Welcome to the 39th annual San Diego LGBT Pride. The San Diego LGBT community is excited to celebrate all that we have accomplished in our pursuit of equality in the last year, as well as just have a fantastic party weekend.
We have so much to celebrate this year. President Obama supported marriage equality, the Supreme Court affirmed our right to marry our partner in California and 12 other states, plus the District of Columbia and a gay hip-hop Grammy winner came out. This is the year where we were here, we were queer, and guess what, America got over it.
The LGBT community has been front and center in America’s mind. Whether it was how bi-national couples could help their partners immigrate, or the freedom to work, which the Employment Non-Discrimination Act represents; LGBT people penetrated America’s consciousness.
Pride allows us to present the diversity of the San Diego LGBT community, not only to the broader community, but to ourselves. Whether it is members of the leather community, our bisexual and transgender compatriots, military active duty and veterans, or our LGBT elders, our diversity is on display; warts and all.
This year, Pride is all about how far we have come. San Diego has Harvey Milk Street, the first in the nation, as well as a large Pride flag waving every day above the community of Hillcrest. Men walk hand in hand along University Avenue, while women kiss passionately on Park Boulevard.
Yes, we have equality and acceptance in America that has been phenomenal in the last twenty years. Unfortunately, we also lost a generation to the AIDS crisis who are not here to share our collective joy. AIDS galvanized our community, as well as produced the activists that were on the forefront of LGBT equality during the critical time that has led to this unimaginable year.
Go out and have a great time. Enjoy what is quintessentially San Diego; fabulous weather and beautiful beaches. After all, we are one of the best outdoor communities in the nation.
Celebrate and be proud. Kiss your partner on the street, show off that circuit party-ready body, do something cultural or simply have drinks with friends. This year, of all years, is really a time to celebrate!
Even as I write this, I’m having a drink to toast our equality!
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
