141. Queer All Year: 365 Days of Celebrating Pride (with Patrick Gevas)

Snarky Opener (0:00)

Patrick Gevas

You know, one of the biggest messages that are, I think, are so important to our community, is to still go to these events, be visible, because we can't take them for granted.

Episode Introduction (0:28)

Rob Loveless

Hello, my LGBTQuties, and welcome back to another episode of A Jaded Gay. I'm Rob Loveless and, today, I am a non-jaded gay because I woke up this morning.

And normally on weekends, I sleep in a little bit. But instead, I decided to go to the gym and just run for an hour on the treadmill. And while it was a little tiring, it did feel really good.

I've been just feeling a little frumpy this winter, so I've been trying to eat a little bit healthier, cut out some sugars, and try to be a little bit more active on the weekends.

During the weekdays, I mean, I go to the gym Monday through Friday, but that's mostly strength training. 

So, I thought it would be a good idea to get a little extra cardio in, and maybe just on Saturdays start running. Right now, it's still kind of cold outside, so that's why I was running on the treadmill.

Usually, I do my running group on weekends when it gets a little bit warmer out. We haven't started up yet, but that'll be here before we know it.

But yeah, it was just the first time I ran since, like, I don't know, I think November.

So, it just felt really good. I have those endorphins going, and I just feel energized and great.

365 Days of Pride (1:28)

Rob Loveless

Speaking of feeling energized, I am super excited to welcome another guest on for today to talk to us about how we can live Pride year-round.

You know, as we've talked about in past episodes with the history of the Stonewall Riots, a lot of Pride events within the United States happen around June, and that's really why we see corporations in the past, we'll see what happens now with the whole DEI scandal with the administration, but that's why a lot of corporations would observe Pride in June and do their fake allyship, and then the rest of the year, we wouldn't really hear much from them.

But it's important to remember that within the United States and even around the world, there are Pride celebrations year-round, including in Miami.

So, I'm very excited to have our guest on today to talk to us about Miami Beach Pride, which is taking place April 5 and s6 this year.

But before we get into it, you know the drill, let's pull our tarot card.

Tarot (2:20)

Rob Loveless

So, the card for this episode is the Queen of Pentacles in reverse.

Pentacles is full of feminine energy, so it's asking us to reflect and meditate, and it's tied to the element of earth, which is a very grounding and stabilizing energy.

Also, the suit of Pentacles and the queen figure are both really encapsulating that feminine energy. So, this card is really all about nurturing ourselves.

As you probably remember, Pentacles is all about putting in the hard work, reaping the fruits of our labor, and prosperity.

However, when we draw the Queen of Pentacles in reverse, it's telling us that we may be too focused on material aspects of life rather than what truly matters, and someone or something can be having too much influence on our decision-making process.

Also, this card can be signifying that there is an internal conflict and that we need to take time to nurture ourselves.

So, with this card being reflective, we need to look within to assess if we are prioritizing the right things in life.

And then from there, we can channel our intuition to guide us on the path forward, to align with what we value so we can take better care of ourselves.

Guest Introduction (3:20)

Rob Loveless

And with that in mind, I am very excited to welcome our next guest.

He is one of the organizers of Miami Beach Pride, which, how exciting, this year their grand marshals include Sasha Colby and Roshanda Lias. Please welcome Patrick Gevas. Hi, Patrick.

Patrick Gevas

Hi. Thank you so much for having me.

Rob Loveless

Of course, thanks for coming on. I'm very excited for this episode. You're in Miami Beach, Florida, so I'm hoping the weather is much nicer than right here in Philadelphia in March, as we're recording.

Very excited for you to tell us all things about Pride, but before we get into it, can you kind of just introduce yourself to the guests?

Tell them about your career, background, how you identify, pronouns, all that fun stuff?

Patrick Gevas

Sure, sure. So, my name is Patrick Gevas. I am he/him. I am based down here in South Florida.

I actually in my day job, you know, Pride is something that is more of a passion project for me, that I have done on the side for several years now.

But in my day job, I work for a PR and digital marketing agency, mostly handling consumer packaged goods, as well as some B2B clients and just other in the tech sector.

Been doing that now for probably a little bit longer than I want to share, but, but it's good.

And so, taking some of those skills into the board for a few years, and then I had taken a step back from from the board just working for a small business, it's really, really challenging, as I learned.

And so, I've come back in more of a freelance capacity to help with all the media for Miami Beach Pride and just do whatever I can to be an advocate in storytelling about the different narratives that are affecting our community, especially now.

So, I'm really glad to be here to be here to have this conversation with you today.

Rob Loveless

Awesome. And I think, like you said, now more than ever, is super pertinent to have this conversation. And there's a lot to cover.

Before we get into that, though, I do like to ask all my guests today, are you a jaded or non-jaded gay, and why?

Patrick Gevas

Ooh, that's a great question. You know, today I would say I'm non-jaded. I think that I don't know that we have the ability and the luxury to be too jaded at this point.

You know, I think that we really have to be seeking each other out for community, and really making sure that we're very present and attentive to the things that are happening to our community.

And so, you know, I want to come in with a defiant optimism is, I think, where I'm sitting, and I think it's hard to be jaded when you are trying to be defiantly optimistic in the face of some really considerable challenges for our community,

Rob Loveless

Definitely. And I love how you answered that, because I think with everything going on, you see the headlines and all that, it is very easy to be jaded.

And I think more days than not, sometimes I tend to be.

But I like how you kind of find the silver lining in that. In spite of it all, it inspires you to keep pushing forward and try to create a better tomorrow for the community.

Patrick Gevas

It does, and I will say I don't want to jump too far ahead. But you know, part of my work with Pride, we have a program called our Legacy Couples, and a few years ago, we were awarded a grant that we were able to preserve a lot of their stories.

And so, what denotes a legacy couple within Miami Beach Pride is a couple who's been together for at least 10 years or more, and we were able to interview couples that have been together 30, 40 years and really preserve their stories.

Part of that project was doing an audio and visual preservation of their stories, but then we were partnering with History Miami to also include an object that was really endemic to their relationship. 

