After the Cincinnati Pride Parade downtown Saturday, be sure to head to Sawyer Point for the Cincinnati Pride 2012 Festival. The entertainment (on both the Kroger Stage and the CityBeat Stage) is especially strong this year, with everything from comedy and, of course, drag shows, but also an incredibly diverse lineup of musical acts. This year’s Pride Festival showcases everything from Punk and Indie Pop to R&B, Folk, Jazz and Country. Headlining on the Kroger Stage at 7:10 p.m. is popular American Idol contestant from Season 2, Frenchie Davis. (Visit cincinnatipride.org/entertainment for the full schedule.)
The city’s embracing of the Pride parade and festival is reflective of the general public’s growing tolerance, something evident in the eclecticism of the musical lineup. There are “out” musicians in most major genres of music (to varying degrees of acceptance) and, though there’s a ways to go in some areas, a musician’s sexuality is hardly seen as controversial as it once was.
One genre still evolving in its tolerance of homosexuality is Hip Hop. While several high-profile artists came out in support of gay marriage recently in the wake of President Obama’s declaration, there’s yet to be an “out” Hip Hop star in the mainstream. On the CityBeat stage at 2 p.m. you can catch a local duo that is hoping to be one of the first.
Swaggs & Hollywood is a young LGBT duo from Cincy that has already been featured on numerous mixtapes (including one curated by Young Money) and opened for mainstream acts. At Pride, the ladies will showcase their own debut mixtape, the impressive, dynamic SexLoveSwag. Take a listen to a few tracks at reverbnation.com/SwaggzHollywood.
SWAGGZ & HOLLYWOOD perform Saturday, June 30 at the Cincinnati Pride Festival at Sawyer Point.