(New York, NY) - Following on last year's 11th hour cancellation of the Pride celebrations, this year there are two Pride celebrations, a beach picnic and a boat cruise each vying for the coveted Black gay dollar in these challenging economic times. At a time when many in New York's Black gay community are reeling and suffering from the effects of the recession, and have to make choices which event they would attend, reports suggest that this year, the Black gay community is to be treated to two Pride events, "Jubilation" - A new Era of Pride, from Jul 31 to Aug 2; the 7th Annual Moonlight White Party Boat Cruise scheduled for Aug 1; Pride In The City 2009 - Expressions, from Aug 7 to 9; and the Fire Island Black Out (FIBO) benefiting the Ali Forney Center, a homeless shelter for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, also from Aug 7 to 9.

"Jubilation" -A new Era of Pride was conceived by a group of male and female club and party promoters who met and solicited sponsorships from several health and social service organizations serving the New York Black gay community. Pride in the City -Expressions is an attempt by Atlanta, GA-based National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities, Inc. (NAESM) to seize the reigns of the failed Pride In The City (PITC) events last year, which was hosted by the now defunct People of Color in Crisis (POCC).

The Moonlight White Party Boat Cruise is organized and promoted by James Saunders, the founder of Black Pride NYC, Inc., and Laurence Pinckney. Saunders says that while advance ticket sales are booming, he cautions that the price for tickets available at the pier would be higher.

FIBO, LLC, registered in Pennsylvania, PA and headed by James Wellons, was formed as an organization to promote and host the annual beach event at the Cherry Grove section of Fire Island. This year, a portion of the proceeds from the Fire Island event goes to support the Manhattan, NY-based Ali Forney Center, which has seen reduced funding for its homeless prevention and support programs.

With the exception of PITC 2009, FIBO has succeeded in collecting the support of several organizations and inter-related events, such as Circle of Voices, Inc.; SEWRVE, published by Washington, DC-based Brownstar Enterprises, and Next magazines; The Hilton Garden Inn; and Nubian Dreams Cruise 2.

Sponsors for ""Jubilation"" include Gay Men's Health Crisis, Gay Men of African Descent, Queer Black Cinema, Next Magazine, LezPlay, FP Promo, ShopUntilYouDrop.com, and Men Are From Mars.

Each of the Pride events have a schedule of events: ""Jubilation"" - on Friday, Jul 31 a meet and greet hosted by promoters Missy B and Fred Pierce at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn; Saturday, Aug 1, Battle of the DJs at the Courtyards in Commodore Barry Park also in Brooklyn; Sunday, Aug 2, a Black Gay Expo, hosted by party promoter Lee Soulja at the Helen Mills Theater, West 26th Street, NYC, featuring booths and film screenings provided by Queer Black Cinema; and several after parties.

The FIBO event begins with a cocktail reception on Friday, Aug 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Islip, Long Island, and Saturday and Sunday, Aug 8 and 9, Day at the Beach with programs of activities for each day, including a Tent Building Contest, Poetry Slam by the Ocean, volleyball, Bump & Dip Dance Party, access to the nearby hotel's pool and shower facilities, and discounts on food and other purchases island wide.

For PITC -beginning Friday, Aug 7 with a reception at Langston's on Atlantic Avenue and official PITC party at Secrets on West 29th Street; Saturday, Aug 8, a Family Day in the Park in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the Bartel-Pritchard Circle, which would include HIV rapid testing, vendors, artists, poets, book readings and health information booths; and Sunday, Aug 9, a beach picnic.

According to Pierce and Soulja, "Jubilation" is the answer to filling the void created when POCC's PITC failed, and maintaining for the New York Black gay community the spirit of celebrating the achievements of the community.

Pierce in his blog, fredp1blog posted Jul 22, 2009, made reference to the founding of PITC. In it he traced the PITC evolution from when it started as competition to Black Pride NYC, being bought out and assumed by POCC with sponsorship from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, to the failure of POCC, and as he claimed, the current usurpation of PITC co-ordinated by Rudy Carn, founder and CEO of NAESM.

But, while there is consternation at Carn's "ballsy" attitude to come from another state and to step into and fill the space created by the absence of POCC in the fabric of the Black gay community in Brooklyn, the head of one social service agency expressed concern at Carn's impudence and arrogance, with the help of a former executive director of POCC and others, and without consultation with other agencies, to "take over" the programs and funding streams previously available to POCC. This action, the agency head indicated has created a fracture in an already fragile community.

Pierce in his blog supported the charge of Carn's arrogance pointing to the rejection of offers of collaboration with the NAESM leadership on the Pride celebrations. Pierce mentioned that while NAESM is hoping to generate support for PITC and is forming an organization in New York City, its ultimate objective is to use the NYC experience as a stepping stone to achieve a larger presence as a national Black gay health organization.

Up to time of writing, calls to Carn for comment have not been returned.