Pride 2022



Pride 2022 was a month long LGBTQIA+ Pride Celebration held in the city from May 29th, 2022 through the month of June 2022.

Planning
Ricardo Perez successfully held the city's inaugural Pride event on June 28th, 2021. A parade culminating with a concert at Legion Square with the support of Parks & Recreation. The success of this event inspired the creation of Pitchers, the citys first Gay Bar.

Following the success of Pride 2021, approval of Pitchers and the success Pitchers had with planning events - planning for a much larger scale Pride 2022 began in January 2022. Pride 2022 would play host to numerous events including Parades, a Drag Night, Scavenger Hunt, Drag Race and Concert. Alongside citywide decorations and new clothing items.

Pitchers presented their plans for Pride 2022 to Cerberus on February 21st, 2022 and the plans were subsequently approved. However when Ricardo campaigned with mayoral candidate Ramee El Rahman during his anti-Cerberus rallies, Cerberus replaced Ricardo with Sean Deane as their Pride liaison. On April 9th, 2022, Ricardo took the plans for Pride 2022 to Ramee and received further backing from Chang Gang Investments.

Pride Fashion Show


The first official event, the Pride Fashion Show took place at the Vanilla Unicorn Strip Club on May 29th, 2022. The event hosted by Ricardo Perez was to show off the new Pride clothing, modelled by various people including Randy Bullet, Carmella Corset, Lana Valentine and Oakley Stallion. Following the show, Liz Anya made a surprise appearance to announce the release date for her album and final concert in the city before performing a few songs.

First Pride Parade


The first Pride Parade of Pride 2022 took place on June 4th 2022. The parade began at Deans World, driving through the City on parade floats with music and fireworks with a police escort, culminating with a concert at Legion Square. Due to some technical issues, the parade had to be cut short but the concert went on as planned with performances by Bimbos, Hubcap Jones, King Ryan, Sooty Gamwich, Quimbley Hayabusa, Don Dolph and Orpheus Dawson. A raffle to win a Porsche, provided by Francis J Francer and Chang Gang Investments, was also won by Delanie Locket.

First Pride Parade (EU/AU)


The first Pride Parade  (EU/AU)  of Pride 2022 took place on June 5th 2022. The parade began at Bolingbroke Penitentiary, with parade floats travelling through Sandy Shores into Grapeseed. Due to technical issues with the floats the parade was cut short and a concert was held at Clucking Bell Farms in Paleto, with performances by Sooty Gamwich, Niko Rain, Meg Kyracruz, King Ryan, Orpheus Dawson and Damien Tinkerman. Following the concert, a Bareback Boxing tournament, sponsored by Pitchers, was held where the first place winner, Damien Tinkerman, won $100k.

Chang Gang Drag Night


The Chang Gang Drag Night took place on June 8th 2022. Ricardo Perez created drag looks for Chang Gang members Mr. K (Mrs. K), Taco Prince (Nicki), Wayne Biggz (Ms Biggz), Vinny Pistone (Vindita), Big D (Big V), Garrett Jobless (Garetta), Chodie (Chodmella), Bobby Brown (Auntie Barbara), Ramee El-Rahman (Edna Incredible), Randy Bullet (Randita), Jaylen Carter (Slaylen), Curtis Swoleroid (Citrus) and April Fooze (June). After introductions, a reading round and a lip sync performance, Randita (aka Randy) was announced the winner! With performances by Bimbos, Quimbley Hayabusa, King Ryan and Don Dolph.

Pride Drag Race


The Pride Drag Race took place on June 17th, 2022 at Fort Zancudo, hosted Sidwig Crawshank and Ursula Leichenberg and organized by Royal Mafia. Following a number of rounds of drag racing along the runway at Fort Zancudo, Anna Jørgensen was winner with a prize of $300,000. Randy Bullet, Francis J Francer and Ricardo Perez then judged the looks at the event, with DJ Cooper awarded $300,000 for best pride inspired fashion and Kalliope Grey awarded $300,000 for best pride inspired car. A raffle was also held for a Coquette D10 which was won by Naomi Scott. The event was sponsored by CGI and The Jewelled Dragon, with perfomances by Bimbos, Damien Tinkerman and Don Dolph.

Pride Drag Race (EU/AU)
A follow up race took place in the EU/AU timezone organized by Ursula Leichenberg and Royal Mafia. The winner of the drag race was Salvatore Corsaro who was awarded $300,000. Ash Ketchup and Benji Ramos judged the fashion and cars on show, the winner of the best fashion was Raymond Romonov, and the winner of the best car was Ace Carter, each winning $300,000. The winner of the car raffle for the Coquette D10 was Vali Umbra. With performances by Damien Tinkerman, Lulu and Niko Rain. Following the event there was a Bareback Boxing tournament.

Pride Joust (EU/AU)
The Pride Joust took place on June 19th, 2022 at the Galileo Observatory, hosted by Ricardo Perez, Meg Kyrakruz and Tee Veeman. Using mopeds, competitors carrying a pride flag had to knock the opposition off their moped until the last person standing. Vincent Anderson came in first with $50k and a karambit. Sai Kou came in Second with $25k and a karambit. Ollivander Templeton came in Third with $15k. May Hill won the raffle of a karambit. Karambits were provided by the Bullet Club.

Pride Joust
Another Pride Joust took place later on in June 19th, 2022 in the NA timezone. After a performance by Valentine Dalla, competitors jousted using mopeds through a number of rounds as well as a final free-for-all round. Selena Gomez won first place winning $50k and a karambit, Red Harrington won second place winning $25k and a karambit, Alex Domino won third place winning $15k, Lars Haverford won the free-for-all round winning $10k. The raffle of the katana, courtesy of Swole Creations, was won by Anna Jørgensen.

Pride Scavenger Hunt
The Pride Scavenger Hunt was held during the week of June 20th, 2022. Twenty Pitchers spray tags were placed in various hidden locations around the city, contestants had the week to find and document all 20 tags to be in to win $200,000. The winner of the scavenger hunt was announced at the Pride Concert, with the winner being Jules Abel aka Headphones.

Pride Concert
The Pride Concert was held on June 24th, 2022 at Legion Square. Artists who performed at the show included Zerina Vega, Valentine Dalla, Lana Valentine, Mia Beyern, Damien Tinkerman, Don Dolph, Niko Rain, Saint Noelle, Diana Cortez, Leo Davinci, Orpheus Dawson, King Ryan, Bimbos and Liz Anya. A raffle was held for $50,000 donated by Wu Chang Records and won by Cletus Spuckler.

Pride Art Festival
The Pride Art Festival was hosted by The Artist Studio on June 29th, 2022 at Vultur Lé Culturé. Throughout the month of June artists in the city were given the opportunity to produce Pride-themed art, with the art being put on display at the Gallery and their work being put into a commemorative Pride 2022 Art Book. There was also live music by ØRPHEUS, Daphne Malone, The Bimbos and King Ryan.

Pride Finale
The Pride Finale took place on June 30th, 2022. A parade of floats wound their way through the city from Legion Square to Del Perro Beach, after arriving at the venue set up on the beach two weddings were held. The first between Lea Nova & Alexandra Carlson and the second between Ricardo Perez & Jeremiah Gibbs - both weddings were officiated by Liz Anya. Following the wedding ceremonies there were performances by Liz Anya, Valentine Dalla, the Bimbos and Diana Cortez. This was the final official event of Pride 2022.