Coronavirus: San Diego Pride Cancels 2020 Parade, Other Events

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego Pride's three-day summer celebration has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The organization issued a statement Thursday announcing the annual event, which was slated for July, was canceled due to concerns of public health and safety.

"This pandemic has impacted all of us. We have had to change how we live our lives and Pride is no different," said Pride Board Co-Chair Sue Hartman. "This was not an easy decision, but everyone's health and safety are paramount. Rest assured, our community will find ways to celebrate Pride together again."

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In addition to canceling the parade and other in-person events, San Diego Pride announced it has moved all programming to virtual spaces. Virtual program adaptations will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months, according to the organization.

San Diego Pride will also take part in a virtual "Global Pride" event June 27, joining Pride organizations around the world "to share messages of hope for our movement."

"We recognize how deeply meaningful Pride is to our community. Pride brings us together in times of protest and times of celebration. Pride helps connect us to community and our found family. Pride gives us access to life-saving direct services and provides grant funding to our local and global LGBTQ community," said Pride Executive Director Fernando Z. Lopez.

"In San Diego, we are privileged to have a Pride organization that does that meaningful education, organizing, advocacy and philanthropic work all year long, not just one weekend a year. Our programs have continued on in virtual space and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future," Lopez said.

"Pride is not canceled. In-person mass gatherings are canceled. Nothing can strip away our pride," Lopez added. "Nothing can deny us the pride our community has built inside ourselves, our community, or the broader world. We will still find ways to raise our Pride flags, celebrate the vibrancy of our community, and bring to light the issues that our movement still faces."

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