by lisa lipsey –
The North County LGBTQ Resource Center, under the direction of Max Disposti, has flourished and so has their annual Pride by the Beach weekend. This year’s event, chaired by Lisa Nava, is coming up on Saturday, October 12 and features live entertainment, a dance tent (country western, Latin, dance hall), food, exhibitors and more.
The Rage Monthly caught up with entertainer, songbird and all-around wonder woman Laura Jane Willcock, who has been teaming up with Nava and Disposti since the beginning days of Pride by the Beach. Willcock fronts local band The Tighten Ups and co-runs the Thunderbird Analogue Recording Studio in Oceanside. At the creative and eclectic recording studio, we chatted about the historic importance of Pride events and her volunteer role as stage manager for this year’s Pride by the Beach.
“As stage manager, I coordinate between the sound team and the bands. Good communication between everybody is key, making sure everybody feels they have what they need to have a good performance,” Willcock said.
“Raylene Wall is my inspiration for best stage manager. She’s a bad-ass lesbian and she taught me everything I know. She used to do stage management for San Diego Pride, and she has the best attitude, very organized, attentive. She was always giggling and dancing and enjoying the moments as they are happening. Sure, you are there to do your job, but remember there are artists right in front of you, for you to enjoy,” Willcock said.
“Today, what started as an event at the beach now closes a street at Oceanside City hall, for a big gay festival! Our community is recognized, celebrated and blended in with the general community. That is so cool,”
Over the years, Willcock has been a volunteer and/or paid performer at South Bay Pride Art and Music Festival, San Diego Pride and Pride by the Beach, but her passion for Pride festivals goes back to her early LGBTQ roots in Trevor City, Michigan.
“You expect California to have their Prides, it was different back in Michigan,” she said. “I was there for its inception, in the ‘90s, and there was no community support for Pride, no volunteers, maybe 50 attendees. Now they have a massive parade with wonderful support from the people of Trevor City. It’s awesome.”
“Here, San Diego County is gigantic, and it makes my heart swell with delight that we have three Prides in our area. North County needed a Pride and Max [Disposti] was the factor, so passionate and so able to coordinate the enthusiasm he found in this community. Today, what started as an event at the beach now closes a street at Oceanside City hall, for a big gay festival! Our community is recognized, celebrated and blended in with the general community. That is so cool,” Willcock said.
“The unique factor — I love that both South Bay Pride and Pride by the Beach are free community events. I understand why San Diego Pride has to charge — there are thousands of people, policing, it’s in Balboa Park and includes internationally known celebrity entertainment,” she said. “But I love that this is free and in downtown Oceanside. I love that someone could be strolling down the street, stumble onto Gay Pride, join the festivities, and let a little bit more acceptance into their heart. I also appreciate that every year they continue to bring fresh entertainment to the stage. I appreciate that so much as an audience member and as stage manager.”
MAIN STAGE HEADLINER: American Idol contestant Ada Vox
Ada Vox, a San Antonio drag queen who sang her heart out on ABC’s American Idol, became a semifinalist, something that would have been unheard of several years ago.
Her appearance marks a first for the show, and people still talk about her performance of The Animals “House of the Rising Sun” as one of the stand-out auditions of the season.
The 24-year-old was born in San Antonio, Texas and attended University of Texas at San Antonio while working at a restaurant by day and as a drag queen by night. Ada Vox lists her influences as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle (with whom she got to perform with on Idol) and other strong women who project an inner self-confidence with their stage personas. Her performance of Jennifer Hudson’s “I am Telling You I am not Going” as a Top 10 finalist brought the house down.
North County Pride by the Beach is Saturday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Oceanside Civic Center Plaza. For more information, visit pridebythebeach.org.