#GAY PRIDE SAN DIEGO 2018 BARS FULL#
It’s a range that’s also on full display when it comes to the festival’s two headliners. “Our goal was to showcase a large spectrum,” says Lopez, whose team booked a genre-leaping roster, from young viral pop singer Greyson Chance to the rappers Mykki Blanco and Snow tha Product. This year’s entertainment lineup spans across genres and generations. Begins at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Avenue and Normal Street, proceeds west on University Avenue, turns south on Sixth Avenue, turns left onto Balboa Drive and ends at Quince Drive. They’re going to be leading our parade just like they led our movement, and we want to really make sure we honor and support them.” 10 a.m. “These are people from our senior community. “I think that’s the statement piece and a staple of our parade.” This year’s grand marshals are what organizers are calling the Stonewall Generation. And “this year, we’re proud to feature an indigenous LGBTQ/2Spirit group leading the parade, as well as a military contingent led this year by transgender active duty and veteran service members,” says Lopez, who notes that in 2011, San Diego was the first Pride parade in the country to feature members of the military. The parade will begin with an interfaith blessing. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Avenue and Normal Street. The highlight of the weekend’s festivities is the Pride Parade. “Just so we can incorporate all those LGBTQ families.” 8 a.m. “We’ll also have a Kids Run,” says Lopez of the ancillary event. Participants, who can sign up to join online beforehand, are provided with a T-shirt and snacks. Pride 5kĪnother annual tradition is the 5k, which this year tips off at University Avenue at Centre Street.
It’s all in the spirit of this year’s theme: “Free to be You.” 2 to 11 p.m. “The block party is all about bringing friends, family and having a good time in an open community space,” says Lopez, who points out there will also be a Ferris wheel, cocktail bar and food trucks.
#GAY PRIDE SAN DIEGO 2018 BARS FREE#
Revelers will be happy to know that this year, the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party is free for all ages. Hillcrest Pride Flag, Pride Plaza, 1500 University Ave. “We’ll be presenting them with awards and thanking them for their decades of service to the community. “It’s a direct answer to President Trump’s ban.” In addition, older LGBTQ individuals will be honored. “We want to highlight this epidemic of black trans women killed across this country.” Also, in the face of the ban on trans members of the military, the national anthem will be sung by black trans artist Mila Jam transgender active duty and veteran service members will be on hand for a color guard ceremony as well. “We’ll also emphasis the violence against our black trans community,” says Lopez of the troubling trend. The Spirit of Stonewall Rally, following Trans Pride, will feature a range of speakers who’ll raise awareness about modern issues facing the LGBTQ movement. “This is where members of our trans community gather to share resources, information and have a rally of their own,” says Lopez of the Trans Pride festivities, which has the theme this year of “We Will Not Be Erased.” Attendees will then march from Trans Pride to the Stonewall Rally. Taking place in Balboa Park, the weekend of festivities kick off with Trans Pride. “Stonewall is what sparked pride in the first place, so this year is all about reflecting on the legacy gifted to us by the people who came before and how we want to leave that legacy for the next generation.”įrom calls to action to the celebrations, here’s your event-by-event guide to San Diego Pride 2019. “We’re excited to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots,” Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride, says of the 1969 riots that led to the modern gay rights movement. This year’s San Diego Pride weekend holds special significance.