And ever since that project, where I had the privilege of asking a lot of these couples, you know, about their story and their challenges, their triumphs, hearing their narratives of, you know, through the 80s, 70s, we actually had a couple of, the longest couple, I think, had been together for 52 years.

He was a military and Navy man who met, actually, he was a Mexican immigrant, and they've been together for over 50 years.

It warmed my heart, but I think part of it too was I got a tremendous amount of inspiration from them, and I really have felt like we are standing on their shoulders, and it is up to our generation now to continue that fight, and they have been the ones that have really given me so much of that inspiration and that defiantness because they endured things in the workplace that are unthinkable to a lot of people in our generation.

And you know, I really thought back, and it was a moment of checking my own privilege, because when my husband and I were going to look at wedding venues in Miami, every place we walked in, you know, they said, oh, how can we help you?

And we said, oh, we might want to get married here. At every turn, the answer was, wonderful. Let me show you around.

And I know that was because of the fight that those that have come before us, and I think that, and I am very privileged to have been able to be part of that, to understand and learn, but to also then take up the torch in their stead, because they really were just such inspiring figures, and they endure things that, yeah, like I said, we just probably can't even imagine.

You know, there were, there was one in particular, you know, harassing phone calls late at night, you know, saying, you know, don't come into work.

We know, you know, because just on the assumption that they had AIDS, you know, they knew they were gay, they were, you know, keeping things to themselves very, you know, just trying to keep their head down to work and just getting harassment that I can't imagine.

You know, I've always had very supportive employers. And you know, even, you know, cis-het white men who are like, Yeah, cool. Like, is your husband coming to the Christmas party?

We hope to see him, you know? And I, I don't want to take that for granted, and I think we might have gotten a little comfortable, and now we're seeing that the pendulum is swinging away from us.

And so, for me, I definitely want to, you know, continue that fight and try to make things better, like they made it better for me.

Rob Loveless

And to your point, you know, obviously, we don't want to lose the rights that we have won.

But if you look back at the gay liberation movement in the '70s, the AIDS crisis into the '80s and '90s, there were all these obstacles against the community, and in spite of that adversity, they still found a way to thrive and move forward and create a better tomorrow.

So again, obviously, we don't want to lose our rights, but God forbid, if that does happen, we're not going away.

And if anything, I think it'll push us to keep pushing forward for equality and try to create a better tomorrow for the next generation of the LGBTQ+ community.

Patrick Gevas

Absolutely, we have no choice, right? We've got to do it. We've got to do it.

Rob Loveless

Exactly. And I think that, to me anyway, that is what true Pride is. You know, obviously, the parties and everything are fun, but remembering the spirit of why we're coming together for that. And I think that's a nice segue into kind of today's topic.

Miami Beach Pride (9:01)

Rob Loveless

You are one of the organizers of Miami Beach Pride. So, can you tell us a little bit more about that and how you got involved with the work?

Patrick Gevas

Yeah, you know, I, you know, it's funny enough. Like I said, I've had, I had a very public wedding in Miami with with my spouse. We've been together for about 10 years.

We've been married for about four and, you know, I really got involved because even despite that, I had a lot of really major challenges kind of accepting myself.

And I really felt like, you know, despite having that public display, we brought our families together, you know, it was the best day of my life. I really still struggled.

And I think that, you know, a lot of people were kind of surprised when I would share that, because like, oh, well, like you and Jose have been together.

You guys had this beautiful wedding and and I think it just speaks to a lot of the themes of, I think, shame that a lot of us feel in the community at times because we grow up a little bit different.

And I really wanted to seek out community. I didn't have that many gay friends. I think, you know, I've heard, you know, as a listener to the show, I've, you know, related some of the topics, especially that you've discussed before.

And you know, so really thought, well, let me just go full tilt. I really in earnest, hadn't ever been to a Pride before joining the organization, and so I think I kind of had a very different perspective on seeking community and and found that.

And also, you know, found some of the challenging parts of our community that I think, you know, can sometimes be hard to talk about, but, you know, they're there.

But at the same time, I have found my tribe. And you know, being part of this organization, we are a nonprofit in South Florida.

We do our very best to provide as much free programming to be as inclusive as possible. We want to remove as many barriers as we can, especially financial ones.

And so as a nonprofit, we rely on grants and corporate sponsorships to be able to provide that for the for the community, and that takes the form of a number of things, ranging from we have a family picnic that we have essentially a whole week of events before the big parade, and that we try to do a number of things to outreach the community, ranging from a family picnic that is really not terribly Pride branded, and it's more for the children.

It's designed for whatever families look like, whether they're two moms, two dads, grandparents, or even, you know, straight families. It's something that we do in the park.

We bring out, we have a number of different activities for the kids with arts and crafts. We have bounce houses and characters, and it's just a lovely, a lovely, you know, thing to do for the family that's all free for the community. And then even going through the week, we have social justice night.

We have a queer art showcase that is part of our outreach to our local artists, and that everything that they sell that night, they keep 100% of the proceeds.

So, it's designed to help us support our local artistic community. And we've had authors, spoken word poetry, painters, sculptures.

It's been really, really cool to see the kind of the diversity, and then kind of culminating in the weekend festival events.

So, I think for me, I was looking for a way to get involved in my community, try to give back, but also to seek some additional acceptance within myself.

Rob Loveless

I love hearing that, and I think that's a great like you said, it's a great way to find community.

A lot of people might just view Pride as parties and drinks, and that's definitely an aspect to it, but it really is a source of community.

Like you said, social justice night, some of the political awareness, understanding our history.

So, I think that sounds great. And especially, I mean, what better location than Miami Beach, especially in the April months? You know, for me, I'm in the northeast, so it's much colder here.

So, the idea of escaping to to the beautiful Miami Beach to enjoy Pride, hear about the history, and also hopefully soak up some sun, sounds very appealing this time of year.

Patrick Gevas

That is the benefit, I will say. I mean, there is some, some on top of that, of generally, our weather at this time of the year is gorgeous.

So, it is nice to just be outside and be on the beach and have the festival with the music.

