The Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade 30th anniversary celebration is on hold, for now. By Lisa Talley | lisa@fresnoflyer.com
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t’s a gut punch,” reflects Jefferey Robinson, Co-Chair, and CEO of Fresno Rainbow Pride’s parent organization, Community Link. The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably changed 2020, and with it, the cancellation of all the large events and celebrations slated for the entire year, including Fresno’s Pride parade. While recognizing and respecting the need to ensure the public’s safety, Robinson explains that it still doesn’t make losing the beloved event any less painful for the community. “[Pride is] almost like a rite of passage. It’s a place where we can be rejuvenated … [when] we feel oppressed or under the microscope or judged, we don’t have the ability to always be as out as we want to be. For many people, they need this event, and others like it to refresh their souls and gather new strength to carry on and move forward.” Fresno’s Pride parade and celebration have, for what would have been 30 years, this year, also served as the kickoff event for ‘Pride season.’ While June is officially dubbed ‘Pride Month’ (in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots that sparked the gay liberation movement), parades and celebrations continue well into the fall— ending in November with Palm Springs’ marking of the occasion. In fact, many California cities don’t overlap dates, making it easy for people to attend multiple events across the state without conflict. Fresno Pride creates a springboard into the exciting months ahead for many in the community
who then travel to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, or San Diego, for example. But with a pandemic in full swing and an unpredictable timeline for a resolution, losing the Fresno Pride celebration means a halt to the entire season that was to follow. A hard-hitting reality for the LGBTQ community. Acknowledging this, many organizations have found a way to continue honoring Pride, Fresno among them. “We are on pause, and during that pause or intermission, we’re going to have the ‘Quarantine Edition’ as a placeholder, something for us to connect and celebrate with our community, allies, and friends about Pride in general,” Robinson shares. Fr e s n o Rainbow Pride’s original theme was ’30 years of Pride,’ a direct reference to their 30 years of work within the community and ongoing organizing of the event. While this ‘Quarantine Edition’ is a modification of the celebration, it won’t carry over the initial theme. The organization also determined that the parade would not be rescheduled into the fall when it is likely that large gatherings and events would see an authorization to start up again from health officials. According to Robinson, the decision is rooted purely in logistics and an appreciation for the other organizers who typically host | FRESNOFLYER.COM |
their events in the later months. Attempting to reschedule a massive celebration such as Fresno’s Rainbow Pride Parade outside of their usual time-frame would not only likely interfere on an already cramped calendar, but would also create competition for resources that would limit everyone’s ability to acquire what they need. Something the organization sees as ‘stepping on the toes’ of many of their neighbors. “We are going to have the 30th annual Pride parade when it is appropriate when it is safe to do so. And if that means it happens in 2021, that’s when the actual 30th parade will happen,” Robinson explains. In the meantime, Fresno Rainbow Pride has come up with multiple virtual events to help ease the sense of loss felt by the community in the canceled parade. On Saturday, June 6, the organization will host its ‘Quarantine Edition,’ live-streamed to their social media accounts. The stream includes a schedule of live performances from Drag Queens and Kings, musical sets put together by local DJs, pre-recorded videos of community members expressing what Pride means to them, and sponsors sharing their work on behalf of the community. Leaders, Grand Mar-
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shals, and local politicians will also say a few words. These and archival footage from past parades will grace the stream in a montage of Pride celebration. Shortly after, within a couple of weeks, Fresno Rainbow Pride will host ‘Pride at Home.’ The theme is virtual and encourages people to put together their best Pride outfits and strut their stuff at home. Again, the submissions will stream on the organization’s social media platforms. “Many people spend a lot of time putting together their Pride outfit. Even if you’re a casual guy or gal, you’ve got it kind of planned out with a Pride shirt, beads, a hat, a bow, or something you’ve bought [specifically] for coming out to the Pride parade,” elaborates Robinson. To culminate the month-long celebration, the organization plans to put together a car parade of sorts. Like the drive-by congratulations of birthdays and graduations seen throughout the pandemic – a way to unite in the festivities while honoring the social distancing guidelines – Fresno Rainbow Pride will create a similar moment for the occasion. Participants are encouraged to decorate their cars as wildly and, as Robinson says, “as fabulously,” as possible. The organization will film the event for release on their social media accounts. Details on when and where it all takes place are to be determined. Interested parties can follow Fresno Rainbow Pride online for updates as
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