A Word From Pride

Capturing the Images of Pride

By Joe Fejeran

Dear Pride Family,

Photography has played a crucial role in documenting our community’s history. In 1994, when digital photography was still relatively new, Executive Director Brenda Schumacher initiated the practice of documenting every aspect of Pride through photography. Her pioneering efforts, combined with contributions from board members and the community, helped ensure that images of the LGBTQ+ community were carefully preserved.

Those preservation efforts continue through organizations like the Lambda Archives of San Diego, where their photography collection is available online and free to the public. These images are proof that queer people have always been here.

Our Art of Pride committee has an open call out for this year’s Images of Pride photography exhibition. Images of Pride showcases photography taken by our community from this year’s Pride. This year, the committee has decided to accept photographs from previous San Diego Pride celebrations as a way to honor the 50th anniversary of the Parade and our theme, “Making History Now.”

The deadline to submit up to three pieces for the exhibition is this Monday, September 30. This is a great opportunity to revisit your personal photo collection, and see if there is a moment that you want to share with the rest of our community.

Queer people know all too well that visibility is one of the keys to impacting change. It is important to show the beauty, diversity, and joy that encompasses the San Diego Pride celebrations, past, present and future.

Joe Fejeran (he/him)
Community Programs Coordinator