community spotlight
by brad hart
SAN DIEGO PRIDE
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN BALBOA PARK San Diego County’s biggest summer party is calling your name. More than100 entertainers will perform across five stages at this month’s San Diego Pride Festival on Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 17, in Balboa Park. The all-LGBTQ lineup will feature headliners Snow Tha Product, Daya, Ashnikko and Baby Tate. Other notable acts will include Mila Jam, Ballet Folklorico Trans Proyecto, Chulita Vinyl Club and TRANSVIOLET. This year’s theme is “Justice with Joy,” inspired by San Diego Pride’s decades of LGBTQ-centered philanthropy, alongside the joyous return of in-person Pride celebrations. “Our goal at this year’s Pride Festival is to predominantly feature our fiercely talented local LGBTQ community,” San Diego Pride executive director Fernando Lopez said. “We are thrilled to come together again for our first in-person Pride Festival in three years, where our artists and entertainers help us be seen, be heard, find family, raise funds, build capacity, and carve out the space for us all to be unapologetically our true, authentic selves.” The two-day festival will showcase local LGBTQ and BIPOC artists, educational and art exhibits, local businesses, interactive cultural presentations, local food vendors, HIV testing, children and youth areas, and more.
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www.rage.lgbt | JULY 2022
“We are still fighting for justice and that takes away from our joy. We need each other now more than ever to stand strong and see liberation through,” said Mila Jam, a Saturday performer who is a Black and transgender advocate. “As a queer, trans Latinx, it is super important to have access to this type of platform; it has been on my bucket list to perform at the San Diego Pride Festival for years now,” said MUXXXE, a Mundo Latino Stage performer on Saturday. “I’m beyond excited to represent all my queer/ LGBTQI+ Latinxs out here.” “With all that’s going on in the world right now I can’t wait for a moment of good vibes and peace while bringing people together. Remember to always be true to who you are,” said AZJAH, a Movement Stage performer on Sunday. Also returning this year will be the massive Pride Parade on Saturday, July 16 starting at 10 a.m., which is free and open to the public. The San Diego Pride Parade is one of the nation’s largest, annually attracting over 250,000 people worldwide. All proceeds from the festival and parade will support San Diego Pride’s philanthropy and its year-round education and advocacy programs. As of 2022, San Diego Pride has donated over $3 million to local, national and international LGBTQ-serving organizations. sdpride.
