Pierce County Aids Foundation and Tacoma Pride have teamed up to sponsor a Military Appreciation Party at The Mix, with drink specials and karaoke, Wednesday, July 15 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., after the Grand Cinema film series.

Although this is a first for PCAF and Pride, it is not a first for The Mix, which has been hosting Military Appreciation Day every Wednesday for quite some time. "This is the first time we have teamed up with The Mix and the Tacoma Pride Festival to host an appreciation party for the people who have been and are in the military," says Lorenzo Cervantes, PCAF's Prevention Director and liaison to Out in the Park. Cervantes says he has heard the events have been very successful.

Planners for this year's Pride Festival felt that they were in a good spot to stop and be reflective on how far we have come in the struggle for equality - including the removal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

"We want to celebrate all of the individuals who served with dignity during those times, and we want to celebrate and thank those individuals who are serving openly now," Cervantes says. 

There will be thank-you prizes to give to all of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally military members and vets who come to the party. And there will be cake for all.

"The Mix and PCAF are sponsoring this event because we are grateful for the service the people in the military have provided to our country. We want to especially give thanks to our LGBTQ military servicemembers for their past service during a time in the military when there was a possibility of being discharged for being openly LGBTQ and to our military servicemembers now who are serving as openly LGBTQ people," Cervantes says.

Rainbow Center and Pride event coordinator Lisa Fruichantie says, "We are really excited to be featured! This is the first time we have had this event be a part of Tacoma Pride Festival and we are thrilled."

The Mix is a bar and nightclub with gay-themed nights, karaoke, music videos & pool, plus DJ dance parties at 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, next to The Grand Cinema.

PRIDE EVENTS:
ONO: Pride Drag Show, July 9, 9 p.m.; July 10, midnight. Malarkey's Pool and Brew, 455 Tacoma Ave. S., Free.

KICKOFF! Flag Raising & Pride Awards, July 10, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Pantages Theatre, 901 Broadway, $10.

AWOL Brigade - Uncensored, July 10-11, 12 a.m., Malarkey's Pool and Brew, 455 Tacoma Ave. S., Free.

Rainbow Center's Out in the Park, July 11, Noon to 5 p.m., Broadway between 9th and 11th, Free.

Destiny City Queer Con, July 1, Noon to 8 p.m., Destiny City Comics, 218 St. Helens, $10.

The Mix's PRIDE Block Party, July 11, 5 p.m. to July 12, 2 a.m., 635 St. Helens Ave., Free.

Blues Vespers: PRIDE edition with Kim Archer, July 12, 5-8 p.m., Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 901 N. J St., $8.

The Circle - Matinee Screening, July 14, 1:45 p.m. and 7 p.m., The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave.

Happy Hour, Acme Tavern, 3-7 p.m., 1310 Tacoma Ave. S.

Big Hat Brunch supporting Oasis Youth Center, July 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oasis Youth Center, 2215 Pacific Ave.