Polyamorous NYC :: Poly Pride X: Rally

This is the main event, and the one that started Poly Pride Day! Catch up on the latest humor, research, law, press, literature and music relevant to the growing polyamorous movement - in New York City, and around the nation. We are currently finalizing our lineup of dozens of the best speakers and entertainers for a full day of fun and enlightenment. Friends, family, poly-curious, and poly-friendly are all welcome at this truly special, unique (and totally free!) event.

Jaime is the Director of the Policy Institute at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and holds a Ph. D. in Women's Studies from the Union Institute where she studied with Minnie Bruce Pratt, Barbara Smith and queer historian John D'Emilio. Her articles on transformational organizations and coalition work have been published in major academic journals and anthologies.

Athena Reich is a singer/songwriter, actress, TV Host/Personality, and Songwriting Teacher. Athena's newest video, Love is Love, charted #1 on MTV's LOGO and her 5th CD, Little Girl Dreams, received 5 OutMusic Award nominations, with Love is Love winning for Best Outstanding Pop Song of 2009.

By popular demand, we're thrilled to bring Kelli back to the Poly Pride stage. She may be the typical skateboard-riding, stealth gender non-variant, too-many-book reading ex-nun comic, but we think there's no one better running the stage for the afternoon. Kelli is a proud polyamorous political passionate, mostly patient stand up comic who escaped the convent 15 years ago this fall. She is the co-founder of Queer Memoir and the author of four humorous books of nonfiction, including two children's books that have been adopted in a conservative Christian's homeschooling curriculum. She has appeared on Showtime and the Discovery Network and even once (just once!) at a livestock auction.

SPEAKERS:

Andres Hoyos, MS, LMSW, The LGBT Community Center, speaking on community pride.
Charlie Vazquez, writer, reading from his new book Contraband and speaking about how polyamorous experiences have informed his writing
Columbia Queer Alliance
Ignacio Rivera, activist and community organizer
Jim Lister, Gay Men's Health Crisis, speaking on health issues
Paul Nocera, BiPerspective
Sarah Sloane, sexuality & relationship educator
Susan Wright, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom
Veronica Vera, speaking on media representation

ENTERTAINERS:

The Boys of BEARlesque
Burlesque troupe featuring performer JD Leggett, Mr International Bear 2010, with a performance history that includes the main stage of the Roseland Ballroom and a monthly show at the Stonewall Inn.
Jen Urban & The Box
Genre-bending electronic dance-rock band, named GO! Magazine's 2008-2009 Best NYC Band and nominated for the 2009 OUTMusic Award for Best Rock Band, having performed at venues such as the Nokia Theatre and CBGBs.
LaRaisha
A performer and songwriter, spanning genres ranging across soul, electro, and Dutch pop, with a wide variety of performance experiences including a tour with Nickelodeon's Backyardigans Live, as well as a performance in front Jackie Chan at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.
Kelli Rudick
rooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, recently returning from her third US national tour, featuring her compositions that use guitar, loop station, array mbira, nail violin, and live electronics; other performance credits include Joe's Pub, the Blue Note, and the Mother Music Festival in London.
Matthew Longo
Singer-songwriter
N'Harmonics
2008 International Championship of Collegiate Acappella finalists with an impressive history, having performed at venues ranging from CBGB's and Joe's Pub to Lincoln Center.
Raw Elementz
Columbia University's fusion dance troupe, with innovative numbers incorporating elements of hip-hop, breaking, popping, jazz, and even ballet.
The Reaver
Singer-songwriter Puge Ruhe, of Juneteenth, combines combines elements of rock, punk, hardcore, funk, blues, and folk in his newest project.
Tiara
Will Stratton
Critically acclamimed singer-songwriter, recently featured on NPR, drawing comparisons to Fleetwood Mac, Nick Drake, and London Wainwright.
YaliniDream
Performance artist incorporating a unique blend of theater, spoken word, song, and dance, with performance experience at venues such as Bar 13, The Bowery Poetry Club, and Lincoln Center.

Take the B or C subway line to the 103rd street stop and walk up 3 blocks to 'Strangers Gate'. Once there, walk up the stone steps. At the top, you will come to a clearing. The stage will be at the far side of the field.

If you are coming from outside the city, we recommend driving to a subway or train station away from the site instead of driving directly to the site. Parking is standard city parking.

A blanket, a picnic basket full of food and drink (non-alcoholic), friends, family, poly poetry, a positive attitude and a desire to have a good time. All Polyamorous NYC events are safe for the entire Gay, Lesbian, Bi & Trans community.