San Diego Heats Up For a Weekend of Gay Pride

It's summer and it's time to get our Pride on! Three full days of events and plenty of opportunity to celebrate the great diversity in our community make San Diego Pride the largest civic event in the city, year after year. As always, the weekend promises to be epic, complete with parades, parties and the ever-present California sun. So get ready to show everyone what you've been doing in the gym these last few months and let's see what the weekend has in store.

On Friday, July 20, the pre-pride festivities begin with the annual Stonewall Rally. This is typically the first official event of San Diego Pride and is a celebration and remembrance of the Stonewall Riots, often cited as the beginning of the gay rights movement in America, which took place on June 28, 1969. San Diego re-energizes the fight for equality year after year at this Spirit of Stonewall event! Gather promptly at 6 p.m. at the corner of Harvey Milk and Normal Streets.

Dr. Clarence B. Jones, who served as personal counsel for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped draft his "I Have a Dream" speech, will be the keynote speaker of the event. Also recognized will be several volunteers and prominent members of the LGBT community who will receive honors for their dedication to and work in the LGBT community.

The grand finale for the Rally will be the raising of the brand new 65' Pride flag upon a new, permanent flag pole, spearheaded by the Hillcrest Business Association, which will continue to show San Diego's pride every day for years to come.

"That will be the first Gay Pride flag in San Diego County on public grounds," boasts Pride organizer Laney MacDougall, "so that in addition to the recent Harvey Milk Street naming is something that San Diego Pride is really proud of."

While you're in the gayborhood, be sure to check out the first Hillcrest Block Party also hosted by the Hillcrest Business Association. Headlining will be British singer and songwriter Neon Hitch who promises to have Pride-goers literally dancing in the streets. The party will be held near the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Normal Street (in front of the DMV where the Sunday Farmer's Market is held) and runs from 6-11 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.fabuloushillcrest.com.

If you're looking to party into the morning, the Pride Ball is where you want to be. Going from 10 p.m.-4 a.m., and featuring DJ Luis Perez, the Pride Ball takes over Spin Nightclub (2028 Hancock Street) and still wraps up early enough to get your beauty sleep. Tickets, which are $25 early, and $30 on the day of the event, are available at www.billhardtpresents.com

Pride Parade Honors LGBT Servicemembers

Pride wouldn't be Pride without a parade, and San Diego's Pride Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 21 from the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street. The parade follows its traditional route down University to 6th Avenue and down 6th to Balboa Park.

Actress Sandra Bernhard will serve as Grand Marshal, along with community honorees, local celebrities, and representatives from business and community from all around San Diego. Last year's parade featured the first contingent of openly gay service members in the country and they will be back with larger numbers thanks to the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, this year!

"This will be the first year that we will have members of the military, both active duty and veterans, marching together out in the open," said MacDougall. "We have gotten permission from the Department of Defense to allow them to march in their uniforms, which has never happened before. We're expecting over 300 people to be marching in that."

The parade draws nearly 200,000 spectators annually, so be sure to arrive early if you want to find a good seat. To help with parking, San Diego Pride has announced the addition of satellite parking and a shuttle that will take you to the parade, the festival and back to your car. The best part is, it's free! It is located in the Old Naval Hospital parking lot at Park Boulevard and President's Way in Balboa Park. The shuttle begins operations at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday and goes until 11 p.m. (last shuttle leaves the festival at 10:55 p.m.), and from 8 a.m. on Sunday until 9 p.m. (last shuttle leaves the festival at 8:55 p.m.). ADA accessible shuttles are available upon request!

The annual Pride festival opens at noon and keeps the entertainment going until 10 p.m., featuring carnival rides and games, art from local LGBT artists, a special section designed for families with children from infants to teens and live entertainment and DJs on six stages throughout the park. Headlining the day will be Bernhard on the main stage at 8:10 p.m.

"We'll also have Alex Newell performing," said MacDougall. "The 'Glee Project' winner, who earned a walk-on role on the series this past season as the foe-turned-friend Unique, will be another first in Newell's short career. "He has never been to a Pride event before, so he's really excited about performing."

There will also be a hip-hop area, Garden Dance and HiNrG dance tents, plus a Viva la Fiesta stage featuring Latin music and a country-western area for those two-steppers out there! Advance tickets are $15 for the day or $25 for the weekend and are available at www.sdpride.org or for purchase on the parade route or at the festival doors.

Cap the night off with Circuit Daze! The party stays at 4th and B (the name of the venue and its location) this year with Cahill and Danny Verde spinning from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. An old standard, this party never disappoints. Tickets are $60 presale, and $75 at the door, available at www.billhardtpresents.com

On Sunday, July 22, the final day of Pride still offers a lot of fun. Once you've had your fill of champagne at any number of brunches around Hillcrest, head back over to the festival. Doors open at 11 a.m. and things don't wind down until 8 p.m. Well over 50,000 people will make their way in over the course of the weekend and Sundays always seem to have a little more elbow room.

Natasha Bedingfield headlines and will undoubtedly delight the masses. Also be sure to check out the Urban Kickers country music tent for line-dancing lessons from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

The signature party of the weekend is Sunday's legendary Zoo Party. Held inside the beautiful confines of the San Diego Zoo, this event draws 3,500 people and has always proven to be the place to be on the final day of the weekend. Wayne G and Andy Almighty are spinning from 4-11 p.m., and tickets run $110 presale, $125 day of, available at www.billhardtpresents.com

And if you don't have to work on Monday, stay up late with Fete Accompli. 4th and B opens its doors again for the last event of the weekend. DJ Pagano takes the stage at 10 p.m.; Rosabel, DJ Abel and DJ Ralphie Rosario spin from 1-6 a.m.. Tickets are $60 presale, $75 day of, and can be purchased at www.billhardtpresents.com.

There's a busy weekend planned and it does not afford a lot of time to sleep, so rest up! Pride is almost here and America's Finest City always manages to pull off one of America's finest festivals.