And, you know, seeing how people show up and show out, we see amazing outfits, and it is a chance for people to come and, you know, I think, explore themselves, explore the community, and really choose your own adventure.

Because, yeah, it is, it can be a party. We have, you know, some folks that are, you know, more of a sober lifestyle. We have activities for them too.

We have a calming pavilion for those that might even have some neuro divergence but still want to be part of Pride. That's kind of off to the side.

We have some noise-canceling headphones where they can still be part of it and enjoy. But we really do want to try to make this that it is a choose-your-own adventure.

Come as you are, explore, and learn, and just enjoy yourself and hopefully make some friends along the way too.

Rob Loveless

It's great that you offer so many outlets of Pride, because, like you said, you know, some people are sober, so it seems like there's something for everyone there.

And if I'm not mistaken, I think on the website Miami Beach Pride, it says that it attracts over 170,000 attendees each year.

So, with that in mind, what does it take to orchestrate such a large-scale event, and how do you ensure that it remains inclusive and welcoming for everyone?

Patrick Gevas

That's a great question. You know, it is not easy to put on an event of that size, and I think when a lot of people see that the board is mostly consisting of volunteers who are passionate about this community, that everyone has day jobs.

There's only like 10 of us that put on this festival for that many people. So, it is a Herculean effort that, I think, shows that the true passion, you know, is this is brought to life by people who genuinely care to do it.

There isn't, you know, much in it for us in terms of sort of financial gain, you know, as a nonprofit, this is very much a labor of love, and so it takes a tremendous amount of coordination.

We have a number of really great partners within the city. We work really closely with the police department to keep everybody safe.

We have some really great liaisons, you know, with that, that is, you know, safety is paramount, and I think that goes along with the inclusivity.

We want to make sure people, do, you know, create that safe space, whether or not it means, you know, we have our T tent for our trans brothers and sisters.

We have our women's tent, but we also are making sure that we have plainclothes police officers armed, you know, and also, you know, officers in uniform throughout but also, too, it's a lot of fun because we get to work with a number of different sponsors on different activations.

We bring in a lot of local food vendors, and so a lot of the festival is supporting the local economy in a really big way as well.

So, there's a lot of benefits to kind of working with all of these local partners to put on such a visible festival, you know, especially with our parade down Ocean Drive.

It takes a lot of coordination from that committee, and so it really is a divide and conquer. You know, there's a lot of folks that we sit on different committees.

We work really hard together to get everything done in a way that feels really organized and feels really polished, but also, too still feels fun.

So, you know, the efforts start months and months in advance of trying to lay the groundwork with all the permits and the things that are needed and just get all the stories together, the talent.

It's it is truly, you know, people would, I think, would be shocked at the imaginations behind the scenes to bring it to life. But we do it each year, because we know how much, how much it matters.

And this is our seventeenth year doing this in Miami Beach. And so, when you think about it, it's really not that that old, you know, that's still in its teens as a festival.

And so, I think we've tried to find new and different ways to innovate and bring new things to light each year, to make sure that it still stays relevant and interesting for people, and while still kind of keeping that same spirit of advocacy and visibility at the forefront.

Rob Loveless

And as we talked about before we started recording here, part of the reason Miami Beach Pride takes place in April is because, like you said, it's like peak weather.

It's beautiful, not too hot, not too humid. Also, it accommodates to make sure there's no interference with hurricane season.

The Importance of Year-Round LGBTQ+ Visibility (15:49)

Rob Loveless

But just beyond that, you know, we tend to think of Pride as just taking place in June, but many cities and countries around the world have their own Pride events throughout the year, and even just other LGBTQ+ visibility events besides Pride.

So, with that in mind, why are year-round celebrations like this so important?

Patrick Gevas

I think that's a great question. I think that these year-round celebrations matter, especially in these times with a new administration to make to make sure we're giving people spaces to gather.

I think that so much of what some of the goals are to divide us and to keep us separate so that we can't learn and collaborate with each other and advocate for ourselves. It's very intentional.

And so, I think making sure that we do have these spaces and avenues for people. I think we also saw the pandemic was really devastating for our community in a lot of ways, not only financially for folks that were relying on either tips if they were in different types of jobs.

Our drag queens were certainly under attack from the administration previously. And so, I think that there and but also too, I think above all, it was isolating for a lot of people.

And, you know, we didn't have a lot of those spaces of community. We saw a lot of queer spaces not survive the pandemic, just financially.

And so, I think having these year-round events, finding other ways to provide avenues for people to gather and just, you know, be together to try to either share ideas or just come together as people, I think.

But we're missing, you know, we've never lived in a more technologically advanced society, and yet we're so miserable.

And I think our community disproportionately is affected by that, whether through mental health, you know, under a lot of strain, just in general, and now kind of with the added layers of, you know, this really harmful administration.

Policies against our trans brothers and sisters, all of it kind of compounds. And so, if we're not able to find those avenues to come together in queer spaces or create them for ourselves, which is really what we actually have to do, I think it can be really damaging for the community.

So, there's a tremendous amount of benefit to not only advocate for ourselves but to also just remind people that we are here, and I don't think that people forget, but I think we have to be more visible in that when we are gathering and bringing in the allies, that is also really important.

So yes, those spaces need to be for us as a queer community, but we also need to make sure that we're reaching our allies, because we're going to need them more than ever for the next four years.

And so, I think, like, those types of things really do matter. And finding those ways to connect with people, especially finding like interest, or, you know, anything that can be part of a commonality in order to, you know, gather and advocate is going to be really, really important.

And we see it at Pride. We've, we, you know, I manage a lot of the social and we see DMs from people to, you know, that I've been like, hey, this is my very first Pride.

And I, you know, was really scared, but I, you know, I walked past a few times before I went into the festival, and it was really welcoming and inclusive. Or, you know, I went with a friend.

It was my first time, and I couldn't tell my parents, because I'm still living at home. I'm in my early 20s, and, you know, wasn't safe to come out. So, it's like, we still hear those stories.

They're not, I think a lot of us can take certain elements for granted, whether we live, especially living in South Florida that is relatively progressive.

That might not be our experience, but we know it still happens. And so, I also think that is the other big point too, is we have to try to, you know, get these spaces for people to come and explore certain sides of themselves and to feel safe.

