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Baton Rouge
Pride Fest
June 26, 2010
NEWS
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Take the
Pride Fest Survey; Tell Us How We Can Make Next Year
Better
(June 26, 2010)
Help us make next year's event even better, take the
Pride
Fest survey! |
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Thanks to
Everyone Who Made the 2010 Pride Fest a Success
(June 26, 2010)
If you missed the 2010 Baton Rouge Pride Fest, you
missed a great event. What a wonderful day of fun, food
and fellowship it was.
Thanks to all the team members who helped to put it
together: Ray Acardo, Kim Clark, John Deshotel
Jr., Shad Duplessis, Bill Haywood, Daryl W. Ingle,
Presley Hutchinson, Bonnie J. Jones, Peter Lewis Sr.,
Tom Merrill, Bolton Morris, Rev. Keith Mozingo, Mike
Smith and Tim Young. Also, thanks to our partners in
this event: Metropolitan Community Church of Baton
Rouge, Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge, Krewe of Divas,
HAART, Gamma Alpha Psi, Capital City Alliance and
others. Of course, there are too many volunteers who
pitched in to even begin to name, but thanks to all of
them, too.
Thanks also to our entertainers, and special thanks
to the sponsors who made it possible for 2,000 to 2,500
to attend this free-admission event. |
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We'll
have door prizes loads of door prizes
(June 25, 2010)
Need another reason to attend the Baton Rouge Pride
Fest Saturday, June 26, at the Belle of Baton Rouge
Atrium downtown. How about loads of door prizes -- all
for you?
We've got $50 gift certificates courtesy of Lowe's of
North Baton Rouge, $50 Target gift certificates donated
by Ray Acardo and Presley Hutchinson, $25 gift
certificates donated by Target, 8 passes to the Audubon
Zoo or Aquarium, an Embassy Suites gift certificate,
Campus Federal golf umbrellas, an LSU gift bag, a
Community Coffee gift box, Pride mugs and more.
You can't win if you don't come out and register. Be
sure to sign up at the welcome tables when you arrive at
Pride Fest tomorrow (Saturday, June 26) from noon until
6 p.m. at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium. |
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Mayor
Holden has Declared June 26 Pride Day
(June 24, 2010)
You'll see it in our Pride Fest program, but we just
had to share this news with everyone. Baton Rouge/East
Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Hoden recently
signed a proclamation declaring June 26, 2010, as LGBT
Pride Day in the city-parish.
The move came at the urging of members of the Capital
City Alliance and the Baton Rouge Pride Fest team.
Our thanks to the mayor for recognizing the
importance of our community to the area, and special
thanks to Kevin Serrin of CCA, John Deshotel of the
Krewe of Apollo and the Pride Team and Bonnie Jones and
Tom Merrill of MCCBR/Pride Team for their work in
helping to make this happen.
The mayor’s proclamation, which will be on display at
the event, reads, in part: “Whereas Baton Rouge is a
city composed of a great variety of diverse people,
cultures, religions, sexual orientations, languages and
customs, and whereas the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered communities have contributed to the
City-Parish of Baton Rouge/East Baton Rouge through
active involvement in cultural and economic progress,
now, therefore, I, Melvin “Kip” Holden, Mayor-President
of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge,
hereby do proclaim June 26, 2010, as LGBT Pride Day.” |
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Not Sure
of the Location? This Map Can Help
(June 16, 2010)
Need a little help figuring out where Pride Fest is
located this year?
The map and
directions to the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium that
you can find on our Resource Fair page probably can
help.
Here are some more tips for you:
The Belle of Baton
Rouge Atrium (formerly the Sheraton Atrium) is located in
downtown Baton Rouge adjacent to the Belle of Baton Rouge
Casino (and between the Baton Rouge River Center and the
I-10 approach to the Mississippi River bridge).
Although its address technically is 102 France Street,
much of the access to it is more convenient from St.
Philip, which runs down one side of the complex.
Plenty of free parking
is offered in the Belle's garages and surrounding public
parking lots (under the bridge). Paid parking also is
available in the area (beside George's). We recommend using
the free parking in the Belle garage located on the south
end of the hotel complex (between Europe and South on River
Road - behind the 13th Gate building).
