RI Pride plans to celebrate and recognize the contributions of outgoing President Rodney Davis and Board Member Brian Mills on Friday, March 21at the Biltmore Grand Ballroom.
Under the leadership and direction of Rodney Davis, with the production support of Brian Mills, RI Pride has grown to be one of the premier LGBT Pride organizations in the region organizing a diverse mix of events and programs for the community to come together.
Among the programs that Davis and Mills have produced include; art exhibitions, literary programs, political rallies, the musical Goddess Show, Triple Crown Pageant, the annual Pride Festival and the infamous illuminated Night Parade.
Mills has been the lead in orchestrating New England’s only Illuminated Night Parade that recently has drawn more than 35,000 plus tourists and participants into the City of Providence.
In addition to providing the vision for the organization, Rodney Davis has contributed his design skills in shaping all of the marketing campaigns and visual identity of the organization including the production of the RI Pride Guide and Kaleidoscope publications.
Passing the torch
In passing the torch, outgoing President Davis stated “Stepping back from my role as President of Rhode Island Pride, having served as a volunteer since 1991, comes with a great sense of accomplishment. I am humbled that I have been able to have a small part in making Rhode Island, my home, a better and more equitable place for all. However, I am still going to be working hard for the community that I am a part of and love with all of my heart.” – Rodney Davis
The contributions from Davis and Mills have been numerous and they have had a lasting impact in shaping the LGBT community in Rhode Island. This event is a small token to celebrate and recognize all their contributions as volunteers for RI Pride and the LGBT Community.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 in advance at www.PrideRI.com or $25 at the door including hors d'ouvres, live entertainment, special dignitaries and musical beats by DJ Andy Morris. Doors open at 7:30pm with a cocktail reception and a speaking and entertainment program starting at 8:15pm.
Related Slideshow: Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index Scorecard - Providence, RI
HRC's Municipal Equality Index (MEI) demonstrates the ways that many cities can—and do— support the LGBT people who live and work there, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so. GoLocal pulled the data from the 2012 and 2013 reports to show where progress has been made in Providence and Rhode Island.
This year's report rates a total of 291 cities from every state in the nation, representing a total population total of 77,851,822. To see how PVD compares to other cities, download the full 2013 MEI report here and the 2012 version here.
This category evaluates whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by the city, county, or state in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Providence grabbed all available points in this category because it is under the jurisdiction of Rhode Island state laws prohibiting discrimination on both bases of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Because this is an evaluation of municipalities, not states, and marriage is a state-level policy, this section is weighted so that an equal number of points are awarded for marriage (or other state relationship recognition) and municipal domestic partner registries.
In 2013 Rhode Island passed landmark marriage equality legislation, cementing itself ahead of the curb in relationship recognition. However, since civil unions have been legal and available at the state level since 2011, the HRC granted the full 12 points in 2012 as well.
Relationship Recognition
2012
2013
Marriage Equality, Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships
By offering equivalent benefits and protections to LGBT employees, and by awarding contracts to fair-minded businesses, municipalities commit themselves to treating LGBT employees equally.
By the HRC's account, Providence falls in line with some best practices as an employer- ample forthright laws are on the books forbidding discrimination in city employment and ensuring domestic partner and legal dependent health benefits. However, the city falls short of ensuring equivalent family leave and affirmatively forbidding discrimination in awarding city contracts and benefits to contractors.
This section assesses the efforts of the city to ensure LGBT constituents are included in city services and programs.
A lack of a direct liason to the LGBT community in the mayor's office hurt Providence in the municipal services category. Providence does, however, have a Human Relations Office tasked with "enforc[ing] laws of equal opportunity in the City of Providence" as well as formally enumerated anti-bullying policies in schools at the municipal level.
Furthermore, the city's services aimed directly at underserved and particularly vulnerable populations were lauded by the HRC and scored Providence an extra 2 points in this category.
Municipal Services
2012
2013
Human Rights Commission
7 out of 7
7 out of 7
LGBT Liaison in
the Mayor’s Office
0 out of 5
0 out of 5
Enumerated Anti-Bullying
School Policies
points for sexual orientation
3 out of 3
3 out of 3
points for gender identity
3 out of 3
3 out of 3
Total Score
13 out of 18
13 out of 18
BONUS: City provides services
to particularly vulnerable
populations of the LGBT
community
Fair enforcement of the law includes responsible reporting of hate crimes and engaging with the LGBT community in a thoughtful and respectful way.
Providence reports hate crime statistics, but their lack of a specific LGBT police liaison or task force caused an 8 point deduction from their final score.
This category measures the city leadership’s commitment to fully include the LGBT community and to advocate for full equality.
Providence was noted for it's leadership's public position on LGBT equality and particularly for a shift from 2012 to 2013 with the renewed focus on and support for marriage equality legislation through its passing. This shift was the sole driver of a higher 2013 overall score, with all 5 additional points being picked up in recognition of the city leadership's commitment to LGBT equality. Other direct efforts to engage with the LGBT community also landed Providence 2 bonus points in both 2012 and 2013.
Municipal Services
2012
2013
Leadership’s Public Position
on LGBT Equality
3 out of 5
5 out of 5
Leadership’s Pro-Equality
Legislative or Policy Efforts
