PROTESTERS IGNORE 2ND GAY FESTIVAL; CONTROVERSY FADES AS EVENT ATTRACTS HUNDREDS IN SIMI.

Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer

After controversy and protests marked its debut last year, the second local Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival came into its own on Sunday.

By early afternoon, there were no signs of anti-homosexual demonstrators as gays, lesbians, friends and relatives gathered at the festival site at Tapo Canyon Road and Los Angeles Avenue.

Even formal recognition of the event by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors has lost much of the controversy that surrounded the first festival of its type in Simi Valley last year.

``Typically, it takes three or four years before the protesters give up,'' said festival organizer Paul A. Waters. ``The fact that this event is becoming an integral part of the community is a testament to the mettle of the people of Simi Valley.''

The only apparent controversy was of the traditional partisan type at the daylong festival featuring 70 food, novelty and information booths.

Jeff Bissiri was hoping to sign up what he calls ``closet Republicans'' hiding under a cloak of Democratic Party membership. He is president of the Los Angeles Log Cabin Club, an organization of gay Republicans.

``It's hard to be gay in the Republican Party, and it's hard to be Republican in the gay community,'' said Bissiri, noting with satisfaction that Republican members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to recognize the festival. ``The religious conservatives have to understand we're Republicans, too, and we're not going to surrender the party to them.''

One Ventura man, who asked to be identified only as Dave, said the festival offers a chance to network in a relaxed atmosphere.

``It's a place where you can be in public and be yourself,'' he said.

The Los Angeles Police Department, Merrill Lynch, Coldwell Banker and other businesses and community-based agencies were among the 70 organizations that set up booths at the festival.

Kim Shean was recruiting job applicants at the booth run by the Ventura County Probation Department, in which she is a supervisor.

``This is our first gay and lesbian event ever,'' Shean said. ``I have about 35 people I supervise, and my sexual orientation has never been an issue.''

Although attendance figures were not immediately available, Waters said attendance was likely to top the 3,500 last year.

``The festival is ramping up much faster than it did last year, so that should mean that the attendance numbers are much higher this year.''

Waters, who founded the See-Me Squares square-dance club in Simi Valley, said he organized the festival to help gays and lesbians network.

``It's really nothing more than chance that this festival is here,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) John Zaragosa, left, looks for square dancers at the second annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival in Simi Valley on Sunday.

(2--Color) Kevin Voecks, left, chats with Jonathan Wright, wearing a blouse and skirt, Sunday.

Andy Holzman/Daily News