Spirit of Stonewall Rally

San Diego Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride proudly continues the tradition of holding the Spirit of Stonewall Rally on Friday, July 20 at 6:00 pm. This year the rally returns to the heart of Hillcrest being held at Harvey Milk and Normal Streets. The theme of the event which kicks off the weekend of celebration is: “America’s Pride” because equality is an American value!

Pride celebrations everywhere trace their heritage to the eventful evening of June 28, 1969 when patrons of the Stonewall Inn in New York City said “No more!” to the harassing tactics of the New York Police. That protest has grown to annual events held in major cities throughout the world. In San Diego, our first rally was held in 1975. Today, across the world we still face challenges to our diverse community. The Stonewall Rally is a call to re-energize the Spirit of Stonewall and focus our energy on the new wave and next generation of the LGBT movement and LGBT activism.

San Diego Pride has invited Dr. Clarence B. Jones as the keynote speaker for this year’s Rally. Dr. Jones served as personal legal counsel to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped draft the acclaimed “I Have A Dream” speech. Dr. Jones is Scholar in Residence, Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. He is also one of the most prominent and vocal African-American supporters of LGBT civil rights and same sex marriage. Dr. Jones, who was recently invited by President Obama to introduce him at a CA event, is sure to wow us with his remarks.

The Spirit of Stonewall Rally is also a time to recognize and honor some of the people who are working hard to preserve our gains and to meet the challenges of equal marriage rights, the freedom to serve our country without fear of reprisal, and safe schools for our young people.

This year San Diego LGBT Pride will honor: Champion(s) of Pride – Senator Christine Kehoe and Jerry Turner; Friend(s) of the Year – Dr. Aaron Bruce, Congresswoman Susan Davis and Tess Banko; Stonewall Service Award – The Safe School Task Force and The Imperial Court de San Diego; Community Service Award – Joe Foster & Joey Powers and Linda Perine; and a special Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous) - Charles McKain.

Join us at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally for music, award presentations and to hear our keynote speaker Dr. Clarence Jones. And be sure not to miss the grand finale of the Rally which will be the first ever raising of the Pride Flag on the new 65’ tall Hillcrest Pride Flagpole spearheaded by the Hillcrest Business Association.