2009 San Diego LGBT Pride Parade
San Diego’s 35th Pride Celebration Commemorates the Stonewall Riots
Jul 14, 2009
When the first San Diego Pride parade was held in 1974, the 200 individuals who participated feared losing their jobs or even being ostracized from their social circles. Their struggle for recognition and acceptance continued, and it wasn’t until 21 years later, in March of 1995, that the San Diego Lesbian and Gay Pride organization was officially given 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service. As a result of the long history of perseverance on the part of the organizers and the growing acceptance from the city at large, the San Diego Pride celebration has transformed into one of the largest in the nation and has become a widely anticipated annual event.
2009 Parade Theme: Stone Wall 2.0 – Activism for Equality
The theme for the 35th annual parade is "Stonewall 2.0 - Activism for Equality," which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York. The Stonewall Riots, in which a group of LGBT individuals took a stand against police harassment after a raid at a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village in 1969, is often hailed as the start of the modern gay rights movement. Accordingly, the theme for this year’s San Diego Pride parade draws attention to the fight for gay civil rights, and it honors not only those who took action in 1969 but also those who are working for equality today. Additionally, this theme serves as a call to action and, as the San Diego Pride website states, is a reminder that “the inner activist in each of us must answer the call to achieve full civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all LGBT people.”
Logistics and Parking Information for the 2009 Pride Parade
This year’s parade will take place on Saturday, July 18, and the official step-off will be at 11:00 a.m. The parade route will follow the traditional “Rainbow Mile” along University Avenue, which passes through the heart of Hillcrest. Residents of Hillcrest are encouraged to look up road closures and parking prohibitions for the weekend.
There will be a free shuttle available with a drop-off point at the start of the parade route (University Ave and Centre St). The pre-parade shuttles will begin running at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday morning and will be boarding spectators at the Old Navy Hospital Parking Lot (located at Park Blvd and President’s Way) as well as at Parking Structure 3 at San Diego City College.
Grand Marshals, Floats, and Contests
This year, San Diego Pride will feature an eclectic mix of individuals and groups who will serve as leaders in the parade. The Grand Marshal for this year is Cleve Jones, the founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Jones served as an intern for the late Harvey Milk, authored a best-selling memoir entitled Stitching a Revolution, and has worked with a variety of LGBT and human rights organizations throughout the world.
The Celebrity Grand Marshal for this year will be The Lady Chablis, a noted performer and drag entertainer who appeared in the film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was directed by Clint Eastwood. Last, but not least, the Community Grand Marshals for this year’s parade will be two local, LGBT activist groups: San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (SAME) and San Diego Equality Campaign (SDEC).
As these Grand Marshals lead the parade, there will be several places along the route where floats and costumes will be judged. Awards are be given in a variety of categories, based on the determinations of the judges at the reviewing stands, and a $1,000 Grand Prize will be given to the entry which best represents this year’s theme.
So, bring your best cheering voice to support the colorful and creative entries! And, be sure to get there early in order to secure your spot along the crowded route!
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