SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego Pride, which was scheduled to be held this July, “will not take place as planned,” officials announced Thursday.
The multi-day celebration, which typically draws hundreds of thousands of people each year, was slated to take place July 17-19 but is canceled due to public health considerations regarding large public gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sue Hartman, co-chair of San Diego Pride’s Board of Directors, said, “This pandemic has impacted all of us. We have had to change how we live our lives and Pride is no different. This was not an easy decision, but everyone’s health and safety are paramount. Rest assured, our community will find ways to celebrate Pride together again.”
Board Co-Chair Nick Serrano added, “We encourage everyone not to see this decision as a setback, but a step forward – this is what we must do so that we can come together sooner rather than later. It is in that vein that we encourage everyone to stay home per local and state guidelines, to check in on one another during this time, and remember that we are all in this together.”
In addition to the summer event, the organization said it has moved all its programming to virtual spaces. Plans regarding virtual program adaptations will be forthcoming, the organization stated.
San Diego Pride said it would also take part in a virtual "Global Pride" event June 27, joining Pride organizations across the world "to share messages of hope for our movement."
"We recognize how deeply meaningful Pride is to our community. Pride brings us together in times of protest and times of celebration. Pride helps connect us to community and our found family. Pride gives us access to life- saving direct services and provides grant funding to our local and global LGBTQ community," said Fernando Z. Lopez, Executive Director.
"In San Diego, we are privileged to have a Pride organization that does that meaningful education, organizing, advocacy and philanthropic work all year long, not just one weekend a year. Our programs have continued on in virtual space and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future," Lopez said.
City News Service contributed to this report
