San Diego Pride weekend begins with the Spirit of Stonewall Rally at The Hillcrest Pride Flag on Friday, July 12, 6 – 7 p.m. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a moment in history in which the LGBTQ community fought back against police brutality and legal oppression. To commemorate the anniversary, the theme for San Diego Pride 2019 is Stonewall 50: A Legacy of Liberation. San Diego Pride will take this year to honor and reflect on the Stonewall generation, their activism and what the community has gained through their efforts.
“This Pride we will highlight the Stonewall generation, their activism, and all that our community has gained through their efforts, as we challenge ourselves to reflect on our own role in that legacy, and how, if we approach our own individual legacies with intention, we can build on their successes to leave a better world for those who come next,” said San Diego Pride Executive Director Fernando Z. López.
This year’s award recipients include:
Community Grand Marshal – Stonewall Generation
Champion of Pride – LaRue Fields
Stonewall Service Award – San Diego History Center
Inspirational Couple – Ricardo Gallego and Dr. Orlando Espin
Friend of Pride – Reverend Penny Bridges
Stonewall Philanthropy Award – Blue Shield of California
The United States flag and our colorguard will be presented by transgender veterans and servicemembers as the National Anthem is sung by black American transgender singer and songwriter Mila Jam.
The rally will also host San Diego LGBT Community Center CEO Cara Dessert speaking about immigration and asylum as an LGBTQ issue; Director of The Center for Gender-Affirming Care at Rady Children’s Hospital Bixby Marino-Kibbee discussing support for our trans youth and community, and CEO and Co-Founder of Rise San Diego Dwayne Crenshaw highlighting the progress our community has made and the work ahead of us such as passing the Equality Act.
The rally will be closed out by the San Diego Youth Marching band performing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as the rainbow flag is raised over Hillcrest. Afterwards, San Diego Pride and Fabulous Hillcrest present the Pride Block Party, which is free and open to the public.
The Spirit of Stonewall Rally is free and open to the public. The San Diego Pride Parade begins Saturday, July 13 at 10 a.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag and is free to attend. Find more information about the parade at www.sdpride.org/parade.
The Pride Festival is held Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 at Marston Pt. in Balboa Park. For more information and tickets visit www.sdpride.org/festival. All proceeds from the festival and parade support San Diego Pride’s LGBTQ-centered philanthropy and year-round education and advocacy programs.
San Diego Pride was formed in 1974 as a sponsored program of The Center for Social Services which produced the first Lesbian and Gay Parade in San Diego in 1975 to celebrate the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion on New York’s Christopher Street. San Diego Pride was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1994.
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
