After the riots at Stonewall, we marched. After we lost Prop 8, we marched. The desire to gather and find community, to be seen and heard, to show collective power or express shared outrage is interwoven within the legacy of our movements for social justice. So much of our community, our organizations, and the programs that serve us can trace their origins back to these sorts of collective public actions. The publicity and word of mouth attention they receive help to spark the subsequent one-on-one conversations that are vital to shifting personal and public opinion.
Whether it was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the Women’s March, or the March for Our Lives, LGBTQ people have been right there organizing for social justice. We have been born into bodies all over the world regardless of borders, party affiliation, skin color, faith, ability, economic status, or gender. Our lives exist at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, and so we feel the weight of systemic oppression that much more. It is why our community continues to advocate for broader social justice issues. We recognize our shared struggles and understand the necessity of equity and equality.
This three-day weekend in San Diego will witness the Women’s March and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. You will again see us there, and we hope you will join us. All throughout 2019, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, we are adding even more events, demonstrations, programs, and celebrations that will honor our intersecting identities. I look forward to seeing you with us as we all take part in this Legacy of Liberation.
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.