And you know, in certain cases, for the very first time when amongst their community.

And so, I think that's why it matters too. It's still, we're still hearing those stories of people that are, that are afraid, or, you know, I think there's a lot of that fear and the shame, and hopefully, by being visible, can demystify that and kind of take some of that stigma away that, make no mistake, I think people want to also bring back, you know.

I think we have enjoyed a lot, you know, in a post, you know, Will & Grace in a media environment.

And we do see, you know, things in queer media, and how transformative even a show like that was for people of our generation.

But you know, I think it does still matter and to make sure that we are creating those spaces for people to be able to congregate and just explore and learn.

Rob Loveless

And to your point, too, I think this provides a great outlet for community.

Because, you know, we do have cities like Orlando, Miami Beach, Key West, which are kind of marketed as being big gay hubs, but it's in a very conservative state still.

I mean, especially if you think of the panhandle, and people always joke, I think when you see like a wild headline, it's like, of course, this happened in Florida.

Patrick Gevas

Yeah.

Rob Loveless

But so, I think it's important to remember, like you said, that this is attracting people who might not even be just right in Miami, but people from outside of there who may not see their existence in other parts of the state, and have these safe havens where they can really feel their authentic selves.

Patrick Gevas

Absolutely. And we are an international festival too. We have people coming from, you know, South America.

We've had people coming from Europe, you know, where there are some really progressive places. And so, I think that's where it is kind of a twofold, right? Miami is a world-class destination.

People want to be there. I think that that's great. But I also think too, we can't forget that there are still those pockets that can be, you know, really challenging for a queer person.

And so, making sure that we are still not taking that for granted, that just because we live in Miami, which is a very progressive city with a thriving gay community.

I mean, you can't walk down Ocean Drive without seeing, you know, Palace and the drag shows that stop traffic literally. You know, I don't say that as a joke, like it's the queens there are unbelievable.

And so, you see that just ingrained into the local culture. And I think that that's one of the benefits of it. 

But I also think too, it's making sure that we go beyond whatever spectacle is and still providing that spectacle with substance. You know, I think that's where sometimes Pride can fill a bit of a gap in that. 

You know, Miami is very flashy. It is about the clubbing and the money and some of that stuff that not all of us get to enjoy.

And so, I think that part of our goal and our responsibility as a nonprofit is making sure that we can certainly integrate into those, you know, fun and celebratory moments, but also still making sure that we are trying to find those ways of connecting on substance.

And I think that's where we see a lot with our social justice programming, even our artists talking to art and kind of how they are interpreting the events of the world and putting that into their art.

It is really thought-provoking. And I think having some of that conversation is also going to be really important because art is going to matter a lot more so as it continues to get censored.

Miami Beach Pride 2025 Events (21:44)

Rob Loveless

And this year, Miami Beach Pride's main events are happening April 5th and 6. So what should attendees expect during these dates, and how do they tie into the broader festival celebrations?

Patrick Gevas

Yeah, so they can expect another world-class, two-day festival on the beach. We're in Loomis Park in South Beach. We have multiple stages.

This year, we also have our Capital One Community stage, which is something that is really exciting. We started this, I think it was a year ago, maybe two, where, certainly on our main stages, we have world-class DJs.

We have Madonna's DJ this year, actually, we just announced is going to be performing, which is a huge get for us, the first time ever at Pride, which we're so excited about.

But we also, too, want to make sure that we are providing other spaces for emerging talent. So, we have, you know, things to involve our local performers.

So, we've had local singers, local dancers, and it's been really, really great to kind of have that, that element too where we're helping to even cultivate the next generation of that talent.

You know, I'm waiting for that story of that person who came out on our Capital One Community stage who ends up on Drag Race, right?

It's gonna happen at some point. I know it, and I think, you know, being able to be part of that community, so they can expect all sorts of different types of entertainment.

We have wonderful food vendors that are supporting the local economy with a lot of the fair from Venezuela, from Colombia, from Cuba, Puerto Rico.

It's, you know, a really exciting melting pot of also culinary delights and also cultures.

And so, we have our dance stage as well, for those that are looking for more of like that kind of house stage, we have our our South stage as well that's going to have a number of different singers, talent.

We have, after our parade on Sunday, which is kind of the signature event of the of the day, everyone comes back into the festival grounds.

We have some amazing drag performances from the Palace drag queens. We have the R House drag queens, which are in Wynwood, which is one of the best brunches in town.

And so, it's really just a feast for the eyes, and it's, you know, a way to just gather and enjoy and we have a number of vendors selling, you know, merch and clothes.

And, I mean, it's just going to be a lot of fun, so. And it's all free, I think that's what people forget, is, you know, this is not a circuit party. This is a free festival on the beach.

So, this is very much, you know, show up, show out, come. You know, we have people that dress in the most fantastic outfits, and others that, you know, come into shorts and a tee, and it's great.

It's exactly, you know, come as you are. And so, I think there really is something for everyone.

And we go until about 10 o'clock at night, so you can kind of come start your day with us, or maybe get your errands done in the day. Come finish your night with us. So, it really is whatever you want to make it.

Engaging the LGBTQ+ Community (24:08)

Rob Loveless

I think you had touched upon this in some of your previous answers, but Miami Beach Pride often incorporates arts, drag, various LGBTQ+ culture in its celebrations.

So how does the festival engage with the local LGBTQ+ community and artists to amplify their voice?

Patrick Gevas

They're, they're the lifeblood, you know, to be honest, they're the lifeblood of our programming, and we do our very best to try to involve them whenever possible.

We have our Miss Miami Beach Pride pageant, which is one of the most fun. It is one of our few ticketed events that happens in the evening where lot of local drag queens compete for the title of Miss Miami Beach Pride.

And it's just a fun, kind of raucous, you know, event that is, that has, you know, evening gowns, we've got talent, we've got questions, so you name it. I mean, it is a true pageant.

It is one of the most fun ways that we can really amplify our local drag talent because we have a tremendous, you know, we have tremendous queens in our town.

