Pride Thrives at SDCCD

Hundreds of students, faculty, classified employees, and family members from the San Diego Community College District walked in the annual San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, July 15, 2023. This year’s theme, Thrive, was emblazoned on teal T-shirts worn by participants, as well as on the side of the SDCCD parade float featuring photos of LGBTQIA+ students.

“The dedication to LGBTQIA+ community is demonstrated by many acts across the District, such as the raising of the pride flag at all of the colleges, to the opening of several pride centers, and collaborating with local organizations that service the community,” said Dean of Outreach and Student Affairs Andrew “Luke” Menchaca. “We wanted the float to make a statement; the rainbow and flags showcase a celebration of the diversity of our students at SDCCD.”

Providing spaces where students can thrive is a priority of the SDCCD. That support can be seen in event participation such as San Diego Pride, the inaugural raising of the pride flag in June on all District properties, as well as at the various campus Pride Centers that create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ students, which received $1.2 million in funding last year secured by U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs.

The SDCCD has participated in the Pride Parade since 2014.

Celebrating Freedom

In acknowledgment of the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas to announce Black enslaved people in the state and the rest of the nation were free by the Emancipation Proclamation, all District locations for the first time raised the Juneteenth flag on June 19. Juneteenth, also known as the United States’ second independence day, was officially made a federal holiday in 2021.