Christine Kehoe still remembers her first Pride parade — the one from her own hometown.
“They’re the most visible, the most diverse and most fun,” she said Monday alongside elected officials at a city LGBTQ+ Pride event downtown. “The celebration is still my favorite.”
In 1993, the native San Diegan became the city’s first openly gay elected official when she was elected to City Council representing District 3. Before long, she went on to win seats in the California State Assembly and State Senate.
Now, as she spoke before a crowd of students, seniors and city leaders for the city’s annual Pride Kick-Off event, she felt a familiar calling, one she hoped would remain etched in her city, county and country.
“As always, I’m proud as I can be to be celebrating with you,” she said. “We must remember how far we’ve come, and at the same time we need to commit again and again to protecting our equal rights.”
Monday’s event marked the fourth Pride kick-off hosted by city officials, this one honoring San Diego’s LGBTQ+ council members, their accomplishments and 50 years of Pride history.
San Diego has become a stronghold for LGBTQ+ representation in government, including one third of its council. Mayor Todd Gloria has been San Diego’s first openly gay mayor since 2020. And for over 30 years, Kehoe’s own District 3 has been represented by members of the community — currently Stephen Whitburn.
In his opening remarks, Whitburn recounted how as a child, he had never been to a Pride parade. He called San Diego’s progress “a testament to the resilience, courage and spirit of the LGBTQ+ community.”
San Diego’s Pride parade has been the city’s flagship event held every July — after the widely recognized pride month of June. This year’s parade begins at the Hillcrest Pride Flag on University Ave. at 10:00 a.m. on July 20.
Thousands of San Diegans show up each year, unapologetically. Councilmember Jennifer Campbell mentioned that the city has come a long way in diversifying representation, and supporting Pride marches and other events.
That hasn’t always been the case.
“It was so illegal then,” Campbell said, recalling the city’s first parade in 1974, five years after the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York fueled the gay rights movement nationwide. “Many had worn a bag over their head so they couldn’t be identified.”
Longtime gay rights and AIDS activist Nicole Murray Ramirez spoke about the city’ first Pride, too, and announced the city’s 2024 Pride honorees — academics, activists and community leaders he said usher in a new generation of role models.
They included Mr. San Diego Pride Erick de la Torre, Ms. San Diego Pride Dawn Stultz, Miss San Diego Pride Alexis Gabrielle, Mx. San Diego Pride Shiloh Tamir and Mr. International Pride Logan Bolitho.
In her address, Councilmember Marni von Wilpert also mentioned that she came out as LGBTQ+ last year.
Since then, she said she has only received love and acceptance from the community, and hopes this month’s festivities will continue to inspire the same in others.
“To me the antidote to hate is not tolerance. The antidote to hate is love,” she said.
