Central Park in San Mateo felt alive Saturday afternoon as the San Mateo County Pride celebration transformed the park with its festivities. The countywide event was one of many Pride Month celebrations across the Peninsula this year, but organizers said it carried extra weight at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the country.
For Ishani Dugar, the lead trainer and peer group coordinator for the San Mateo County Pride Center, the celebration was an important display of community.
“This is a reflection of (the County’s) commitment to ensuring as much as they can at their county level that San Mateo feels like a safe and inclusive space,” Dugar said. “Having a massive Pride celebration is definitely a part of that, especially one that is open to the public, free to attend and family-friendly.”
It’s not a surprise that this year’s Pride celebration felt especially necessary. At the state and federal levels, there have been legal attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, targeting transgender people in sports and access to gender-affirming healthcare. Still, local celebrations have taken place around the Peninsula, with Palo Alto hosting its first Pride event this year.
“The county is putting their resources behind this event, saying, ‘We are still with you,’” said Francisco Sapp, Pride Center director. “When there has been such a barrage of legislation that has unfortunately felt like the climate has turned against us, it’s that action and the event this weekend that (sends) a significant message.”
Inclusivity was a central focus for the celebration. From various music performances, food trucks, activities and vendors, people of all ages were empowered to engage in the festivities. Highlights from the afternoon included therapy dogs and performances from DJ China G, Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí and gloomy june.
For Alexi Belchere, lead singer of gloomy june, the blending of various cultures was notable in the San Mateo celebration, especially through the various groups performing.
“We want to bring community together and share in something exciting and fun, … both doing something good for the world, and also distracting ourselves from the world by having fun and being able to make art,” said Devin Nelson, guitarist for gloomy june.
The event also leaned into joy. Booths lined the path representing local nonprofits, religious groups, craft vendors and more. Gay Pink Spots is a resource guide connecting the LGBTQ+ community and “allies with welcoming businesses, events, and services that celebrate diversity and inclusivity,” according to the organization’s website. Kevin Babo, who was working the organization’s booth, said they’ve been a part of every San Mateo County Pride event since it began.
“It’s a great vibe today; it’s really great energy, and people are in hugging, loving mode. … it’s really fun to see people be able to be themselves,” Babo said. “That’s something that happens at Pride that you don’t see all the time: people can express themselves. It’s just unfortunate that in day-to-day life, people have to somewhat hide who they are. … It’s a really steady, nice, fun, supportive crowd.”
The crowd’s energy and engagement are a vital part of her sets said Elyssa Pon, also known as DJ China G. Pon said she has been part of the county celebration for about four years and has felt honored to perform.
“Pride, it allows me to spin the music I love to spin and have people enjoy and connect in either healing or celebrating pride,” Pon said. “I always cherish having fun at these gigs, so it’s just something that keeps me going.”
The enthusiasm was contagious through Pon’s DJ set, gloomy june’s “queer emo pop” showcase and the dance performance by Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí, an LGBTQ+ Mexican dance organization. There seemed to be something for everyone to enjoy.
“One of the things that makes the county’s celebration a little bit more unique, in comparison to the surrounding Bay Area’s, is it’s family-friendly, and there’s so much effort to make it as inclusive as possible,” Sapp said. “Every year there’s a space for youth, and there’s also a space for older adults, and … what they’re continuing this year is the vendors and the food are laid out in a way that there’s a pathway that’s accessible for people with mobility issues.”
Missing from this year’s celebration was the parade that in previous years took place down South B Street. Sapp said financial restrictions and “changes with bureaucracy” posed limitations and ultimately meant the parade was not possible this weekend. But the turnout was strong regardless.
“The headlines can make LGBTQ+ people, especially trans folks, feel like the world is turning against us, and I don’t think that’s actually true,” Sapp said. “It’s really important that our allies and advocates actually scream louder than the hate. … It’s a really scary world out there. People are becoming more afraid to come out, not knowing how many people are out there who are actually going to be embracing them, and it doesn’t take much to just mark yourself as a safe space. Those small steps and efforts can make a tremendous difference.”
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