Happy Pride Month, San Diego! June marks the annual commemoration across the United States as the community and allies alike come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves, uplift voices, and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Pride is traditionally celebrated in June to honor the Stonewall Uprising that occurred in 1969 when police raided a popular gay bar in New York City, The Stonewall Inn. The patrons of the bar fought back, starting the Stonewall Riots. The Stonewall Inn was later declared a historic landmark by the city of New York in 2015 and named a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016.

San Diego Pride in 2024 will take place July 13-21, and Wave FC will be at various events and festivities in full force, including at the Pride Parade on July 20. San Diego Pride occurs in July every year in part because previously when all Prides attempted to be on the same weekend in June, it limited organizations’ abilities to be in every city, to build supporter lists, and to grow. Pride organizers began to talk about how they could better coordinate events and in turn better serve communities, so the decision was made to leave “June gloom” behind for the warmer and sunnier month of July.

Later this month though, Wave FC will hold its annual Pride Night match against Chicago Red Stars on June 28, when the club will host a full night of celebrations at Snapdragon Stadium, including the sale of a limited edition Wave FC Pride Belt Bag. A portion of each Pride Pack sold includes a donation to San Diego Pride.

San Diego Wave FC encourages all Wave FC fans to join us this month in celebrating Pride. Below is a list of resources and events to consider supporting, attending, or learning from. Click on the individual names to visit their websites and learn more about the independent work these organizations are achieving for their communities. If there are additional organizations and/or resources you believe we should provide our platform to, please send your suggestions to [email protected].

Events:

Pride By the Beach — June 1 from 12-6 p.m. in Oceanside, the 17th annual Pride by the Beach is a visibility program and free community event of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. They serve over 13 cities, including Camp Pendleton, and the festival helps increase LGBTQIA+ visibility in the region, and the 2022 festival had an estimated 20,000 attendees. The attendees represent the diverse and intergenerational LGBTQIA+ community, including youth, students, families, veterans and active duty military individuals, LGBTQIA+ allies, educators, lifesaving organizations, elected officials, and more.

Pride Proclamations & Flag Raisings — June 1-14 at various locations across San Diego County beginning with Palomar College and Oceanside Unified at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 1, respectively.

Light Up The Cathedral — Join Dean Penny Bridges, Faith Leaders, and Allied Faith Leaders for an Interfaith Pride Celebration at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral on July 17. After the service, the Cathedral will be lit in rainbow colors.

Pride 5K — July 20 at 8 a.m. in Hillcrest. Last year, a sold-out participation of runners and walkers, from around the world, participated and raised $50,000 for charity partners. Every year, funds raised at the San Diego Pride 5K generate significant donations for San Diego Pride and The LGBT Center’s Youth Housing Project.

San Diego Pride Festival — On July 20 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and July 21 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. in Balboa Park, San Diego’s largest 2-day event highlighting the best in LGBTQ entertainment, interactive exhibits, cultural presentations, and community resources.

San Diego Pride Parade — July 20 at 10 a.m., the annual San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Pride in the United States, attracting over 300,000 people. The parade begins at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Ave. and Normal St., proceeds west on University Ave., turns south on 6th Ave., turns left onto Balboa Dr. and ends at Quince Dr.

She Fest 2024 — She Fest delivers empowering and accessible programming and content that centers 2SLGBTQ+ women and non-binary people; creates opportunities to connect 2SLGBTQ+ small businesses to new audiences; facilitates social events that bring people together; and invests in and celebrate the volunteer leadership of She Fest committee members. The year-round efforts culminate in an annual flagship event on July 13 that brings over 4,000 of our community members together to kick off San Diego’s Pride Week in July.

South Bay Pride Festival — On August 26th at 11 a.m. in Chula Vista Harbor, the 15th annual South Bay Pride’s goals are to make this event not only a celebration of the community and educational outreach but also to provide funds in order to assist in creating a bi-national resource center in the south San Diego county where youth and aging community can be supported and have a safe haven.

