Austin Community Events Offer Fun in the Sun for LGBT

Austin, Texas is a city unlike any other in Texas. This highly liberal city is often known as the Mecca for the LGBT community. While there are activities that are constantly taking place around the city with the LGBT community in mind, there are several community events that outshine the rest.

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is a prime example of LGBT cinematography at its best. Austin residents as well as national and international contestants are encouraged to enter the yearly competition. The local sights and sounds of Austin create a beautiful backdrop to many for the films. This annual event brings the biggest and best in independent film makers, as it focuses around coming out stories and delivers AIDS awareness. 2008 marks the 21st annual GLIFF event, spearheading future community awareness through education and outreach services.

My Gay Movie, also known as MGM, is a film competition that is having its 7th annual celebrations at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. This film competition is open to all first-time film makers. The film must be no longer than 10 minutes, and offer a sensible side to the LGBT community and lifestyle. A cash prize of $500.00 and a large representation of the winnings is at stake for this competition, making it a fierce film contest to win.

Austin gay youth are also encouraged to attend the Austin GLIFF festivities. This is a program aimed at the LGBT youth in Austin, aged 13-19. This exposure is essential to bringing awareness to the youth, and an exposure to the LGBT lifestyle. The Gay Youth Media Project is an essential portion of the entire GLIFF experience.

Hippy Hollow is another local Austin favorite. This park, which is located on Lake Travis, is the only park in Texas that is also a nude park. Nudists from all around the country and world descend on the park for its annual Splash! festivities. There are two Splash! festivities that occur; one to mark the beginning of spring, and the other to mark the end of summer. Men and women 18 years of age and up are welcome to the park with paid admission. This beautiful park is surrounded by natural limestone walls, and also offers walking and hiking trails. Splash! is a wonderful time to attend Hippie Hollow, as it is a weekend long celebration occurring over Memorial and Labor Day holidays. A beer barge is anchored on the water, and free beer is offered to those that are 21 years of age and up. Hippie Hollow is the epitome of freedom and adversity for the LGBT community in Austin.

The epitome of the LGBT community thrives during the Austin Pride Parade. This annual event showcases that LGBT in Austin, as well as those that support the LGBT lifestyle. It is free to attend this annual event, which takes place every summer in downtown Austin. Thousands of men and women of all ages line the downtown streets of Austin to see the parade. There are contests for floats, with cash prizes. Volunteers aid in the parade, and there is Pride Parade memorabilia that is also available for purchase.

As the LGBT community continues to thrive in Austin, there are many people that will descend upon the LGBT activities. It is through such local attractions and events that awareness for LGBT individuals and a tolerance for all can be created.