While for many of us in the US it may seem like the battle for marriage equality is over, on Monday the State Department began imposing a new policy that restricts visas for the same-sex partners of staff who work within US-based international organizations. Only a few dozen countries around the world have adopted the freedom to marry, leaving many having to choose between their career and being with the person they love. That fight isn’t over.
Recently the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy has also impacted our LGBTQ siblings around the world who have journeyed to the US seeking asylum. At our office we hear about far too many LGBTQ folks who have made the treacherous trip only to be denied their right to petition for asylum, and are forced to return to their country of origin where they face violence and death.
Today, I am at the annual InterPride Conference in Saskatoon, Canada, where we work to bridge the over 1,000 Prides that happen all over the world so we may share resources, funding, best practices, and curriculum. Pride in San Diego is much different than Pride in Latvia, Uganda, Russia, or Pakistan. Many Prides across the globe are fighting their own communities, governments, institutionalized violence, and simply seeking to connect the LGBTQ community while providing them access to services, care, and liberation.
San Diego Pride emeritus, Doug Moore, was one of the founders of InterPride, and we continue this 36-year legacy of building connections among the LGBTQ community all over the world through InterPride, international philanthropy, international curriculum development and capacity building, public platforms like our Pride World Forum, and citizen diplomacy efforts. Since 2012, San Diego Pride has worked with 435 delegates from 127 countries.
When you volunteer with Pride, donate to our programs, or attend our events you are joining that legacy of international citizenry promoting LGBTQ equality and liberation worldwide. One of the most powerful ways that each of you can support the international LGBTQ community in the next month is show up to the polls to ensure our community’s voice is heard and our elected officials reflect our values so that all of us around the world may Persist with Pride.
Fernando Lopez was 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.
