News & Events: June 2007

Thank you for an amazing month of pride, love, and inspiration!

June was an amazing month for us at Rainbow Legends. Thank you to all the amazing and wonderful people who took the time to stop by and visit us at the Pride events. We appreciate you and celebrate your life and your story.

06.02.07 KANSAS CITY PRIDE: Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Pride was located at Liberty Memorial Park.  This was Rainbow Legends’ first Pride event and we did not know what to expect.  We had no idea how people would respond to us or to our current project, What’s Your Story? So we just showed up, no camera (sorry), no booth—just Amanda and I with a few boxes of books and a few thousand bookmarks. As we began to talk with people the interest was tremendously positive!  During our two days there we spoke with thousands of people, gave out over a thousand books, and over fifteen hundred bookmarks.  We considered it a huge success. 

The most memorable experience throughout this Pride event that seemed to touch people the most was that in every book we gave away we placed a dollar bill inside.  At first, people were somewhat baffled by this until we explained its significance.  Then they were touched, some cried, many wanted to hugs us, and some even told us, “I love you two!!” 

...more about the Legendary Dollar Bill

...more about Kansas City Pride

06.09.07 OMAHA PRIDE: Omaha, NE

This was our second Pride event located on the city streets of downtown Omaha.  Yes, this time we were more prepared.  We remembered to bring both the camera and video camera.  We had clipboards for people to sign up if they wanted to share their story with us, or if they wanted to receive additional information. After setting up, we were ready to experience the great city of Omaha and the beautiful, colorful, people of Nebraska Pride.  The outpouring of interest was incredible.  We had hundreds of people sign-up and seventy-seven people wanted to share their story with Rainbow Legends.  We were thrilled.  We gave out nearly five hundred books, and a thousand bookmarks.  Again, a huge success, and also the Legendary Dollar Bill was shared and loved.

...more about the Legendary Dollar Bill

...more about Omaha Pride

06.10.07 DES MOINES PRIDE : Des Moines, IA

This was our third Pride celebration and it was located in a gorgeous park (Simon Estes Amphitheater) downtown located by the river with the state’s stunning capital building as a backdrop.  What a beautiful place and what beautiful people we met.  Again, the interest was thrilling.  Nearly a hundred people signed up for our mailing list.  Also, thirty people wanted to share their story, we gave away three hundred books,  five hundred bookmarks, and the Legendary dollar bill was a huge hit.  The reaction about the dollar bill never loses its impact, people tear up, hug us, and tell us, “I love you two!”  It is so exciting to see this project taking flight in the hearts and minds of others.

...more about the Legendary Dollar Bill

...more about Des Moines Pride

06.23.07 ST. LOUIS PRIDE : St. Louis, MO

Wow, this Pride event was located in Tower Grove Park! We were there for the Pet Parade and thousands of people showed up regardless of the heat, humidity, or rain.  We were seated among approximately a hundred forty vendors.  What an experience getting to know so many people, sharing what each of our companies are doing within our LGBTQ Community.  We had a hundred forty-two people sign up for information, eighty-eight people wanted to share their story, we gave away over four hundred books, and handed out over six hundred bookmarks.  Again, the legendary dollar bill—touched hundreds of hearts and lives.

...more about the Legendary Dollar Bill

...more about St. Louis Pride

06.30.07 Submit Your Story : Reading Grounds Bookstore, Omaha NE

When we attended Omaha Pride there were numerous people who asked us if we had gone to Reading Grounds.  We had never heard of Reading Grounds before that day, but with so many people mentioning it we knew it was someplace we needed to discover, and we are so glad we did. 

Reading Grounds is owned by Cindy Collins and her partner Angie Keyes.  This is the only bookstore of its kind in all of Nebraska!!  What these women are doing for the community is tremendous.  They offer an opportunity to do more than purchase books from a huge selection of gay and lesbian literature. It is also a safe place for many LGBTQ people who would otherwise have no place to go.  Cindy and Angie have created more than a bookstore—it is a home for any LGBTQ heart to find solace, safety, support, and love!  We immediately fell in love with these women and their mission and they with ours. 

Reading Grounds provided a space for people to come and share their stories with us.  We interviewed eighteen people for up-coming publications.  The interviews lasted all day, one right after the other.  The stories we heard are moving and make us feel proud to be part of a community that is so diverse and magnificent. 

A huge thanks to Cindy and Angie at Reading Grounds for making this happen.  Please take the time to check out their web site.  Also, give them a call if you are looking for LGBTQ literature—they can find it—and get it to you regardless where you live.  So, check them out. 

...more about Reading Grounds Bookstore