DAVENPORT/QUAD CITIES - QC PRIDE is pleased to announce plans and to release our logo for QC PRIDEFEST ‘09.  The next meeting of the whole for persons interested in helping with QC PRIDE '09 will be on Sat., Jan. 24 at 2:30 at MCC QC, 3019 N. Harrison St. in Davenport.  The international theme for PRIDE this year is "Your rights, our rights, human rights."  Says QC PRIDE co-chair, Rev. Rich Hendricks, “We've expanded on that theme locally by playing on the possibilities for change in Iowa/Illinois laws and with a reminder of last years' quite windy day for a QC PRIDE '09 theme of ‘Winds of Change.’"

QC PRIDEFEST '09 plans several celebration activities during the month of June, including theatre events, art shows and gay history activities.  The kick-off event for QC PRIDE Week, June 21-28, will be a flags-across-the-river event for equality on Sunday, June 21.   Culminating QC PRIDE Week will be the big festival on Saturday, June 27 at LeClaire Park on the Davenport riverfront.  The Saturday PRIDEFest will include live music, vendors, food and beverages.  Gay comedian, Scott Kennedy, will also be performing at Penguin's Comedy Club during PRIDE Week.  Hendricks urges the public, “Don't let the Winds of Change pass you by - be out and proud by getting involved!”  Last year nearly 900 people attended QC PRIDEFest ‘08, which featured 12 area nonprofit sponsors and numerous local business sponsors.