Spirit of Stonewall Rally — The Spirit of Stonewall Rally is a time to recognize and honor leaders who are working hard to preserve gains and meet the many challenges still facing the community. It is a time to honor origins, celebrate those who are leading the way, and call the community to action around some of the movement’s most pressing issues. The event will take place on Friday, July 19.

Businesses:
Explore the San Diego Equality Business Association directory, which strives to promote LGBTQ influence through business ownership, workforce equality, and active consumerism, creating prosperity to support equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Additional business information and ways you can support can be found via the San Diego LGBTQ+ Visitor Center, the San Diego LGBT Community Center, and SD News.

Resources and Organizations:

America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) is San Diego’s oldest and largest adult recreational slow-pitch softball league. As San Diego’s largest LGBTQ+ sporting league, they welcome everyone, whether you were born with a ball in your hand or are just learning how to throw, they provide a home for all.

Lambda Rising Soccer is a s a 501c3 non-profit that serves as a boldly inclusive recreational soccer club that celebrates the LGBTQ+ and Ally community in San Diego. We are committed to expanding access to recreational soccer programs for players of all gender identities and skill levels.

Lambda Archives of San Diego – The mission of Lambda Archives is to collect, preserve, and share the LGBTQ+ history of San Diego, Northern Baja California, and Imperial Valley region. Since 1987, we have been the region’s only community-centered archives focused on preserving our local queer history.

North County LGBTQ Resource Center – The North County LGBTQ Resource Center is a 501(c)3 organization that serves the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and questioning (LGBTQ) community of North County San Diego. Their service area includes the communities of Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Fallbrook, Camp Pendleton, and other outlying areas. They come together to share ideas, resources, and expand our presence in the local community.

Hillcrest Youth Center & South Bay Youth Center — The Hillcrest Youth Center and South Bay Center provide drop-in support and recreational activities dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ and nonbinary youth, as well as youth living with HIV.

Our Safe Place — Our Safe Place program provides behavioral health services for youth who identify as LGBTQI+ from 12 to 21 years old, and their families. The program’s service provisions include a certified outpatient clinic that serves all of San Diego County. Clinical services include individual and family therapy, as well as psychiatric services. Additionally, Our Safe Place offers four LGBTQI+ drop-in centers throughout the County (North Inland, North Coastal, Central and South Bay) that are open 7 days a week, 8 hours a day.

PFLAG San Diego County — PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents, families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural communities across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed. The PFLAG San Diego County chapter was formed in San Diego in 1982 with 15 members and extends into multiple regions of the county.

Project Trans — Project TRANS (Transgender Referrals, Assistance, Networking, and Services) offers discussion groups, behavioral health services, HIV prevention services, youth services, and more. In addition, the program focuses on advocacy, referrals, outreach, sensitivity training, social activities and events, workshops, and networking with community agencies. Through a partnership with the Transgender Law Center, Project TRANS also provides assistance with legal documents. For more information, contact the Project Trans coordinator at [email protected].

San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition — The San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition strives to be a haven for the Black LGBTQ community. Their primary focus is connecting individuals to resources, events, and outlets that support and enrich their lives, and providing opportunities to strengthen the community in which we live.

San Diego LGBT Community Center — Open daily, the center provides a wide variety of LGBTQIA+ programs and services including crisis counseling, individual and couple counseling, facilitated coming-out groups, and over a dozen LGBTQIA+ peer support groups each week. Additional social, educational, and cultural events, and information regarding community resources, as well as HIV testing, counseling, and substance abuse information and referral, are available. Located at 3909 Centre Street in Hillcrest. The North County LGBTQ Center is located in Oceanside.

Sport A Rainbow — An organization close to Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s heart, Sport a Rainbow encourages coaches, athletes and organizations to join the Inclusion in Sport Movement and be supportive, respectful, and kind to each other despite individual differences.

TransFamily Support Services — TransFamily Support Services guides transgender/non-binary youth and their families through the gender transitioning process to help make it the most positive experience possible. We provide family coaching, assistance with healthcare and insurance issues, help navigating the legal system, and support at schools. All services are provided at no fee.