San Diego Pride - Racial Justice and Equity Statement
In accordance with our mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally, San Diego Pride is specifically committed to racial justice and equity, both externally through our programming and communications, and internally through our organizational culture and operations.
We recognize that the incredible progress in our LGBTQ movement has also been deeply uneven and that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have lived experiences that have not fully benefited from the many LGBTQ advances in social and legal equality. San Diego Pride is committed wholly to this deeply reflective and active work to dismantle white supremacy and anti-Black racism in all its forms. Our organization’s vision is a world free of prejudice and bias.
Our accountability work does not stop at any of our own organization’s decisions or statements. We are part of a movement, a continuum. We acknowledge that addressing and dismantling white supremacy and anti-Black racism, two ideologies that form the underpinnings of the founding and continued functions of the United States, is not an easy task. It is not comfortable. It is also not optional.
San Diego Pride’s racial justice and equity work includes:
- Human Resources: Hiring and retaining a workforce that represents the diversity of our community with regards to race and other socioeconomic statuses positions the organization to best achieve its mission of fostering pride, equality, and respect for all LGBTQ+ communities.
- Internal Trainings: Internally, we provide regular trainings for both volunteers and staff about racial justice and equity, which are mandatory for all staff and expected of all lead volunteers. Both staff and volunteers are accountable for upholding and adhering to the expectations set by the organization in this statement and in these regular trainings related to racial equity and justice.
- Operational Metrics: The data collected for program assessment and measurement includes information related to race, ethnicity, and other oppressed identities. Program assessment and measurement includes an explicit category for identifying the reach and impact of our programs on all marginalized communities, including BIPOC communities.
- Programming: Pride programs are responsive to community needs, including and centering the needs identified by and with our BIPOC siblings. Pride programs use a “for us, by us” mode of operation, uplifting members of marginalized communities to step into leadership roles to create and run programs for our own communities.
- Entertainment: Our flagship event, the Pride Festival, and Parade, intentionally includes performers, speakers, and featured guests that reflect the diversity of our community. Pride Festival booking requires at least 50% BIPOC entertainers.
- Visible Representation: The style guide and standards for our marketing and communications explicitly and intentionally include BIPOC folks, with a standard of at least 50% BIPOC representation.
- Training Institute: Our LGBTQ+ Inclusivity training centers on principles of intersectionality, acknowledging and addressing the ways in which racial oppression, white supremacy, and anti-Black racism interact with and complicate the journey to full LGBTQ+ inclusivity and equality.
