1994: “Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future”

Pink Cadillac in San Diego Pride parade, 1994. San Diego Pride Photo Collection 1994-2008, Lambda Archives of San Diego.

In 1994, former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, who had declared Human Rights Day in 1983 to overlap with Pride weekend, shifted more sharply to the right and began advocating for homophobic action on his conservative radio show. Inspired by Hedgecock, a right-wing group called the “Normal People” organized to protest San Diego Pride and… Continue reading 1994: “Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future”

1993: “A Family of Pride: Our Family, Our Values, Our Celebration”

Souvenir Program, 1993. Lambda Archives of San Diego.

In his 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays serving in the military. However, the Clinton administration met considerable resistance in implementing this change. San Diego’s 1993 Pride weekend coincided with the anticipated announcement of the new policy on this issue. Some viewed this Pride weekend as an opportunity to… Continue reading 1993: “A Family of Pride: Our Family, Our Values, Our Celebration”

1987: “Making History”

Pride Guide, 1987 (front). Lambda Archives of San Diego.

In the year leading up to the 1987 Pride weekend, Lambda Pride meetings were heavily occupied with issues including lawsuits, debts and organizational upheaval. As a result, a “New Lambda Pride” was formed with the goal of producing an excellent event and paying off the debts of the previous year. The new board selected “Making… Continue reading 1987: “Making History”

1986: “Forward Together”

San Diego Lambda Pride car, 1986. Doug Moore Collection, Lambda Archives of San Diego.

With a nearly new board of directors, Lambda Pride made some big changes. The budget grew to $95,000, nearly three times the budget of the previous year, and a two-day festival was planned for the first time. However, the ambitious new board experienced more turmoil than the previous year in the weeks leading up to… Continue reading 1986: “Forward Together”