Austin Pride 2010, @Queerbomb Face Off This Weekend

This year's annual Pride parade is still a day away, but it's already generated the most press the festival has seen in years—though perhaps not in the way that festival organizers envisioned.

As some may recall, AGLCC President Jimmy Flannigan (and creator of the now-defunct GLBT magazine, Forward Austin) was abruptly ousted after last year's record-setting Pride festival, and replaced by former executive vice president Chad Peevy.

After being installed as the new president, Peevy acknowledged that "2009 was one of the best Pride celebrations Austin has seen," but added that "there is room for improvement, and we’re committed to making those improvements."

Among those improvements, according to a scathing expose in this week's Austin Chronicle, seems to be a strengthened emphasis towards making the festival as "family-friendly" as possible—in one instance, dropping actress and performance artist Sandra Bernhard from an official event, partly on the grounds that her act was too "vulgar"—and turning down smaller nonprofits who weren't capable of meeting the festival's sponsorship rates, such as in the case of HIV/AIDS charity Project Transitions.

"We could not come to an agreement that fitted with our autonomy and Pride's needs," said Jason Rosen, Project Transitions' media coordinator, to the Chronicle. "They just couldn't meet us at the prices that we were accustomed to as a charity ... It was a really unfortunate ending to a potentially really great collaboration."

Further fueling the controversy is the emergence of Queerbomb, an alternative "flash force assembly" that will parade through downtown Austin tonight after gathering at The Independent at 8:30 p.m.

Though the group makes a dig at Pride on its website—accusing the festival of being "non-inclusive, capitalist, heteronormative, safe and unchallenging"—by many accounts it appears that Queerbomb aims not to disrupt Pride altogether, but rather function as an edgier complement—one that revisits the "radical, carnal, and transgressive lineage of our ever-changing community."

Queerbomb is encouraging any and all to show up for the parade, which will snake down Sixth Street before heading back to the Independent for a raucous party. Another event, which came about party due to the clash between the two entities, is slated for Saturday evening at Cheer Up Charlie's.

Regardless of intent, the fact that the two entities exist means that Austinites of all mainstream or "radical" persuasions have an outlet to enjoy. Or, hell, go to both.

Pride 2010 Events:
Schedule of events with Frenchie Davis, Mario Cantone, DJ Chris Cox and more

Queerbomb Events:
FRIDAY: Parade meets at 8:30 p.m. sharp at ND @ 501 Studios (The Independent)
FRIDAY: Afterparty with DJ Jay Jay Booya, DJ Chelsea Starr, also at The Independent, starting at 10 p.m. Free, 18+, full bar

SATURDAY: "Queer Up Charlie's" at Cheer Up Charlies, with Daniel Webb, Skae Night, Nakia, Amy Cook, "Super Special Guest Headliner" and more [info]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.