Pride Fest will be
occupying most of the south end of the Belle of Baton Rouge
Atrium (the end closest to the I-10 bridge). You won't be
able to miss us no matter how you enter the Atrium. |
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Pride
Fest Program On Its Way
(June 15, 2010)
The printed version of this year's Baton Rouge Pride
Fest program book is off at the printer and will be
ready for you at the Baton Rouge Pride Fest
from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Belle
of Baton Rouge Atrium downtown.
But you don't have to wait for the printed version to
see it. You can check out an online version and learn
more about our team, our events, our resource fair
participants and our sponsors and advertisers who helped
to make it all possible.
Just
click here to see an online version of the program.
(You'll need Adobe Acrobat reader to view the pdf file.) |
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Don't
Forget Other Pride Events, Too
(June 15, 2010)
In addition to the Baton Rouge Pride Fest
from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Belle
of Baton Rouge Atrium downtown next to the river (and
the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino), other groups also have
events planned for the weekend and week before our
event.
Don't forget about these events:
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New Orleans Gay Men's
Chorus "Disco Daze." Saturday, June 19, 7:30 p.m.,
Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge (Goodwood
Boulevard).
www.nogmc.com
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Krewe of Divas Pride
Bal Masque. Saturday, June 19, 8 p.m., The
Union Hall (Government Street), Baton Rouge.
www.kreweofdivas.com
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Capital City Alliance
"Kings, Queens and Everything In Between." Tuesday,
June 22, 9 p.m., Splash (Highland Road), Baton
Rouge.
www.ccabatonrouge.org
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40+
Organizations and Businesses Signed Up for Resource Fair
Already
(June 8, 2010)
We've still got a few more days left before the
deadline, but more than 40 organizations and businesses
have signed up to participate in this year's Community
Resource Fair at Pride Fest.
To see the complete list or to find out how your
group or business can get involved, visit our Resource
Fair page.
You're sure to discover lots of services and
organizations you didn't know about by taking part in
the Resource Fair at this year's Baton Rouge Pride Fest
from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Belle
of Baton Rouge Atrium downtown next to the river (and
the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino). |
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Response
from Sponsors Tremendous
(June 8, 2010)
The response from sponsors this year has been nothing
short of tremendous, even with the sluggish economy.
The event is still almost three weeks away, and we've
nearly met our budget for cash donations to support the
event (which is almost double the total budget with
which we operated last year).
Couple that with the donations of advertising from
Cox Communications and Lamar, and our Baton Rouge Pride
Fest 2010 accounts now show almost twice what we
budgeted for this year and nearly three times what we
had last year.
You'll can see the complete list of sponsors on our
Sponsors page. We certainly
hope you'll say thanks to all of them for supporting
this great event for our community. |
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More
Entertainers Added
(June 8, 2010)
The New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus is joining the great
lineup of entertainers slated for the Baton Rouge Pride
Fest.
In addition, we've got Toni O and Blue Haze, Daphne
Mushatt with Miss Jane, Laurence LeSage and Michael
Sandlin plus a step show by Gamma Alpha Psi and
performances by the incomparable Krewe of Divas.
You don't want to miss it. To see the full schedule
of events slated for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 26,
at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium,
click here. |
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Lamar
Donates Billboard Space for Pride Fest
(June 8, 2010)
Lamar has generously donated most of the costs of
billboard space advertising the Baton Rouge Pride Fest.
You should see our ads on four electronic billboards
around the city starting June 13.
Thanks to Lamar for their generous support.
The in-kind donations of advertising from Lamar
($4,300) and Cox Communications ($10,000) have doubled
the budget for this year's events.
If you want a sneek peek at the billboards, open this
file.
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Cox
Donates Advertising for Pride Fest
(June 1, 2010)
Cox Communications is donating advertising for the
Baton Rouge Pride Fest valued at approximately $10,000.
The company will run 200 30-second spots during the
next few weeks on its cable network in the area.
Our spot was produced and donated by Ted Baldwin of
3rd Coast Digital Films/Cinema Rektor Studios. If you
haven't seen it yet, click
here to take a look at the Web version. |
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Gerry
Lane Enterprises Sponsoring Kids' Area
(May 2010)
Gerry Lane Enterprises has graciously signed on as
the sponsor for the children's area for this year's
Baton Rouge Pride Fest.
