2001
It was the beginning of a new millennium and San Diego Pride’s theme, “Diversity Creates Community,” was evident in all aspects of the event. The parade continued to grow and reach out to participants of all ethnicities and backgrounds. The rally included speakers and award recipients who were likewise reflective of the diversity of San Diego’s citizens. The festival entertainment included a multicultural “Rhythms of the Nations” Dance Tent.
However, nowhere was Pride’s commitment to diversity more evident than in the official Pride program. For the first time, the Pride program was a bilingual publication, written in both English and Spanish. People of Hispanic or Latino Backgrounds represent the largest minority in San Diego.
Going Local
One of the most noticeable differences with the 2001 program of events was the lack of big name celebrities at the rally, parade or festival. While previous events had included celebrities like Greg Louganis, Wilson Cruz, Chastity Bono, Betty DeGeneres, Bruce Vilanch and Margaret Cho, Pride 2001 lacked that level of star power.
The rally keynote speaker was Tom Ammiano, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. An out gay politician and witty public speaker, he lacked the star power of previous keynote speakers, but his style was well suited for the activist theme of the rally.
Ammiano was also one of the Grand Marshals, along with Queen Eddie and Barbara Crusberg. The rest of the parade was standard fare for the time and featured local and national businesses before an audience of 110,000 people.
The festival had been growing since its move to the Fruit Loop in 1993, and, in 2001, the borders of the festival began to inch north to accommodate the extra capacity. The entertainment at the festival, other than the usual people watching/ogling, consisted mostly of local and regional entertainers. The headliner was ‘80s new-wave band Berlin.
Epilogue
A few months later, San Diego Pride lost one of its own. Former Executive Director Mandy Schultz was last seen on the morning of September 20. She was missing for five weeks when her body and wrecked vehicle were found on October 29th. The cause of death was apparently due to injuries suffered in the accident. An outgoing, vibrant young woman, Mandy Schultz helped take Pride to the next level during her time with the organization.