We're very, very lucky, you know, to have such incredible talent. Uh, especially between some of the two hot spots, like I mentioned, Palace and R House.

I mean, the girls there are world-class, and so, you know, we invite them too and they're, you're going to see them throughout the festival as well. We have them hosting different events on the stage.

So, they're very visible, I think we and that's very intentional, because, you know, they have been silenced, especially even among the Florida administration.

And so, I think we want to make sure, and really tactfully show that we're not only not afraid we're going to put them on the main stage because they are sharing their art with us because it is a true art of what they do and how they conduct themselves and know how to work a room.

There's no better host than a drag queen that knows what they're doing. And so, from that it is, it dovetails into we have some local singers as well and talent. We have a thriving community, you know, here, especially with our Latin influences of different types of musicians.

And so, we've had, you know, we've had, like, Spanish guitar players in the past. We've had flamenco dancers and so, which I know is a little bit more Spanish, but you know, we really tried to meld a lot of that local talent and culture and bring them to the forefront, as well as bringing in some other talent that we know people love.

And so, like last year, for example, we had JoJo Siwa, which was, you know, kind of what I initially thought was maybe a slightly interesting choice, but I gotta tell you, she blew the roof off the place.

I was shocked the amount of people that came out. I mean, she put on a heck of a show. And, you know, love her or hate her, but she, she is, she's a consummate performer.

And so, I think we even have stages like that for people like her, and so we have a really good mix, I think, of a lot of the local talent, but also keeping our eye to what people are talking about and what is really trending in pop culture, and doing our best to bring them to our beaches as well.

Rob Loveless

And very exciting with JoJo Siwa. Was that before or after she released Karma?

Patrick Gevas

It was, so we were actually the very first live performance of that song. We had this the distinct honor. 

And it was like, it was, it was crazy, and it was one of those funny moments I can give you, like little background scene.

If you could look at Miami Beach Pride's Instagram, there's a little video of her, and it is actually my voice.

And I was watching the crowd. I was watching them all go crazy from where I was standing in the media pit. I ran backstage because I just saw what was happening.

And I was like, we got to try to get a reaction from this, because it was the very first live performance, and the crowd went absolute bananas.

And so, I went back and they said, the her, her team said, you have to ask her mom for permission.

So, I went up to her, and I was, hi, Mrs. Siwa, may I just have just like, two minutes with your daughter directly after the stage? And so, she came off stage.

I was there with with my phone, and I got a kind of a live reaction, you know, video of her, and then her team went crazy, because it, she attracted some, like, tens of thousands more people than I think we'd initially thought.

Like, when I looked back on the crowd, it was pretty incredible, of how many people came out in force to see her, I mean, but at the same time, it's a free festival on the beach, right?

Like, so we're also offering a free concert for the community, and it was one of our more viral moments that was just purely by happenstance and kind of being able to see something happening in real-time, run backstage, make it happen with asking the talent's mom for permission.

And it was a really cool piece of content. It was a great video that got us, it was one of the most viewed videos all Pride season, and so, yeah, it's always like, kind of a funny thing where there is some alchemy on the festival grounds as well, just really cool stuff that can happen and really fun pieces of content.

Rob Loveless

That's awesome. And it's so great that it is, like you said, a free beach event.

It's so inclusive for everyone in the community, because in past episodes, we've talked about this, but there is a financial disparity for a lot of LGBTQ+ people, especially if you're, you know, have LGBTQ+ youth who have a greater risk of homelessness.

So, it's really important that, you know, again, obviously the party part sounds fun, but there are a lot of resources at any Pride festival, so it's great to have them accessible for all members of the community, regardless of financial background.

Patrick Gevas

For sure, we also have some additional ones on the beach as well with regard to health. And so, we're, you know, having like CAN Community Health is always out, which is, have been an amazing partner for us.

They do a lot of STD testing at sexual advocacy and sexual health, you know, mental health services as well. So, we also do try to have those types of groups on the festival too, just to make sure that people know that there are local resources that they can take advantage of if they need.

And so, I think we've also tried to make sure and blend that element of, you know, all the fun and really interesting vendors with also really basic health and human services that sometimes our community is in desperate need of and can be much harder to find.

Rob Loveless

And kind of going off of some of those resources you talked about, Miami Beach Pride is a nonprofit organization that has strong support from local government and cultural institutions.

So how do you collaborate with these partners to elevate the mission of Miami Beach Pride?

Patrick Gevas

That's a great question. So, for us, it's really, you know, through my lens, is really about storytelling.

So, it's, how can we, you know, try to identify really interesting stories that we can amplify in local media, and, you know, making sure that we are doing those, you know, amplification efforts, to make sure that people do know about a group like I mentioned, like a CAN Community Health and kind of what they are doing within our communities.

And so, one of the things that we've also created is our Pride Guide. And so, it is a piece of it's essentially a digital magazine that has that, you know, has a lot of our it's mostly for sponsors, of course, but the idea is that we also have it as another free resource on our website that people can go to to find other local partners and organizations.

We have other organizations like Pridelines which also does a lot of mental health services for the community.

So just making sure that we are kind of collating and trying to find, you know, put them all in one place for people to say, Sure, I'm gonna, you know, want to look and thank the Absolut sponsor who's there, right? That you know that all kind of is really, you know, basic stuff.

But also, to going through and making sure people know that we do have resources for things like insurance.

You have a lot of like, for example, like local agents who are in part of the queer community that are helping people with things like home loans, car insurance, making sure they are getting better rates.

And so, it's kind of using our status as a nonprofit to also try to amplify other resources that people can take advantage of if they need.

I mean, I myself, we were moving last year, and so the first person I went to was the lesbian State Farm agent who had hosted an event, because it's like, I'm going to inherently trust you because you know that there's an instant level of understanding with other members of the queer community and how to help and the same issues that we might face.

And so, she really was the first person that I went to to say, hey, I want to, you know, we're moving. I want to, you know, just do an audit of, are there better rates and things?

And she was like, I would be more than happy to help you.

