What is Pride?

A Pride celebration is a commemoration of fundamental civil rights. There was a time when gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people were denied basic civil rights. Until 1969 when the gay rights movement protested against police brutality and began to riot and stand up for themselves. Today Pride remembers the past, celebrates its victories, and continues to lobby for protection.

Imperial Valley Pride is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of October to commemorate the grand opening of the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center. The first Pride event occurred in 2015, bringing together approximately 400 people. It was hosted in the parking lot of the center and included music, drag queen performances, food vendors, and participation from various agencies.

The following year we moved Pride to Main Street, between 6th and 7th Streets with a live band, a children’s garden, a beer garden, and more vendors. Two years later we moved to Stark Field Park on 4th Street and two years later we decided the best location for this growing event is Bucklin Park on 4th and Ross which is behind the IV LGBT Resource Center. Every year the event gets bigger and better.