Dear Pride Family,
Far too many of us live in echo chambers. That needs to end. We are living in a hyper-polarized political climate exacerbated by social media silos. It’s become easy to block, ignore, and walk away from difficult conversations, and understandably when we do so it’s often more about self-care and preservation. However, those tough conversations, especially with those in our own communities, places of work and worship, and with those we love, have the most meaningful and long-lasting impact. We need to start talking to one another. California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins recognizes this need, which is why she has introduced SB 447 – BRIDGE Project – (Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gender-Supportive Equality). The bill would remove travel restrictions and create a program to create public education campaign that discourages discrimination and help members of our LGBTQ community feel less isolated.
We at San Diego Pride understand the need to invest in building these bridges which is why this Friday we’re launching our very first Pride Power Summit, a weekend-long conference for people committed to LGBTQ justice hoping to learn grassroots organizing skills, build community connections, and get directly engaged in the movement of intersectional social justice. Attendees will learn practical organizing skills that they can take back to their own communities and organizations, or you can put those new skills to work at any of our own year-round education and advocacy programs.
If we believe in change, we must in turn believe that people and systems can change. That belief alone will not create that change. We have to engage directly. One of the most important and strategic things any of us can do is return to the core and fundamental work of grassroots organizing. It’s how I got my start in LGBTQ justice work. We at San Diego Pride can and will mobilize our movement to ensure we are enhancing our skills, creating capacity, and building bridges in service of changing hearts. I hope to see many of you with us this weekend to join us in that work, so together we can help our community Thrive.
With Pride, Fernando Z. López
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Executive Director
San Diego Pride
Fernando Lopez is the Executive Director of San Diego Pride. Lopez’s years of LGBT advocacy, nonprofit management, public education, diversity consulting, media relations, guest lectures, and organizing have made them a consistent presence ensuring the struggles of the LGBT community are ever visible.
