerely,Cortez Brandriss

 C/c: Second Pride Board. Kyle Beckett, SquirtN Wonder, Tylo Mabellon, Dextrum Boucher, Kharissa Indigo, Mr Gracemount, Baz Ceawlin, Tootsie Nootan"

SP Annual Membership Meeting 2013

The annual Second Pride membership meeting was held yesterday. It was a well visited meeting that was conducted in an orderly fashion. Extra seats had to rezzed as more members than expected turned up.

My pictures are all  taken at an early time in the proceedings,
I should think we were twice as many when the meeting ended.

Larz Kas looking hot in a new cap with Jarred, in the second row
I and Jared Palianta and at the far back to the right Eric Quimby.

Nigel Riel (far left), Marcellias (center) and HerrDirektor /far right)

From left to right, SquirtN, Mr. G. and Dextrum

From left to right, Doc, Baz, Tootsie and Kharissa

The most important stuff that occurred at the meeting was the information pertaining to the upcoming elections of the new Second Pride Board.

This is from the Second Pride website. Please note it contains important information about 
1) eligibility to the board, 
2) voting privileges in the election, as well as 
3) a need for you - in certain instances - to update your personal information on the Second Pride website so that your vote will not be discarded. 

Election Dates and Procedures:

• Candidate declarations will be accepted from July 7th through midnight SLT July 21st. per the by laws.
• Only Members of the Second Pride Group will be considered and their declaration must be accompanied by a “candidate Statement” which will be done on the second-pride.com website. (No one will be able to declare after midnight on the 21st)
• Candidates will be announced on the second-pride.com website and their candidate statements published on the forums on July 22nd. Members will be able to question the candidates for a period of ten days ending at midnight August 1st.
• On August 2nd Candidates may make their final statements
• From August 2nd through midnight slt on August 4th the forums will be closed from further discussion . Members are encouraged to view the candidates final statements .
• Voting will commence at 00:01AM August 5th through midnight August 9th
• You must have joined the Second Pride Festival Group by midnight August 4th to be able to vote for your candidates.
• At this time the election committee will certify the results of the election and announce to the membership those results no later than midnight August 12th.
• On August 18th at 11AM slt The new Board will be installed and have their 1st meeting as a Board of Second Pride. The existing Board will step down at that time and any transfers will take place at that time.
• Candidates: Candidate Declaration Form

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS
You MUST be a member of the Second Pride in-world group before Midnight August 4th to be eligible to vote. The election committee will be cross referencing the online votes received against the in-world membership list. Please be sure to click on your name at the bottom of this screen [on the second-pride.com website, my remark] (to view and/or update your online profile. Make sure your Second Life Avatar name is part of your profile so that your vote can be verified against the in-world membership.

The Spurt Party

Tuesday noon-2 PM was the time for the Spurt Beach Party with DJ Dextrum "DJ Dex" Boucher.

It would hasve been a fun party if it had not been for too much gesturbating and pixelating. We even had a thrilling vistit by a griefer, who was handled by the ever-attentive security officer Tootsie Nootan (the woman n-e-v-e-r sleeps).

Spanki, Butch, Marcellias and I grooving

Lee with Weylin

Carmen

Spanki shows his pride

Marcellias pretending not to notice Tor

At DJ Panos Set

This evening I first dragged my buddy Butch's weary and demure ass to the Beefcake store so that he could show his pride in his clothing also. As I told him, "Butch, my dear friend, you are not fit to be seen at a pride-celebration in those rags. Everyone will think you are a straight geezer. Now, come along, show your pride!" At the same time I took the opportunity to see to it that Greg and Caleb were decently outfitted as well.

With that mission accomplished the four of us went of to DJ Panos set to have a good time. Unfortunately I had problems today with a lot of grey avatars so I did not get many usable pictures at this venue.

In the foreground you see tiny Tootsie Nootan. That little woman
seems to be completely tireless and is working  security 24/7

Lee McKay and his husband Weylin Vale