We'll have a "fun jump" from Bounce n' Around
Inflatables, as well as other activities, such as face
painting, for the young and young at heart.
Thanks to Gerry Lane and
to all our sponsors for their support. |
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Krewes of
Apollo, Divas Join in FUNdraising Show for Pride Fest
(April 27, 2010)
The lovely "ladies" of the Krewe of Apollo Baton
Rouge will join those from the Krewe of Divas at 11 p.m.
this Friday (April 30, 2010) at George’s Place for a
special drag show benefiting the Baton Rouge Pride Fest.
Please join us for this FUNdrasing event to support
Pride in our community! You don't want to miss
incomparable Effie Marie, Chica LaRouge, Jennifer
Marlow, Buffi Monet, Venus Envy and many more...
See you at George's (868
St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge) this Friday night.
Admission is free, and all your tips benefit this year's
Baton Rouge Pride Fest.
(Added May 1, 2010): We
certainly hope everyone had a great time. Thanks to all
who participated and helped raise funds for this year's
Baton Rouge Pride Fest! |
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Larry
Fremin Selected as Honorary Grand Marshal for 2010
(April 24, 2010)
Larry Fremin, one of the founding members of the
Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge, has been selected to serve
as honorary grand marshal of this year's Baton Rouge
Pride Fest.
Fremin, who is serving as captain for Apollo's 30th
anniversary ball this year, has served that organization
continuously since its founding. He's also been an avid
supporter of a variety of community causes, including
Apollo's AIDS Crisis Fund, the Children's Miracle
Network Halloween Ball and many others, in addition to
being a long-time Baton Rouge businessman as the owner
of Four Seasons Flowers and Gifts.
Join us in congratulating Larry for this
much-deserved honor. The award will be officially
presented at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 26, during the Baton
Rouge Pride Fest at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium. For
more details on the full schedule of events, see our
schedule page. |
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Same
Place, Different Name
(April 15,
2010)
The location for this year's Baton Rouge Pride Fest
is still the same, but its name has changed since we
started promoting the events earlier this year.
The Sheraton brand has been dropped by the Belle of
Baton Rouge Convention Center and Hotel, so our location
now will be known as the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium.
It's still the same great place at 102 France Street
beside the river in downtown Baton Rouge. Only the name
has changed. But there's still plenty of free parking in
its garages and plenty of air-conditioned space for our
activities. For more details on the location, visit the
Belle of Baton Rouge website. (It
even has a
Directions link that will let you generate your own
customized directions.) |
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Sponsors,
Advertisers, Resource Fair Vendors Being Sought for 2010
(March
15, 2010)
Moving inside to the comforts of the Sheraton Atrium and
offering a longer festival and more extensive lineup of
entertainment also mean higher costs for the 2010 Baton
Rouge Pride Fest.
So we're seeking sponsors and advertisers to help defray
those costs and support this extremely worthwhile
community event. More details about advertising in this
year's program book or sponsoring Pride Fest can be
found on our sponsors page.
We're also seeking organizations and businesses
interested in participating in our resource fair. We
also want it to be the largest ever (which will be quite
a feat, considering we had more than 40 last year). If
you're interested or know of someone who may be, please
see our resource fair page. |
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Nominate
Someone to be Grand Marshal
(March 1,
2010)
Last year we instituted a Baton Rouge Pride Fest honor
by naming someone as the Honorary Grand Marshal for the
events.
Richard Dykes, owner of George's Place, was the honoree
(along with recognition for his partner Guy Schmeider
and their dedicated team of employees).
The Pride Fest team is seeking your ideas about who we
should honor this year. Know someone in the community
who should be recognized as the Honorary Grand Marshal
of this year's Baton Rouge Pride Fest for their
long-term and dedicated service to the GLBT community?
Send an e-mail with your nominee's name, contact
information and a brief explanation of why you think
that person (or organization) should be honored to
BRPride@bellsouth.net.
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Entertainment Lineup Already Taking Shape
(Feb. 15, 2010)
We've got a great slate of entertainers lined up for the
2010 Baton Rouge Pride Fest from noon until 6 p.m. at
the Sheraton Atrium (102 France Street, Baton Rouge).
