The Sacramento LGBT Community Center, which annually produces Sacramento Pride, confirmed today that the Sacramento Pride March and Festival will not take place in the traditionally in-person format this June 13-14.
“The health and safety of our community is our top priority and while we are encouraged by lower COVID-19 infection rates and an increase in vaccinations, the Pride March and Festival require many months of planning and there is still too much uncertainty to safely gather tens of thousands of people as we did prior to the pandemic,” said Center CEO David Heitstuman.
We also understand how important LGBTQ+ visibility and the opportunity for community to feel connected through Pride is this year after such a long period of isolation. We are therefore pleased to announce that we will be celebrating Pride in Sacramento in June with a series of virtual programs and small scale in-person Pride month events produced by community organizations and businesses throughout the region in partnership with Sacramento Pride.
The Center is partnering with several public facilities to bathe the city in rainbow lights as public displays of LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion, and community Pride. The Center will host several limited capacity virtual and in-person hybrid events including a Youth Art Show, a Family-Friendly Drag Show, and the grand opening celebration for its Marsha P. Johnson Center South location. More than a dozen community partners will also host limited capacity events in partnership with Pride throughout the month of June including Sacramento Republic FC Equality Night, Bike Dog Brewing West Sac’s Pride Celebration, OARS Adventures Pride rafting on the American River, A Pride Ride in Natomas, and many more!
“While the continued deferment of our large community events is disappointing, prioritizing the health and wellness of the most marginalized and the safety of all in our community is a core value, especially important during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that as conditions improve and public health guidance evolves, we may have the opportunity later in the year to come together for a larger community celebration,” said Heitstuman.
The Center continues to offer free COVID testing Mondays from 5-7 p.m. Assistance to those who affected by the pandemic is available to meet basic needs and support mental health. A vaccination clinic is also planned in partnership with Sutter Health at the Center and assistance navigating vaccines is available now by calling (916) 442-0185.
Community organizations, businesses, or volunteers who are interested in participating in Pride month activities can contact Sacramento Pride at sacpride@saccenter.org.
Throughout the month of Pride, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center is dedicated to the health, safety, and wellness of our community. All events will have COVID-Safe Protocols following state, county, and city guidelines. We want to thank all the local businesses, organizations, and community members who have dedicated themselves to helping make these small scale Pride-centered events possible. While we hope to return to a sense of normalcy soon, we want to remind folx to:
