I chose this artifact to be included in our digital archive because it exemplifies queer culture to the fullest extent. Funds raised from the Music Festival supports the San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy. Being the first of its kind, performances included many acts like the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and the Great American Yankee Freedom Bank of Los Angeles. In 1982, the first Great Gay Music Festival was held in the Golden Hall in the Community Concourse in San Diego. The following year (1985) the organization was able to obtain a permit and has held the parade every year since. The reason the parade was informal was due to the lack of a city permit forcing marchers to walk on the sidewalk. The group organized a potluck dinner and a yard sale that was followed by an informal parade to Balboa Park in San Diego and back.
By June of 1974, a gay pride event was hosted by the Center. The original Social Services Center was founded by a group of gay men in San Diego out of a house located at 2250 B Street.
Initially the organization began as a sponsored program for The Center for Social Services. The San Diego LBGT Pride is an organization that was founded in 1974.