And so it's that part too, where I think, hopefully, we can use our status as a nonprofit to connect with other, either nonprofits that are all kind of banding together because we have to support each other, but also to making sure the community knows that we're all out there and that we exist in order to help facilitate, you know, whether it is everything from whether it's, you know, getting mental health resources for a teen to, you know, someone like me, who's an elder millennial who needs insurance, right?

Like it's, we all, we're also consumers, and so I don't put myself in any other category, but that too is like I am also very much a customer of all of these, you know, types of people and resources, and it's been really, really helpful, even in my own personal life.

And so I think that's also part of our responsibility as a nonprofit entity, is trying to make sure that we can amplify the partners that are doing good works, because at the same time, we do rely on some corporate sponsorships, and we know that in this current environment with DEI rollbacks, some of them are getting little skittish, and we're not seeing the same vocal support that we have seen in years past. 

And that's troubling. It's not surprising, but it is the reality in which we're living.

Volunteerism & Pride (32:10)

Rob Loveless

And you had mentioned earlier, I think you said that there were 10 of you on the board, and these aren't your full-time jobs. This is, you know, part-time you do in addition to your full-time work.

And obviously, I'm sure beyond just the board and the planning, there's so much needed for behind the scenes with setting things up, community outreach.

So, what role does volunteerism play in the success of Miami Beach Pride, and how can people get involved?

Patrick Gevas

Volunteerism is huge. And we also, you know, I mentioned that that our performers are the lifeblood of the production value, our volunteers are the lifeblood of the operations.

You know, we do have an amazing volunteer coordinator who's able to galvanize people who, you know, want to help.

And we do try to do our best to incentivize, you know, for people that take shifts, there are some other perks involved that we do try to do our best to treat our volunteers as well as we can.

We have a number of things, like, in a whole area behind the festival for the volunteers and making sure that people are fed, they're hydrated. You know, we have great weather, but it is, can still be warm.

So, you know, a lot of even my jobs, even though I'm heavily considered, staff, is going around, looking at our volunteers, our security personnel, making sure everyone is feeling okay, you know, is well hydrated. 

We work a lot with our fire rescue and EMS crews and making sure that our attendees are safe. But the volunteers they they really are, like, they go, because a lot of us are also volunteers ourselves.

Like, even though I'm considered staff, I volunteer at events. I help to work them, you know, as well, and kind of go where we're needed.

And so, I think for people that are maybe curious about getting involved, it's a great way to, you know, to start.

And actually, the festival is a great time too, because, for some of the roles they can be like, especially within our bar and restaurant services and food and beverage, they also operate on tips.

And so, for the volunteers, yes, you are volunteering your time, but in certain roles, you can make a little money.

But also too, like, you know that you're getting access to festival, you're getting some extra perks, and you're also getting a tremendous amount of hopefully personal gratification knowing that your contribution is making the festival available to so many other people.

And we have several people come back year after year in that volunteer capacity, and it just so appreciative.

And I think it takes a special person who does want to continue to give back to their community.

And so I would certainly encourage anyone who's maybe even volunteer curious, as we've called them in the past, like maybe just taking a shift or wanting to get your feet wet, you can go to MiamiBeachPride.com and we have a whole section on our website for volunteering and how you can get in touch with our coordinator, who is wonderful and can walk you through all the different steps and kind of work around your schedule as well to see what works for you.

Politics & Pride (34:34)

Rob Loveless

I know we kind of dabbled a little bit talking about politics throughout this episode. Obviously, it's not the happiest thing to talk about.

We might be diving into it a little bit deeper for this specific question. Obviously, with the current administration, you talked about DEI rollbacks.

There are definitely some challenges ahead as it relates to representation, corporate sponsorships, just even Pride festivals.

So, what are some immediate challenges you foresee, as well as opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community in Miami, and how is Miami Beach Pride preparing to meet them?

Patrick Gevas

Great question. So, I think for us, you know, one of the big challenges that we're seeing this year is that there are definitely some sponsors that are a little bit more concerned.

You know, I think the sad, the sad reality, is that everyone's an ally until they're, until it hits their bottom line.

And and we're seeing that, you know, I think we're seeing pressure from certain companies that may have government contracts with the state of Florida that are saying it's not worth, you know, risking a government contract to support this, this organization.

And so, you know that that is absolutely happening, and I think that we're going to continue to see that happening. And I think that people who are saying it's not are lying.

And so I think for Miami Beach Pride, it is about understanding the landscape, getting creative, trying to find, you know, other sponsors that are, that do have the courage to want to continue to do what, in my opinion, is the right thing by the community, because, you know, and I think we're also starting to see some of that too, just with a lot of other activism.

And we're seeing companies who are considering their, you know, their DEI goals, and they're not rolling them back and you're going to want to see our community supporting those.

And I think that is the right thing to do. It's like we should be patronizing the folks that are not going to back away in the face of, you know, of this, this, this administration.

But I think even at home too. I think this year a lot of people don't necessarily have a lot of context to even Florida politics.

But, you know, our governor vetoed all arts funding in the state budget this year, you know, to, to, I believe it was $32 million. And so, you know, which Pride would would get some of that money.

And so, I think that there is a concerted effort to to censor what they deem as art.

And you know, there was, I think, one issue with one festival that the governor had taken umbrage with that then canceled it for everybody and so, but I think too, if you start to really dig a little bit deeper into the nonprofits and these arts organizations that were getting the funding, I think you would find that there's a lot that are, you know, minority based, right?

So, I think that there is, all of this is intentional, and I think we are paying attention, and we know what the score is.

And so, I think for us, it's just going to be about continued resilience, getting creative. And also, too, I think, you know, one of the biggest messages that are, I think, are so important to our community, is to still go to these events, be visible, because we can't take them for granted.

You know, we still rely on a lot of you know, the government to give us permits to be in the beach, like, there's a lot of you know, paperwork that if they really wanted to, they could stop it.

And I think that that, I think we can't forget that, and I think that, you know, we can't take it for granted. And so, we do have to go out in droves, support.

And you know, even for an organization like us, we, as a nonprofit, make some money on liquor sales, and so that's one of the few ways that, you know, at the festival, we are able to generate some additional funds to in order to keep things free.

And that is our, you know, our main mission, and our biggest goal is to do our very best and to make sure that we're minimizing ticketed events.

