Pride Santa Fe: award winner!

“BROKEBACK RANCH”

 FLOAT TAKES 2ND PLACE AT 2006 PRIDE ON THE PLAZA PARADE!

The Brokeback Ranch & Friends float was designed on one hot summer afternoon. Visual and historical references were keenly kept to the movie “Brokeback Mountain”. Bales of hay, a canvas tent, two pairs of denim booted feet sticking out, the rose (“stem the rose”), grass, the 1957 Chevy Truck (the apex and highpoint), the American Flag (4th of July), and most of all….the comical yet beautiful sheep adorning the truck drew laughs and wild applause! Not to mention, the dance remix of “Brokeback Mountain” pumping down the parade route!!  We thank all those who supported us!!

Chris, Caroline, Ian, Greg,& Frank (DJ Santa Fe) thank you from the bottom of their “Brokeback Mountain” hearts!

“Everybody line up! The show is about to start! Places! Beautiful! No ugly entries allowed! Parade Fashionista!

“Roy” (57 Chevy) sits patiently for the parade to begin!

Whats this? Two men in a tent? Hmmmmm?

“We’re ready for our closeup, Mr. Ang Lee!”

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN 

By ANA MARIA TRUJILLO | The New Mexican
Sunday, June 25, 2006

Riders on horseback was a first for the annual Pride on the Plaza Parade through downtown Santa Fe on Saturday, which this year adopted a celebration of gay cowboys as its theme.The New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association won a $500 first prize for its entry: an 8-foot cowboy boot with spur followed by a pair of men on horses.

Among the judges was Diana Ossana, who shared an Academy Award this year as co-writer of the screenplay for Brokeback Mountain, the film about two rugged cowboys who fall in love.

“It’s incredible work that you’re doing, and I’ll do anything to support it,” Ossana said before announcing the winners. “There are two things that I’m really proud of — my daughter Sarah and this film, Brokeback Mountain.”

The parade was a highlight of an 11-day arts-and-culture festival sponsored by the Human Rights Alliance.

“This is the day when we all get together in one place to really celebrate, have a good time and be out and be who we are,” said Donald Stout, president of the alliance and one of the parade’s organizers.

 

 

Felix Ortiz, center left, and Gerardo Ramires dance at Pride on the Plaza on Saturday, June 24, 2006, in Santa Fe, N.M.  The day included a gay pride parade, free HIV testing, vendors, face painting, and food. (Mercedes Krsytal DeVoue, Miss New Mexico de Rodeo 2007) 

Celebrate people did. Hundreds danced to the music of Samba Fe, browsed displays of jewelry and art, ate fajitas made by local vendors and strolled around the Plaza wearing brightly colored leis of artificial flowers given out by 1st Metropolitan Mortgage of Santa Fe.Nearly 40 booths offered various types of information and goodies. HIV testing was provided by Southwest Comprehensive AIDS Research and Education. The Department of Health offered vaccines for hepatitis A and B and screening for hepatitis A and B and syphilis.

But the parade along Old Santa Fe Trail from the Capitol area to the Plaza helped set the tone for the day.

Among the 33 entries were frightening, oversized puppets representing “big alcohol” and “big tobacco” and a truck modeled after one driven by Brokeback character Jack Twist, with a replica of the cowboys’ campsite in the truck bed.

The parade’s grand marshal was Mayor David Coss, who told the crowd, “My wife, Carol, and I are honored to be part of what you’re doing for human and civil rights here in Santa Fe.”

The $250 second prize awarded by the judges went to The Santa Fe Chile Company for its float titled “Daisy Dukes and Cowgirl Boots,” filled with hay, balloons and ladies in very short shorts. The $100 third-prize winner was the Mountain Center’s entry, which featured belly dancers moving to Latin pop music by Colombian singer Shakira.

“San Francisco ain’t got nothing on us,” said one spectator as he enjoyed the music of Samba Fe.

(Note: The Santa Fe New Mexican erroneously reported the second place winner (see above) “Brokeback Ranch” won second place!