Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a moment in our history where we fought back against police brutality and the legal oppression of our community. Our community rallied together and commemorated that act of rebellion the following year with the Christopher Street Liberation Day March with solidarity events held in cities across the country. The number of solidarity events has continued to grow every year all across the world, as the global Pride movement now boasts nearly 2,000 identified Prides, organized by hundreds of thousands of people, connecting millions to resources, community, and the celebration of our diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
I don’t know if in that moment of defiance in 1969 those brave rebels could have imagined the far-reaching international impact of their actions, or if each of us can even fully grasp the transformative way Prides benefit individual lives on a global scale. I do know each of us is grateful for the gains we’ve inherited and made thanks to the Stonewall generation, as it is their shoulders we stand on. I know that each of us, in the battles we face along the journey of our lives, and the small acts of kindness or resistance we make every day, are a part of the continuum of activism sparked at the Stonewall Inn.
This is why our theme for San Diego Pride 2019 is Stonewall 50: A Legacy of Liberation. We will take this next year to honor and reflect on the Stonewall generation, their activism, and all that our community has gained through their efforts, 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. We are all connected to this legacy of liberation, and in its service, we can truly Persist with Pride.
OUT at the Park: April 19, 2019
She Fest: July 6, 2019
Spirit of Stonewall Rally: July 12, 2019
San Diego Pride Parade: July 13, 2019
San Diego Pride Festival: July 13 – 14, 2019
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.
