3,000 Attend Simi’s 1st Gay Pride Festival

SIMI VALLEY —  With events running the gamut from impassioned public speakers to competing drag queens, the county’s first Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival took place Sunday in Simi Valley as thousands showed up from across Southern California to celebrate with food, music, dancing and fun.

“Everybody’s a friend here,” said Liz Herhold, who came from Los Angeles with her partner, Maggie Trie, and a group of friends. “I haven’t seen anyone here who isn’t smiling.”

Held on a wide, grassy expanse near the intersection of Los Angeles Avenue and Tapo Canyon Road, the festival drew more than 3,000 people, both gay and straight, with some from as far away as San Diego, Simi Valley police said.

Though the event also attracted about 30 protesters from some local churches, the demonstrations were peaceful and police reported no incidents.

“We didn’t want our women and kids seeing this,” said Pastor Dennis Chapman of Calvary Baptist Church in Simi Valley, one of the protesters. “These people are living a perverted lifestyle.”

In the weeks preceding the event, local churches had publicly criticized the festival for inviting what they consider immorality into Ventura County.

In addition, local chapters of the California Republican Assembly adopted a sternly worded proclamation condemning the festival and the county Board of Supervisors’ resolution designating Sunday as Lesbian and Gay Pride Day.

Despite the opposition, many in attendance said Sunday’s festival was not unlike other celebrations that have been held in the city, with the possible exception of the dozen or so drag queens who attended.

“With everything I’ve heard, I thought it was going to be some kind of totally outrageous party with nude men running around everywhere,” said Kirsten Wren of Thousand Oaks, who said she came with her boyfriend, Scott Dahlman, out of curiosity. “But it’s nothing like that. . . . I’ve seen a few things that you don’t see every day, but mostly everyone here seems pretty normal.”

Of the many activities held during the festival, Wren’s favorite was the West Hollywood Cheerleaders’ performance to the disco favorite “It’s Raining Men.”

Dressed in red and white skirts with matching pom-poms and overly teased, multicolored hairdos, the dozen or so spirited men kicked and jumped their way through the song as a crowd of several hundred clapped and cheered.

Afterward, the group joined in a “drag queen race.” It was much more a fashion show than a race, an event in which competitors were judged on style, not speed, with just one rule: no heels over 4 inches high.

“Where on earth are you ever going to see something like that,” said Jason Reeder, watching contestant “Amanda Hugenkiss” flit his way around the crowd, blowing appreciative kisses to those in attendance.

“Coco Dependent,” who made a statement by dabbing on lipstick midway through his appearance in the race, walked away with the top prize: a gilded trophy and a fuzzy white teddy bear.

Others, however, said they enjoyed most the performance by the See-Me Squares, a Simi Valley-based organization of gay square dancers.

Many local lesbians and gays said the festival was important because its aim was to both legitimize and advertise the county’s gay community.

“Ventura County is so conservative and behind the times in acknowledging the huge gay population we have here,” said Sheri Wollard, a lesbian from Oxnard. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Daryl Antoine of Simi Valley felt similarly and was surprised that his hometown was chosen to host the event, given its reputation as a bastion of conservatism.

“Simi Valley has not been known for being friendly to just anybody,” he said. “It’s real uplifting.”

Lisa Schwartz, who brought her 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, was also surprised and heartened that her city was selected to host the event.

“It’s a bit strange considering we’re the home of the Ronald Reagan Library and the first Rodney King verdict. . . . Simi Valley doesn’t exactly give the impression of being an open-minded place,” she said.

Although the festival was held to celebrate gay pride, it attracted just as many families as it did gay couples. Many said they brought their children to foster a sense of understanding and tolerance.

“We’re not gay, but we’re not closed-minded either,” said Sean Denny of Simi Valley, who along with his wife, Tiffiany, brought his 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. “We teach our children to be open-minded.”

Tina Rafdal, also of Simi Valley, pushed a stroller around the festival grounds with her 2-year-old son, Cody. She also had her 4-year-old son, Dillon, and 8-year-old niece, Michelle, in tow and said she was upset by remarks made by protesters at the festival entrance, who warned about the “gay agenda” and “recruitment” drives.

“I’m appalled by some of the ignorance I’ve heard,” Rafdal said. “I haven’t seen any recruitment booths here with people handing out toasters.”

Throughout the eight-hour festival, sign-carrying protesters marched in circles in the entrance area, passing out literature with Bible verses to those entering the festival.

Watching parents visit the festival with their children especially troubled Chapman of Calvary Baptist, who said he fears that festival organizers were there to recruit members.

“It just grieves me to see those children go in there,” he said. “I can’t imagine why they would do that.”

Parishioners of the Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley also attended to protest, waving placards emblazoned with biblical quotes.

“We’re not picking on any one sin,” said Joe Schimmel, of Blessed Hope. “If this were a festival celebrating adultery, we’d be here, too.”

The festival also attracted a number of area business people who came to establish themselves as gay-friendly, hoping to reap financial rewards from the event.

“As far as I’m concerned, all clients are good clients,” said Vicki Doyle, a real estate agent with a Century 21 office in the city. “The gay and lesbian community is already here, and it’s good business.”

Tami Bosson, a fellow Realtor, agreed, saying, “They have money just like anybody else.”

Paul Waters, who had spent the better part of the year organizing Sunday’s event, said he couldn’t have been happier with the way it played out. In the coming years, he expects the event will only grow in popularity.

“This is a wonderful inauguration,” he said, taking a brief break from attending to festival details. “I think the city and everybody here learned a little from this, which was kind of the point.”

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Metcalfe is a Times staff writer; Engardio is a Times correspondent.