Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in Olympia

Above: Macklemore crowd surfs during “Can't Hold Us” in the Capitol Theater on Sunday night. 

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis received an enthusiastic Olympia welcome Sunday evening as they came to town for an intimate, energetic concert at the Capitol Theater. 

One of eight stops on their Northwest “Camping Tour,” the Olympia concert sold out in less than an hour. 

Above: Before the concert, Mayor Cheryl Selby presented Macklemore and Ryan Lewis with the cultural keys to the city for their artistic contributions and positive messages while challenging homophobia, promotion of anti-racism discourse, and long term investment in the Black Lives Matter movement.

“…Olympia had a huge impact on me becoming the artist and the human I am today….I met a lot of rappers and a lot of amazing artists and people who wanted to change the world and there were a lot of conversations. If it were not for Olympia, I would not be here,” Macklemore told the cheering crowd.

Warming up the crowd inside before the concert was Xperience, (without the “e” because rappers have to mess with their names and better known as XP), who proudly told the crowd that he was born at St. Peter’s Hospital, and has been collaborating with Macklemore for 13 years.

Macklemore and Lewis kept the crowd singing, dancing, sweating, laughing, and crying with non-stop hits from Cadillac to White Privilege II, ending with Downtown.

“…It’s up to us to rewire…we need to let love take over…I don’t care about the color of your skin, your sexual orientation…I don’t care what your passport says, I want you to be inspired by diversity, not afraid of it. And at the end of the day, hatred can never overpower love,” said Macklemore as he lead into Same Love.

Macklemore joked and told stories of his time in Olympia, during which he created The Language of My World album and graduated from The Evergreen State College.

“Olympia became my family….you guys are my family, and so is Brad Pitt,” as he segued into Brad Pitt’s Cousin.

Describing his drive into Olympia, taking Exit 104, he headed toward Capital Mall, Red Robin, Toys R Us, seeing the skate park on the left, and Burger King on the right.

“….I kept driving, telling myself to stay focused, when all of a sudden, I hear angels calling. What the fuck is that? And I look over to the right….” 

The crowd screamed, realizing he’s heading toward Goodwill and, of course, Thrift Shop.

Above: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis rocked until 11:15 p.m. 

Next, they are on to sold out shows in Hoquiam, Bremerton, and Bellingham, and will end up in Seattle for Bumbershoot on September 3.

Capital City Pride Day 2013 - People Working Together

Above: Daniel Bumbarger, 25, and Noel Coley, 20, staff the Mpowerment Olympia booth at Capital City Pride in downtown Olympia today. 

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The official theme of Capital City Pride 2013 was "Advancing Our Pride - Moving Forward Together." As it turns out, it really was about people working together to make it happen, from beginning to end. The 23 year old celebration in Olympia lost a couple key volunteers this year, but gained dozens more after organizers put out a community-wide request for help.

Sunny weather with rainbows galore graced the parade, youth talent show, drag queen entertainment and dozens of supportive GLBTQ non-profit organization booths in Sylvester Park today.

Above: Romeo Jay Jacinto of Olympia, right, was the winner of Pride Idol 2013, singing Macklemore's "Same Love" with Christina Brewer. Later, he said it was his first time on a big stage, and that he sang the song for GLBTQ allies.

 

Above: Drag queen "Miss Mirage A Trois" of Olympia sings Demi Lavato's "Heart Attack"

 

 

At the Mpowerment Olympia group table, Daniel Bumbarger, 25, handed out safe sex kits and materials. He is upset about the cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention funding in Thurston County. Mpowerment Olympia volunteers organize and participate in many positive social activities and hand out about 1,000 safe sex kits per month at community events, colleges, clubs, bars, and clinics.

"No funding outside of the funding bubbles (of King, Pierce and Snohomish County) is ridiculous...I mean, I understand why they are doing it, but people to people connections are far more useful than any advertising campaign, particularly with youth. We've been so oversaturated with that - it doesn't affect us anymore."

Bumbarger has been involved with Mpowerment Olympia since November of 2011 and appreciates the group. "I think I get as much out of it as I put into it. It's the social stuff, yeah, but it also gives us the skills to do our own programs, and trains us to be leaders in our own lives...I came here from central Pennsylvania. This is my first group of friends - people aren't afraid of being themselves here."

Noel Coley, 20, agreed. Coley has been involved with Mpowerment Olympia for a year.

"I like helping educate men. I feel like a leader. I honestly don't know how it's all going to go - it's going to be pretty crazy until we find some (funding) stabilization. I feel a real sense of community with Mpowerment, a sense of belonging, and I'm helping the community too." 

Both young men were present later in the evening, volunteering at the Red Ribbon Prevention Gayla held at the Urban Onion Ballroom. The event was held to raise funds for HIV prevention services in Thurston County. A silent auction, a raffle, and a dessert dash all raised a significant amount of money. Organizers were thrilled.

"The support has been breathtaking...All of you have changed the future of prevention. After July 1st, there will be HIV testing!" said Justin Taylor, Mpowerment Olympia coordinator and HIV/AIDS prevention coordinator for the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. Taylor received a leadership award at the event for his four years of dedication to the Mpowerment Olympia group.

"He built this program from the ground up," said Matthew Shrader, chair of the Mpowerment Advisory Committee.

Above: Matthew Schrader, left, and Justin Taylor at tonight's Red Ribbon Gayla.

Above: In honor of the late Tumwater City Councilmember Ed Stanley, Capital City Pride Parade Marshal Roger Cummings, left, presents Matthew Shrader, Chair of the Mpowerment Advisory Committee, a check for $1000 to the Pierce County AIDS Foundation to go toward local HIV/AIDS prevention activities. 

 

Community donations will be needed on an ongoing basis to continue free HIV/AIDS testing and other HIV/AIDS prevention activities. For more information, go to www.Mpoweroly.org or www.piercecountyaids.org/prevention. Mpowerment Olympia is located at 317 4th Avenue East, 4th floor, Olympia, (360) 352-2375. No-cost, rapid and confidential HIV testing is on Fridays 12:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment.

 

To help with next year's Capital City Pride, go to www.capitalcitypride.net.