Will we have Pride in 2020?

I’ve been told a few times this week that I am too hopeful and that others do not share my optimism about Pride happening this year. The threadbare patchwork response to COVID-19 across the country may leave us concerned, uncertain, and even fearful. Unknowns have a way of doing that, yet I know that we are a community that has stood up to fear and uncertainty to fight for our jobs, our homes, our marriages, and even basic safety. While I’ve been called Pollyannaish many times in my life, I’d like to believe my optimism is grounded in the hardships I’ve overcome in my own life, our own movement, and a pragmatic approach to strategically overcoming obstacles.

While COVID-19 testing is still lagging, it appears as though California’s and San Diego’s proactive measures, including having our residents stay home and stay physically separated, are helping to flatten the curve and slow the spread of this deadly virus. This only works if we all personally share the responsibility of our collective public health and follow the guidance from public health officials:

• Wash hands with soap and water.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms or have a fever or cough.
• If you smoke or vape, consider quitting. Smokers who already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity could be at increased risk of serious illness. 

Additionally, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly stated, “Face coverings could provide some additional protection against COVID-19, but Californians should not have a false sense of security if they choose to wear them. Make sure you’re also staying 6 feet away from other people if you have to leave your home to get groceries or prescriptions.”

If we can all hold ourselves and each other accountable for maintaining a lowered curve, the best case scenario is that we are all free and able to have Pride as planned in July. If COVID-19 is not controlled by July, we would move Pride to another date if possible. The Pride Parade and Festival require the coordination of hundreds of nonprofits, businesses, and entertainers, and thousands of volunteers. That work is continuing remotely as it is vital regardless of the actual date of the event.

San Diego Pride is different from other Pride organizations around the world. We have a full time staff, give out community grants and scholarships, have year-round education and advocacy programs, have healthy financial reserves to protect us against the unforeseeable, and are held together by an incredible base of skilled volunteers who give their time all year long. All of those factors combined are allowing us to continue our Pride 365 programming and planning virtually while we prepare for a variety of possible outcomes for our Pride celebration.

Globally, we are working with the InterPride network to establish a virtual Global Pride that will be held on June 27 and bring together Prides from all over the world. Locally, we are working on alternative virtual solutions for July if that is required of us as well. While it’s impossible to plan for the unknown, we are doing our best. 

The innovative support I’ve seen our community engage in along with the smarts, grit, and passion of our Pride Family all gives me hope. No matter when we find ourselves on the other side of this pandemic, know that we will celebrate together in the streets of our city, and Together We Rise.

With Love, Hope, and Pride, Fernando Zweifach López
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Executive Director
San Diego Pride

Learn more about Global Pride here.