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”

1975: “Gay Pride (Come OUT To A Celebration)”

Flyers for the 1975 march. John Eberly Collection, Lambda Archives of San Diego.

The Center for Social Services (CSS) again hosted gay pride events in June of 1975, but that year, they sought permits with the help of volunteer attorneys. Not without struggle, permits were obtained, marking 1975 as the year of the first permitted march and rally. Although government officials were predominantly not yet vocal in their… Continue reading 1975: “Gay Pride (Come OUT To A Celebration)”

1972-73: The Center is Born and the Final “Gay-In”

Organizers in front of the Center for Social Services, 1973. Lambda Archives of San Diego

In 1972, Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) continued to hold services and events and the Catholic support group Dignity returned to San Diego. The Monday Night Lesbians also formed in the early 1970s. Significantly, Stephen Bell and Jess Jessop of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) attended a national conference in Chicago organized by the Gay Activists… Continue reading 1972-73: The Center is Born and the Final “Gay-In”

1971: A Hotline, a Protest, and “Gay-In 2”

Picket line at SDPD, 1971. Lambda Archives of San Diego

In spring of 1971, Gay Liberation Front (GLF) came back to campus. On-campus status still officially revoked, the group began to operate meetings through a course called “The Homosexual and Society,” which was sponsored by the Experimental College. This loophole allowed GLF to use campus facilities and advertise to students, and Morris Kight, pioneer of… Continue reading 1971: A Hotline, a Protest, and “Gay-In 2”