But at the same time, it does cost money to put on this type of festival. And so, the best thing people can do, at least in the case of Miami Beach Pride, is just show up, have a lot of fun, get some cocktails, because you know that that drink you're buying at the bar is directly supporting us financially.

And so, I think that those are the types of things that we're going to have to just keep a really close eye on and making sure that we plan farther ahead than I think we may have had to in the past because we're not sure what the landscape is going to look like even next year.

And so, you know, making sure that as soon as we, that festival finishes that April 6, you know, April give a grace day, but April 8, we need to start planning for the next year and making sure that we're, you know, knowing what companies we can rely on, what companies we may not be able to rely on, and how we might be able to get creative in raising funds.

How to Celebrate Pride (38:30)

Rob Loveless

Well, thank you, you know, for everything you've talked about today. There's so much going on with Miami Beach Pride.

So, for people who have never attended, what are some unique aspects of the experience that make it stand out from other Pride celebrations?

Patrick Gevas

That's a great question. I think what's really unique about Miami Beach Pride is, I don't know of a lot of other prides that are actually on the sand in the beach, you know.

So, it is truly to me, at least, and, you know, I did not grow up in Florida. I'm a Virginia boy at heart.

And so, the idea of being able to go to this amazing festival that is on the beach, and you can look out and see the ocean is really special.

You know, I think that I've never taken the ocean for granted. I think a lot of us that maybe didn't grow up by the coast, you know, feel the same way.

And so, I think that there is something that is really incredible about listening to even JoJo Siwa's Karma. 

You know, in the with the ocean breeze in the evening, that there's, there's a special feeling in the air with it that I think is really hard to replicate in other places.

You know, I have been to a few other prides, and each of them has their own kind of really distinct feel. But I think Miami's has so much of that, just that Miami flavor and that, you know, we are on the beach. 

We have a lot of great Latin music as you're coming off the beach, right onto Ocean Drive, which is, you know, one of the most iconic, you know, streets in the nation.

And you see a lot of the, you know, the drag queens and the bars that are just also embracing the celebration and the visibility.

You know, it's a really kind of special thing to see, and knowing that you don't have to pay to get in. You know, we've had a lot of people.

I remember one one year for the parade, I was stationed at one of the street corners with a lot of the other the board members.

And we were each kind of take, take a block and get photos and stuff. And guy tapped me on the shoulders, like, hey, what's going on? We're here visiting.

And I said, oh, today's the, you know, my Miami Beach Pride Parade. And he turns to his wife, he's like, No way. He's like, there's a parade about to start. Like, that's so cool.

We can't believe we're here for that. So, I think there's a lot of that too, where some people don't know, especially straight couples that just happen to find themselves.

But so, I think you get a lot of surprises as well that people you know maybe didn't realize that it was happening. We get a lot of people that make concerted efforts to travel here for it.

But I think you're gonna also see just a lot of the local culture, you know, going up and down the beach. The boardwalk is probably one of my favorite places to people watch.

You see all kinds of, you know, different people we see. Last year, I was going around doing a lot of the social media, just taking pictures of all the dogs and their little kind of Pride flags.

A lot of pets get involved. And, you know, I'm a sucker for animals. And just, you know, loved seeing how people got their, even their pets, involved in the celebration.

So, you know, you kind of see all that. So, it really is a chance for people to come down the beach, like you said, get a little sun, enjoy being in that sunshine, seeing the palm trees sway, listening to the music, seeing, just like a, you know, 170,000 of your community members, you know, come through the weekend.

There is something that is really it's very special. And I think that I've really tried to not ever take it for granted that all these people are part of a community that you know that matters.

And I think seeing the visibility, seeing the the joy in people you know, letting loose and dancing is just really, really special.

Rob Loveless

And as we're coming to the end of this episode, how do you balance the need for fun and celebration with the ongoing work that the LGBTQ+ community still faces in terms of equality and Pride?

Patrick Gevas

That's a great question. I think it's something that, you know, in Miami, it can be hard, if I'm being honest.

I think that, you see, I think just the the reputation of the city as being a place where people do come and let loose can sometimes, I think, be in conflict with the importance of advocacy work.

And so, I think even for myself, I got involved in this organization, wanting to make a difference, wanting to, to be involved in something and feel a part of something.

And also too, as I look, you know, back in what I've learned, as I mentioned earlier in the episode about even our legacy couples, know that I'm also doing my part for our community to, you know, essentially fight for our rights.

And you know, even as something as small as helping to produce this festival, it is something that, you know, I'm not someone who is storming, you know, the the governor's office demanding equality.

And, you know, yet, but you know, I think that it is, for me, a way of being able to give back, and at least to say, you know, what did you do for the community at a time that was going to be really challenging?

I, you know, have often thought like, if we do have children, one day, I want to look at them and say, I did my part to try to make this better for you or, you know, and I think that that is something that is really important to me as a person.

And I've had to learn that not everyone shares that same desire for activism, but I think all of us share desire for rights and to be able to live as we are.

And so, I think that in Miami, it's going to be really important that the community does wake up to that part too.

You know, I think one maybe criticism I have of Miami as a place and a destination, and even with some of the community, is that there is probably a little bit more emphasis on the celebration aspect then maybe the advocacy aspect.

And it's really important that those people also know that Pride can't be taken for granted. That, yes, you love to come and enjoy yourself and have the party, and we want that.

We need that, but we also, too, need you to show up at Social Justice night, to listen and get involved and making sure that you're paying attention to those things too.

And I think it is a really delicate balance. I think there's a lot of personal feelings that are involved in kind of your own personal value set, and sometimes I think that our community needs a bit of a wake-up call, that you've got to find better balance, and that we are going to have to advocate for ourselves, because we I think we've learned.

I think you're even watching some of the politicians in this current, you know, era cower.

You know, a lot of them aren't necessarily going to have the backbone that we need and it's going to come from our community.

It's going to come from us leaning on each other, and, you know, to make sure that we can continue to have a Pride festival where we can come in all enjoy and celebrate.

