Welcome by Murphy, Sam and Jodi, Special Guest Emcees

Krewe of Divas

Announcements/Door Prizes

Cajun Cove Idol Finalists

Josh Duffy

Announcements/Door Prizes

Recognition of Honorary Grand Marshal

Michael Sandlin

Blessing of Relationshipss

Tatia Coco, DJ

Cajun Cove Idol Finalists

N.O. Gay Men’s Chorus

Announcements/Door Prizes

Grown Ass Women / Daphne Mushatt

Announcements/Door Prizes

Grown Ass Women / Daphne Mushatt

Door Prizes/Thank You for Attending

DJ  Tatia Coco

All Afternoon

Resource Fair

All Afternoon

Children's Play Area

Murphy, Sam & Jodi are among Baton Rouge's favorite morning personalities. Heard locally on 96.1 The River, they literally bring their "morning show for you and your family" to listeners across the country through other stations and even their own iPhone app.

Perhaps their Facebook page gives the best view of their philosophy when it lists their mission as "to make you laugh...even if you have the kids in the car!"

The Baton Rouge Pride Fest is proud to welcome them as our special guest emcees for the first portion of this year's event.

Josh Duffy is a New Orleans-based pop/rock artist. His debut CD Artificial has received nationwide acclaim and put him on the map as a leading GLBT singer-songwriter.

Voted as the No. 1 GLBT artist for three consecutive months on OutVoice.net, Josh is one of the few indie artists to have had multiple Top 20 hits on Sirius OutQ's countdown. His appearances at several major festivals across the United States have helped to establish a devoted fan base limitless to age and sexual orientation.

Currently, Josh has been working on several projects in the film industry – most recently appearing opposite John Goodman in HBO's latest post-Katrina series Treme. He can also be seen in the upcoming movies Dead Of Night and National Lampoons: Dirty Movie.

Daphne MuShatt has been a regional favorite for years and naturally was a big hit at last two year's Baton Rouge Pride Fests, so we're pleased to have her return this year.  She's joining us this year with her sister singers Rae Morris and Stephanie Rodrigue, who were with her last year, as well, and they've now dubbed themselves the Grown Ass Women. You don't want to miss them.

An entertainer since 1978, Daphne MuShatt got her start starring for more than three years as "Big Bertha Williams" in the popular Off-Broadway production of  "ONE MO' TIME".  While performing in several musical productions she fine tuned her solo performance on the "convention circuit" with her jazz band. For the next several years, as a solo performer, Ms. MuShatt played every major hotel, club and river boat in New Orleans, including The Plimpsol Club, Seaport Cafe, Crazy Shirley's, Can Can Cabaret and Preservation Jazz Hall.    She has performed for Brown Bag Concerts, The New Orleans French Quarter Festival, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, in New Orleans and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

In 1985, she became half of the highly successful duo "BORN DIVAS" where, for 8 years she was a favorite with audiences and the media for her flashy, uninhibited style and sassy repartee with the audience. One East Coast newspaper said, "On stage, the trio [keyboard player included] is dominated by the most impressive personage of Miss Daphne MuShatt, a six foot, stunningly good-looking black woman possessed of a superstructure which makes Dolly Parton look like an adolescent boy .......especially equipped for it, [she] bumps, grinds and jiggles to the obvious, noisy delight of their fans."  She can "croon a ballad, sock a rock number and ladle out a standard with the sweetness of Log Cabin poured reeeeal slow."

Among her many accomplishments, she received a special invitation to perform for PRESIDENT and MRS. GEORGE H,W. BUSH for the 75th Anniversary of the Naval Air Reserve.  She also has done special performances for ABC, NBC, and FOX Television Networks, in addition to having performed with and for such greats as Sting, Carol Channing, Dick Cavatt, Helen Reddy and Joan Rivers.

Known throughout the country for their efforts to raise money for AIDS, she and her groups have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the care of persons affected by AIDS.

For the past few years she has enjoyed playing locally, in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with her groups, “SHE The Band,” "N-2N" and now with "Grown Ass Women."  Performances include such notable venues as, New Orleans Lakefront Arena, and Margaritaville Café, New Orleans, The Varsity Theatre, Spanish Moon, The Atrium, Baton Rouge Theatre for the Performing Arts, Baton Rouge, and Snooks-Bourbon Orleans, New Orleans. Recent solo performances include a featured performance with The Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra and special guest appearance with Ms. Irma Thomas.

A versatile performer, Ms. MuShatt has been reviewed with awe and rave in newspapers across the country from New Orleans' Times Picayune to New York's Village Voice.  Perhaps June Bonner of the Coconut Club in Charleston, S.C., summed it up best with this remark, "I don''t know what I could say that could possibly prepare you for what you are about to see."  

The New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus will be fresh from their annual summer concert, "Minding Our Manners," June 17 in New Orleans and June 18 in Baton Rouge and are making their second appearance as part of the Baton Rouge Pride Fest.

Taking its inspiration from the Windy City Gay Men's Chorus of Chicago, the New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus was formed in 1982. Throughout its history, the chorus has been a strong supporter of the gay and lesbian community. In addition, it also serves as a model of gay pride to the straight world.

The award-winning group boasts a long record of commissioning new works and performing with local celebrities, and they've been recognized with Gay Appreciation Awards Performing Arts Award for four years in a row. Most of all, their performances are just a lot of fun!

The Krewe of Divas prides itself on giving young performers a venue to show off their talents, as well as supporting the community at large.

And what a venue they give. The group performs all across the Baton Rouge metropolitan area, as well as in central and southeastern Louisiana.

Other Group's Pride Events

That May Interest You:

New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus "Minding Our Manners"

Saturday, June 18, 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge (Goodwood Boulevard)

www.nogmc.com

Krewe of Divas Pride Ball

Saturday, June 18, 8:30 p.m., Labor Union Hall (Government Street)

www.kreweofdivas.com

Drag Bingo

Friday, June 24, 8 p.m., MCC of Baton Rouge (7747 Tom Drive)

Guaranteed not to be a drag with Pastor Penny Costal and friends

www.facebook.com/mccbr

Pride Worship Service

Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m., MCC of Baton Rouge (7747 Tom Drive)

Presentation of Community Service Awards and more

www.facebook.com/mccbr

Not Sure About the Location?

Try This Map for Help:

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). 

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.

Major events coordinated by the Baton Rouge Pride Fest Team, including representatives of Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge, the  Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge, HAART, Krewe of Divas, Capital City Alliance, Gamma Alpha Psi  and other individuals and organizations. 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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