San Jose Pride

Hi Everyone! I know this is a bit late, but I wanted to share my experience participating in San Jose Pride this year before the summer is actually over and the semester starts. San Jose Pride took place on June 13th and 14th and this year, for the very first time, SJSU had a group of students, faculty, and staff, who participated as an official contingency!!! Yeah!!!!

To be honest, in recent years I’ve become somewhat disillusioned with Pride events. In my limited experience, it seems like more and more the politics of gay liberation are being replaced with corporate sponsorship and consumer citizenship. When Pride rolled around again this year, I felt ambivalent about it. Where was the social critique in all of this? Where were the radical politics? I wasn’t sure the answer to these questions.

Anyway, I found out that the SJSU LGBT center was going to have an organized group marching the parade on the 14th and I came to the decision that yes, I should go and particiapte not only to support the students who had put in a great deal of work to organize themselves but to represent the queer community at SJSU. And I have to say, it was AWESOME!  

All together there were about 30 of us, including students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Some of the students had organized themselves to do a drill team routine, twirlling their flags and busting out their moves. They were amazing! And the crowd loved them.

I suppose I didn’t fully realize the impact of having an SJSU group in the parade, and what it meant to the San Jose community, alumni, and current students until I was marching down Santa Clara and so many people who were standing on the side lines seems thrilled to see SJSU represented. It was in that moment that I rediscovered the importance of events like Pride. Sometimes the seemingly simple act of being out and proud is tremendously political. Next year I want to help get even more people involved. Can you imagine what it would be like if there were 50 or 100 marching from SJSU?! It will be so awesome. So all those who want to be involved, start warming up for next year!