SAN DIEGO – On Monday, July 1, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria with other San Diego representatives declared July as Pride Month in San Diego. Many other states consider June as Pride Month, but San Diegans have declared July as Pride Month.
According to SDPride.org, the first parade in San Diego was in 1974 which makes this year’s parade as 50 years of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In 1974, the parade was a sponsored program of The Center for Social Services. It was the first Lesbian and Gay Parade in San Diego to celebrate the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion on New York’s Christopher Street.
At that time, the city refused to grant a permit. A longtime San Diego gay activist, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, was told by the San Diego Police sergeant that “there will never be a gay pride parade march in San Diego.” Murray-Ramirez said dozens of them marched in 1974 anyways. In 1975, the ACLU and San Diego lawyer Tom Homann, who was gay and died of AIDS 16 years later, threatened to sue the city. Homann was granted a permit. And time marched on.
A notable Jewish, openly gay Californian politician was Harvey Milk. He was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He moved to San Francisco in 1972 leaving New York behind to pursue a career in politics. He was known as the “Mayor of Castro Street” which in 1973 was experiencing a mass immigration of gay men and lesbians. Taking advantage of his growing popularity, he led the gay political movement in fierce battles against anti-gay initiatives. Milk was elected city/county supervisor in 1977. During his 11 months in office, he sponsored a bill banning discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and employment on the basis of sexual orientation.
In 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by a disgruntled former city supervisor who cast the sole vote against Milk’s bill.
Despite Milk’s short career in politics, Milk became an icon in San Francisco and a martyr in the LGBTQ+ community. In 2002, Milk was called “the most famous and most significant openly LGBTQ+ official ever elected in the United States.” The City of San Diego named a two- block-long section of road in the Hillcrest neighborhood for Milk in 2012, the first city in the nation to so honor Milk.
Speakers on Monday, July 1, included Christine Kehoe, San Diego’s first openly gay elected official in 1993. She served on the City Council and later in the California Assembly and Senate.
On Friday, June 26, 2015, President Barack Obama stated that all U.S. states are to recognize same-sex marriages. I can remember being newly moved back to San Diego and crying tears of joy. My kids were worried and told them they are experiencing history I never thought would happen.
Personally, this parade and this month makes me proud to be a strong ally and raising kids to accept equality and loving everyone as they are. My kids attended their first Pride Parade when they were 3 years old, and they called it the “rainbow parade.” They got showered in rainbow candies. Drag queens took pictures with us and all our rainbow gear. We had a wonderful time celebrating love and happiness. I love this time of the year, but we also celebrate all year long, in my house, Pride is an everyday celebration.
Following are some Jewish communal events associated with Pride Month:
Hadassah San Diego sponsors “A Conversation with Ben Greene, author of My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support” at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 11 at a private residence. Greene offers a judgement-free guide to people across generations, from millennial parents to members of older generations who may not have had pervious positive exposure to the trans community. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s “Erev Pride Shabbat Outdoor Service” will be at 6:15 p.m., on Friday, July 12 in the Price Family Courtyard. Ben Greene, mentioned above, will share words at this Shabbat.
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Temple Emanu-El’s “Pride Brunch” will be at 10 a.m., on Sunday, July 14. Organizers say that members and friends will enjoy a fabulous brunch. Additionally, there will be fun activities, games and an opportunity to decorate posters and signs for the Parade. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue welcomes Cantor/Rabbi Hanan Leberman to discuss on Zoom “Israel and the LGBTQ+ Community.” His talk will be at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, July 14. Being part of the LGTBQ+ community in Jerusalem is very different than in the rest of the world. Cantor Hanan and his friend Eli Kaplan Wildmann will give us an idea of the possibilities and challenges faced by members of Israel’s LGBTQ+ community.
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Temple Emanu-El will participate in the “Light Up the Cathedral” ceremony at 7 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Hillcrest. Each year, LGBTQ+ faith leaders and allies hold an Interfaith Pride Celebration. After the service, the Cathedral is lit in rainbow colors.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s “Poster and Shirt-Making Party for the San Diego Pride Parade” will be at 5 p.m., on Thursday, July 18 at the Feuerstein Family Activity Center. Join anytime between 5-7 p.m. for a Poster and Shirt Making Party in advance of the Pride Parade. Material will be provided (A supply of 20 blank white T-shirts in Med, L, and XL will be available) as well as poster supplies. Click here for planning purposes.
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Temple Emanu-El, Ohr Shalom Synagogue and Congregation Dor Hadash will collaborate to celebrate “Pride Shabbat” at 6 p.m., on Friday, July 19 at Ventura Cove (Mission Bay). Come for the service, bring your picnic dinner and stay for the bonfire and community.
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Congregation Beth Israel “Marches at the San Diego Pride Parade” at 10 a.m., on Saturday, July 20. The parade route is between the Hillcrest Pride Flag and Normal Street. Rabbi Jason Nevarez will be offering the televised interfaith blessing at the opening of the parade. Join the Beth Israel community and members of the Chai Band as they march in the San Diego Pride Parade. Click here to rsvp. … Temple Emanu-El similarly will be there. Temple members and their family and friends are encouraged to walk the one-and-a-half-mile route. Giant helium balloons will be inflated to show support for the San Diego Pride community. Click here to register and purchase a participant t-shirt.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.