In 1976, about 25-30 members of the gay community walked down the sidewalk of Central Ave./route 66 marking the first gay rights march in town. Albuquerque Pride grew steadily each year. In 1977, over 100 marched on the sidewalks for GLBT rights and rallied at Morningside Park. Pridefest outgrew Morningside Park so Albuquerque became one of the first Prides in the nation to hold their event on a state fairground in Spanish Village. In 2001, our 25th anniversary, we moved to Main Street at the fairgrounds and over 5000 attended. We hold the record for being the longest running continuous parade on Central and we are the third largest parade in the city. For those who keep coming out and keep the vision of freedom alive, we continue to build Pride. It is a day, a snapshot in time, where we can come together see and celebrate each other and see what community can be. Pat Baillie female co-president has served in this position for the post 5 years. PJ Sedillo male co-president has been active with Pridefest for 12 years. We solute Pridefest and the two Presidents and are honored to have them preside over our Zia Regional Rodeo as Grand Marshals.
Delmas Howe
Delmas Howe was born in El Paso, Texas in 1935 and raised in Truth or Consequences New Mexico. After graduation from high school he progressed through undergraduate work at Wichita State University, then four years in the US Air Force, a move to the East Coast, graduate work at Yale University and several years of classes in NYC at the Art Students' League and the School of the Visual Arts while working as a professional musician. After a return to the West and a successful design studio in Amarillo, Texas he returned to Truth or Consequences. Delmas is a nationally acclaimed western, gay, oil painter & author of Rodeo Pantheon.
Sandi Wasmund, Buckle Designer
Sandi was raised in Albuquerque and she started silversmithing in 1973 as a hobby. She left Albuquerque in 1979 and lived from Pennsylvania to California. In 1988, while living in Denver, she decided to start working with gold. Sandi is a self-taught jeweler and in 1992 decided to move to Mesita, Colorado, a small town just 7 miles from the New Mexico state line in the San Luis Valley.
There, away from the busy city, she had time to pursue her art interest full time. She creates not only jewelry, but paints, sculpts stone, and welds sculptures when not working with her horses and raising Papillon dogs. Sandi has been involved with the rodeo for a few years now, being Ms. NMGRA in 1998 and 1st runner up toMs. IGRA in 1999. If you are looking for a unique ~md special creation, Sandi is the person to talk to.
