Even in the face of a heat wave, members of the community gathered on Saturday for the San Joaquin Pride Center’s “Pride In The Park” event to enjoy family friendly fun and celebrate a community that has overcome much adversity.
“Especially right now in this under this current administration, I think it’s really important that we start finding all these connections and building support amongst each other,” said Cristina Abrams, a community outreach worker for another local advocacy group, Native C.O.R.E.
With activities like cornhole games, sack games and ring tosses on tap, said the Pride Center’s executive director John Alita, the event at the Magpie Picnic Area was “very family focused.”
Alita also mentioned that while the event was smaller than something like the Stockton Pride Festival, which was held last month, the reduced size allowed for a heightened sense of community.
“You do feel like there’s more of a chance to connect with people,” he said.
Others remarked that the feeling of the event was far more like a family gathering than other events.
“This is a cookout vibe” said Tama Brisbane, one of the center’s board members and the executive director of another advocacy group, With Our Words. She also noted that the picnic felt reflective of the community in a way that other events did not.
“Some events don’t look like Stockton,” Brisbane said. “This looks like Stockton.”
In addition to the games, the entertainment for attendees included interactive line-dancing as well as a performance by the Sacramento Cheer Elite, an LGBTQ+ centered cheer squad.
While the vibe was positive throughout the day, for attendees like 78-year-old Catherine Hourcade, this type of public show of community wasn’t always prevalent.
“When I was young, there was not this kind of community around LGBT people,” said Catherine Hourcade, 78, who attended the event as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. “It makes me feel very happy that there is a good community here now.”
Brisbane, who has watched the center’s growth long before getting involved with them in 2005, noted how much its presence mattered.
“I think it’s a sign of maturity – socially, organizationally and culturally – for us to be a part of the landscape of queer organizations that are doing holistic works , not just drag shows but political advocacy,” she said..
Even as attendees beat the heat in the shade, visibility was top of mind for the organizers.
“Anytime we, as a community, are out and visible, that gives kind of the message to others in the community that if you’re if you’re worried about coming out, that there are people out here who will welcome you,” Alita said.