By: Robert Lovi By: Robert Lovi | October 11, 2022 | Food & Drink, People, Culture,
In collaboration with SAVE Dade, Miami Shores Pride announces the first-ever Coming Out Day on Oct/16 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., as the community celebrates equality, acceptance, and diversity. The date coincided with Miami-Dade Gay History Month, Barry University's Pride Celebration, and National Coming Out Week. Guests are encouraged to assemble anywhere along the Parade Route on Grand Concourse between NE 96th St. and Park Drive. The positive energy will be contagious as locals, neighbors, and friends walk through The Big Gay Parade and Tea Dance. Following the procession, there will be family-friendly activities.
See Also: Alexis Lauren Collective: A Luxury Beauty Destination Coming To Coral Gables This Fall
Miami Shores Village will celebrate its first annual "Coming Out Day" with a vibrant parade beginning at Grand Course and ending at Park Drive; Park Drive south of NE 96th St. will provide parking. Following the procession, everyone is welcomed to the tea dance at Athletic Field, located at Grand Concourse and Park Drive. The tea dance known as thé dansant began in the 1950s and was popular during the 1960s. During this time, the LGBTQ community was mostly hidden. The Tea Dances were conducted from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the summer and autumn. They provided a safe area for the community to live freely and socialize with peers.
Coming Out Day will feature live music and special performances by Daniel Rene, DJ Music Hat, Poison Ivy, and her friends. For those eager to sample local flavors, there will be a Miami Shores Country Club bar, Mama Jennie's Italian Restaurant and pizza pop-up with food and drinks, and Sins Gastrobar offering unique cocktails, snacks, and more. Coming Out Day will also be plastic-free, thanks to a collaboration with the Plastic Free Initiative and Proud Source.
The Grand Marshall is Miami Shores' own Robert Bourne, the mayor of Miami-Dade County Daniella Levine Cava, the SAVE Foundation, North Miami councilman Scott Galvin, and county commissioner of District 3 Keon Hardemon have all been invited, among many others. The first "Coming Out Day" is being held with the help of Miami Shores Pride, Miami Shores Village, North Miami, Miami Dade County, SAVE LGBTQ, and many more organizations.
Guests are strongly encouraged to make a minimum donation of $10 at the door. All proceeds from the registration and event will go to the Point Foundation, the largest scholarship-giving nonprofit organization for LGBTQ students, and SAVE, South Florida's oldest group dedicated to protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons from persecution.Donations can be made by visiting the website.
Photography by: Courtesy Miami Shores Pride