Baton Rouge's own legendary diva Daphne MuShatt is
returning to entertain us with her musical talents, and
she'll be accompanied this year by Miss Jane.
We've also recruited Toni O and Blue Haze from Baton
Rouge, Baton Rouge's Krewe of Divas, and many more.
We'll also offer our traditional blessing of
relationships conducted by MCC pastor, Rev. Keith
Mozingo, and much more.
You don't want to miss it! |
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Dates,
Location Selected for 2010; Pride Fest Moving to Indoor
Location with 'Outdoor Feel'
(January 1,
2010)
Thee 2010 Baton Rouge Pride Fest is moving indoors to
the Sheraton Atrium in downtown Baton Rouge.
This year's date for the "picnic" and resource fair will
be June 26, 2010 from noon until 6 p.m. The indoor venue
has the benefits of air conditioning to help you beat
the summer heat, a better stage and sound system for
entertainment, and space for organizations and vendors
for the resource fair to be located in the same area
with the stage. (You told us you wanted all of that in
the survey after last year's events, and we're trying to
meet those requests!)
Mark your calendars. Save the date, and spread the word
to your friends. Join us for a fun-filled day of
entertainment, networking, food, fun and more.
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2009 NEWS
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2009
Pride Fest a Huge Success
The 2009 Baton Rouge Pride Fest weekend was a huge
success!
About 1,500 to 2,000 people participated in the various
activities of the weekend, which included Drag Bingo on
Friday evening, the Pride Fest picnic and Resource Fair
Saturday, a special Pride Worship Service at MCCBR on
Sunday, an afternoon of movies on Sunday and much more.
A survey of participants after the event found that
EVERYONE said they would attend Pride Fest again and
bring their friends. Among the comments were:
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It was a
great Community event.
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I think
it is awesome opportunity to see friends, vendors
and be entertained at a nice scenario.
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I think
the BR gay community is being VERY well-served by
the Pride Fest and already look forward to next
year's event.
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If people
want to go to any event of their peers and have a
good time and fellowship...this was it!
-
Wonderful
opportunity to meet and view other alternative
families, and show my child that we're not alone in
not "being the norm."
-
The Pride
Fest was a terrific source for information.
Thanks to everyone who made the events possible,
including our dedicated team of volunteers and our
generous sponsors.
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George's
Owner Richard Dykes 'Honorary Grand Marshal'
Longtime Baton Rouge businessman and community
member/supporter Richard Dykes will be recognized as the
honorary grand marshal of the 2009 Baton Rouge Pride
Fest.
Dykes
and partner Guy Schmeider are the owners and operators
of George’s Place, the city’s oldest GLBT-targeted
establishment.
The
award will be officially presented shortly after noon
during the Pride Picnic and Community Resource Fair
Saturday, June 20, at BREC’s Magnolia Mound Park on
Nicholson Drive (between LSU and downtown) in Baton
Rouge.
“It’s
our honor to recognize Richard Dykes for the pivotal
role he’s played in our community for so many years,”
said Tom Merrill, chair of the Baton Rouge Pride Fest
team. “He’s been much more than just a long-standing
member of the community. He’s supported so many causes,
helped to put on so many things, and, in general, been a
friend to everyone in our community. Selecting him as
the first recipient of this honor was an easy decision
for our planning team to make!”
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Daphne
MuShatt, Others To Entertain Pride Fest Crowd
There's a full schedule of entertainment planned for the
Baton Rouge Pride Fest Picnic Saturday, June 20, at
Magnolia Mound.
Entertainment, like the picnic and resource fair,
stretches from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., and includes
singers, comedians and a chance for the public to be a
star with Coco’s karaoke.
One of the highlights will be a return to the stage of
Daphne MuShatt, formerly of the Born Divas, SHE the Band
and N2N. She’s scheduled to perform along with Ester
Gorsha, Andrea Papa and Rae Morris. But they won’t be
alone on the stage – with other portions of the day
including singers/musicians Ray Acardo, Mister Wilson,
Michael Sandlin, Erika Schneider and Andi Johnson;
comedians Landon, Patricia Hamilton and Cami Miller; and
performances by the Krewe of Divas and Miss Capitol City
Pride Amanda Rose Andrew.
