The Mt. SAC Pride Center and Pride Club is planning their annual Pride parade for Wednesday, April 24, from 3-4 p.m., encouraging anyone interested to march through campus.
The parade will begin at building 26, go around the campus and end at Miracle Mile. Participants will sport pride flags, wear “slay and queer fashion” and play music throughout the duration.
According to Mt. SAC’s Pride Center mission statement, the college has committed itself to supporting its diverse population and has allowed the Pride Club to work on their events such as the Pride parade. It is set to become a yearly event.
Pride Club President Maw Simon, 24, said the club plans to have this every spring, with the next parade scheduled for May 2025. She hopes that more people will join them like last year and not be afraid to be themselves.
Pride is typically held in June. Why?
June Pride events honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the U.S. Gay Liberation Movement. Initially marked as “Gay Pride Day,” it expanded to month-long celebrations nationwide.
According to The Conversation in 2019, “In the early hours of June 28 1969, the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn in an attempt to permanently close a bar that was violating licensing regulations. Police raids on Stonewall and other gay bars were routine but, on this particular night, local patrons refused to disperse or allow their friends to be arrested.”
The federal government first recognized Pride month in 1999 when President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.” In 2009, President Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month and eventually, President Joe Biden would acknowledge the queer community and declare June LGBTQ month beginning June 2021.
Today, global LGBTQ+ Pride Month draws millions to parades, picnics, workshops and more.
To accommodate the school year and allow more participation, Mt. SAC’s Pride Club scheduled this event in April.
“We can’t really have club activities during June, where LGBTQA+ people celebrate,” Simon said. “But for this April, we call it GAYpril.”
The Pride parade encourages everyone to come show support, show their pride loud and proud for all at no cost.
Today, the LGBTQ+ community has been loud and proud about themselves and are still fighting for their rights. They celebrate their pride with various Pride parades. Given Mt. SAC’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion, Simon does not anticipate any issues with the parade. She is sure that security will do their job and keep the community safe while they have a good time.
Simon encourages and welcomes everyone from around the campus to come and be proud of who they are and celebrate with everyone as the campus celebrates Pride.