Spirit of Stonewall rally kicks off Pride weekend in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The 50th anniversary of San Diego Pride festivities kicked off Friday night with the Spirit of Stonewall rally.

“Stonewall uprising, that kind of is the modern genesis of our movement for LGBTQ+ rights and equality so it’s not just our past, but also very much celebrates what’s being done now and looking to our future as well,” said Joslyn Hatfield, director of communications for San Diego Pride.

The night honored 10 standout LGBTQ leaders, people who are involved in philanthropy, great partners of pride, or deeply involved in community service, like Jordan Daniels.

“The award is a testament to what happens when you build with people around you, when you build together as a community,” Daniels said.

On the board of San Diego Black Pride, Daniels reflects on why each year these celebrations become more significant.

“I think this year is more important than ever to actually advocate for what you believe in and really fight for the liberation of all queer and trans folks,” Daniels said.

For organizers, safety is always top of mind with an event of this scale. Saturday will see the Pride Parade move through Hillcrest, ending at Balboa Park where a two-day festival takes place.

“Our community being under attack is unfortunately not a new phenomenon, so we do focus on safety every year,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield added the team had done months of work to join forces with community partners and law enforcement to protect the community.

As a heat advisory blankets most of the county this weekend, the City of San Diego is not included, but is still sure to feel the heat especially for those outside for hours at a time.

A fully staffed medical team is on site for the weekend and hydration is the key message from first responders. Outside beverages are not allowed during Pride, however, people can bring unopened disposable water bottles or empty reusable water bottles to fill up once they enter the event.

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