See more
about the entertainment. |
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MCC
Pastor To Conduct Blessing of Relationships
Building on a tradition started during last year's Pride
Fest, activities Saturday, June 20, at Magnolia Mound
will include a blessing of relationships that will
celebrate the victories made in marriage equality during
the past year, as well as ever-so-briefly bemoan the
setbacks.

“We feel strongly about honoring the commitments made by
people to one another, and we believe those
relationships are a gift from God to be celebrated,”
said Rev. Keith Mozingo, pastor of MCC of Baton Rouge,
who will conduct the relationship blessing. “Same-sex
marriage may not be legal here in Louisiana, but that
doesn’t have to stop people from celebrating their
relationships or us from honoring and blessing those
relationships. We’ve seen many states giving us cause
for a celebration over the past year, but we feel
there’s always a reason to celebrate the love members of
our community share.”
The blessing will occur between noon and 12:30 along
with other activities including entertainment and
special recognition of this year's Pride Fest Grand
Marshal. |
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'Drag
Bingo' Sure To Provide Laughs, Chances to Win Prizes
Thanks to some of our friends from the Krewe of Apollo
Baton Rouge, who will repeat their roles as hostesses
again this year, Pride Fest will feature several rounds
of “Drag Bingo” from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, June
19, at MCC of Baton Rouge (7747 Tom Drive).
Participants can compete for prizes while they enjoy
fun, fellowship and snacks, and admission is free. Among
the prizes are free hotel nights, LSU collectibles,
Audubon Zoo/Aquarium tickets and much more.
Visit MCCBR's Web site
for directions. |
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Don't Miss
Out On Great Door Prizes!
Door
prizes will be awarded throughout the day at the Pride
Picnic and Resource Fair on Saturday, June 20, as well
as the Afternoon at the Movies on Sunday, June 21.
All
those who register at the Pride Fest welcome tables will
be entered in the drawings for gift certificates,
T-shirts, Pride items and much more.
Be sure
to look for the Pride welcome table and complete your
entry. |
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Afternoon Of
Movies Planned For Sunday, June 21
Movies
offered Sunday afternoon, June 21, will include several
favorites and potential favorites -- including Academy
Award-winning "Milk."
Other
selections include "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom,"
"Coffee Date" and "Rock Haven." Along with the movies
will be free snacks during breaks, as well as the chance
to visit with friends and neighbors.
The
Afternoon at the Movies will be conducted at MCCBR (7747
Tom Drive) from 12:30 until ab out 5:30 p.m.
Click here for a
schedule and more information. |
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Resource
Fair Growing Daily
With a
week left to sign up (and two weeks until the event),
approximately 20 community organizations and businesses
also have signed up to “table” at the Pride Fest Picnic
and Resource Fair Saturday, June 20.
Those
groups include organizations who will do everything from
signing up voters to HIV and STD counseling and testing.
And new applications are coming in every day, which
means the final count could approach 30 or more
organizations participating.
Among
those committed to participate as of June 5 were Avallon
Salon and Day Spa; Avita Drugs; Big Easy Metropolitan
Community Church (New Orleans); Blanche's Beads; Bonnie
Jones, Realtor; Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge;
Forum for Equality; Freedom of Choice AA; Gamma Alpha
Psi; Greg Bell AIDS Foundation; HAART / The Caring
Clinic; Human Rights Campaign; Krewe of Apollo Baton
Rouge; Krewe of Divas; Mark Akchin, Realtor; the Martens
Law Firm; Metro Health; Metropolitan Community Church of
Baton Rouge; PFLAG Acadiana; Shear Illusions Hair Salon;
Starbucks; Stonewall Democrats; and Tiger Truck Stop.
Does
your group want to participate? Go to our
Resource Fair application
page for more details. |
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Major events
coordinated by Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge
Pride Team in cooperation with Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge,
HAART, Krewe of Divas, Forum for Equality, Gamma Alpha Psi,
Capital City Alliance and other individuals and organizations
and generous sponsors. To volunteer, find out how your group can
be involved, or help to sponsor these events,
check our
Sponsor and Resource Fair pages or e-mail
BRPride@bellsouth.net
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