San Diego Pride Announces 2009 Theme

San Diego LBGT Pride unveiled its theme for the 2009 Pride season: "Stonewall 2.0 - Activism for Equality." The theme commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City while embracing today's new generation of LGBT grassroots activists and the methods they've used for mobilizing attention to equal rights.

Each year, San Diego Pride solicits theme submissions from the community at large before its board of directors selects the theme that best sets the tone for the annual celebration in July.

"This year's theme reflects on gay civil rights activism of the last 40 years and calls upon each one of us to take action and demand full equality," said Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte.  "We've made many advances since the Stonewall Riots marked the start of the modern gay rights movement in 1969, and since San Diego's first Pride march was held 35 years ago.  The inner activist in each of us must answer the call to achieve full civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all LGBT people."

The Stonewall 2.0 movement includes many first time activists who recently began utilizing e-mail, websites and social networking groups on the Internet, plus viral videos and cell phone text messages to the tried and true tactics of marches, protests, and sit-ins.

"Stonewall 2.0" has been embraced by mainstream and LGBT press after local journalist Rex Wockner pushed the moniker into the national consciousness with his reporting of massive protests that ensued after Proposition 8 passed in November's California elections.

San Diego Pride is the non-profit organization that hosts San Diego's Pride celebrations during the month of July.  This year's festivities include a free, mile-long parade at 11 a.m., July 18, through the heart of Hillcrest, and a two-day festival replete with non-stop entertainment, multiple performance stages and 200 exhibitors. The festival will be held on July 18 and 19.

Parade participants are encouraged to start working ahead of time on their float ideas to reflect the "Stonewall 2.0 - Activism for Equality" theme. Parade applications will be available online beginning in early February, and festival tickets can be purchased through the Pride web site starting in April.

The San Diego Pride celebration is the city's largest civic event and the leading cultural event that brings together lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as their supporters.

For updated information about this year's Pride celebration, or to inquire about sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, call (619) 297-7683 or visit the web site: www.SanDiegoPride.org.

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