So I don't ever want to bring the mood down by, you know, trying to, like, you know, wag a finger at someone and say, You should be an activist because that's not everyone's journey, and I can respect that and understand that, but I also think there needs to be some additional recognition of the fact that, you know, we can't take it for granted, and that we do have to do our part.

And it's hard. I'm not gonna lie. It's, it's been a challenge that I have personally seen in Miami, and it's something that I think, I'm hopeful that in this time, you know, we do see a little bit more people waking up to the realities and how they can also hopefully get a little bit more involved, or at least be much more aware of what's happening, and not bury their heads in the sand and just want to come party.

And I wish that there was a better way to go about making people care more, if I'm being honest.

And I think then that's a tough that's a tough thing, and I think that's something that I think about a lot as someone who does want to see Pride continue for another 17 years and beyond in Miami Beach, but is also intimately aware that there could be forces that really want to prevent that from happening, because, you know, we've already seen it Fort Lauderdale has had a number of issues.

They're not even able to do it this year, and so we are now one of the largest Prides in the state because a few of them have not been able to even go on for financial reasons or whatever.

And so, I think we are seeing actual consequences of, you know, people and resources, you know, with these nonprofits, that it's not a guarantee, and because we don't charge for tickets, there isn't a huge piggy bank always to pull from.

We've always had to be really scrappy and be really industrious. And, you know, to put on an incredible festival as you see, that you would never know how much work it takes in the backside, and just to know that we don't have a blank check.

Like every year, it takes a tremendous amount of effort and fighting, and desire for people who want to see it put on, and I think that has given me a ton of respect for the people that put it together and our volunteers who commit their time to make sure that people, those 170,000, can have the best weekend of their lives, we hope.

But I hope that there's also some of that desire to also want to get involved and give back to make sure it can continue.

Episode Closing (46:00)

Rob Loveless

And connecting it back to the tarot, the Queen of Pentacles in reverse. Again, this is telling us that we may be too focused on materialistic aspects of life rather than what truly matters.

We might be a little out of balance, and there could even be an internal conflict within ourselves, and we need to take we need to take the time to really make sure that we're nurturing ourselves.

And as it relates to what Patrick talked about, you know, politically, we're in a turbulent time, and we've seen things like the Gulf of America and turning Greenland into Red, White, and Blue-land, and making Canada the 51st state.

And I know those all sound ridiculous, but those are things that are occurring. And I think the current administration is making all this noise to distract us from some of the more insidious things they have planned.

So, while it seems like things are coming at us rapid fire, I think it's really important to tune out that noise and not get distracted by those headlines so we can focus on the importance of pushing for LGBTQ+ equality, not taking for granted the opportunities to celebrate Pride, and continue to find ways to push forward and stand up against hate.

And like we talked about at the beginning of the episode, while we certainly don't want our rights rolled back, we have seen the pendulum swing back and forth, and queer people have overcome all different levels of adversity in the past.

You know, the 70s with the gay liberation movement, the 80s and 90s with the AIDS crisis. And even if worse comes to worse, our rights are taken away from us, we are not going anywhere.

We still exist. We will still be here, and we will continue fighting for our rights because that is what Pride is all about.

And while we're doing that, though, we also need to check in with ourselves to see where we're at. With all the headlines, all the turmoil, it's really easy to get depressed and feel burnt out.

And if you're somebody who is really advocating for social justice for the LGBTQ+ community or any other marginalized community, it's really easy to feel burnt out because it feels like there's so much we need to do right now, because there's so much at stake.

And while it is important to remain aware, we also need to make sure that we're nurturing ourselves so that way we are the healthiest version of ourselves, to really find those avenues to amplify our voices, share our messages, and really get our community involved so that way we have opportunities to celebrate Pride.

So, remember to tune out the noise, focus on what really matters, be one with our community, and let's make sure that we're taking care of ourselves, so that way we can also take care of those around us.

Connect with Patrick (48:14)

Rob Loveless

Well, Patrick, thank you so much for coming on today to talk to us all about Miami Beach Pride. It seems like it's going to be a very exciting celebration this year.

As we come to the end of this, can you tell all the listeners where they can connect with you and Miami Beach Pride?

Patrick Gevas

Yeah, please come find us online. MiamiBeachPride.com is the best resource for our website, but also too, we're really active on social media, especially Instagram.

So please, if you're not already following @MiamiBeachPride on Instagram is a great place to keep in involved.

We are going to have some exciting lineup announcements coming in the few, in the next few weeks. It's a great place to know to kind of keep involved there. We also have various contests and incentives.

We actually did one earlier this year to bring, give some people some VIP access, which is several hundred worth of access, and then coming into the VIP tent gives you open bar.

We have executive restrooms. There's hosted bites, and so there's if you did want to spend there is a way, you know, if you would like to have that experience that is available to you in VIP, but it is certainly not a requirement.

The festival is free every, you know, and to come in and enjoy, but, um, that's the best way to do it. But we really hope to see as many of your listeners as as, you know, as we can on April, the weekend of April 5th and 6th.

And if you do find your way in, MiamiBeachPride.com also has some additional travel packages, where we have some local travel partners and hotels.

We have an amazing relationship with Delta Airlines, where we have a code that you can use to get some money off of your flight if you're coming into. Miami Beach or MIA or Fort Lauderdale.

There's some codes there that you can use for that. And so, we hope just to see as many of your listeners as we can. But I really appreciate you having me on today. I really enjoyed chatting.

Rob Loveless

Oh, definitely me too. And I'll be sure to include all that information in the show notes and, listeners, I mean, it's been a dreary winter.

What better excuse than to escape to Florida for some fun in the sun, and obviously a great cause, to celebrate with the community there?

Patrick Gevas

We hope to see you. It's gonna be great.

Rob Loveless

And after you're done listening to this episode, definitely check out Patrick, learn more about Miami Beach Pride. It's not too late.

Maybe book a flight and go down there, escape some of this cold winter weather to enjoy the sunshine, and also show your Pride.

Connect with A Jaded Gay (50:04)

Rob Loveless

And you know the drill for the podcast. If you have any questions or feedback, you can reach out to me rob@ajadedgay.com.

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Mmm-bye.