Welcome to our 50th Anniversary
Our 50th
One of the First Smaller City Prides in the Nation in 1975
First SC Pride event took place in San Lorenzo Park
Since 1975, Santa Cruz Pride has convened an annual event, parade or festival that brings nearly 5000 people to downtown Santa Cruz. The 50th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride is a milestone in history for the visibility and celebration of a vibrant LGBTQ+ community unlike any across the country. It is a time to celebrate all people and allies across the county.
In 1975, Santa Cruz became the first smaller city to convene a Pride event in the nation. The Stonewall Riots took place in New York in June 1969 when LGBTQ+ people fought back against police harassment. Many historians consider this to be the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago held the first official “Pride” events in 1971. Since then, Pride is celebrated each year in cities across the world to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.
Special 50th Anniversary Activities
Pride thursdays
Join local businesses in celebrating with a Pride Thursday event, meal or cultural event from March - June.
Podcast
Over 20 interviews of older queer people have been conducted by younger queer people to share stories about the rich and vibrant LGBTQ+ history in Santa Cruz County. Student interviewed, student edited, student narration, and student produced. Each podcast is no longer than 20 minutes long especially for younger people.
Utility Art Box
Local artists have painted utility boxes around Santa Cruz to recognize the rich LGBTQ+ history across the county in celebration of the 50th Anniversary.
Radio
Pride Perspectives on KSQD launched in January 2025 and will be broadcasted every other Sunday from 5-6pm live. Our purpose is to increase Santa Cruz County knowledge about the important contributions of Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ people to the local, state and national culture and history and to share how the local LGBTQ+ community impacted state and national LGBTQ+ events. Achieved shows will appear on our website.
Riding the Wave of Progress: 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride
Riding the Wave of Progress: 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride
“Riding the Wave of Progress” is a declaration of how far we have come and an affirmation of where we intend to go. The event’s logo, features a surfer riding a vibrant, multi-colored wave on a boldly numbered “50” surfboard, symbolizing the dynamic journey of progress and the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community over the past fifty years. The vibrant wave with the full spectrum of pride colors, represents not only the challenges overcome but also the ongoing resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Together, this imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the community’s vibrant spirit and the many contributions that have made Santa Cruz County a safe and thriving place, and how the broader Santa Cruz County community has contributed to a thriving LGBTQ+ community where everyone is welcome and included and feels part of a greater whole.
Est. 1975
Each year on the first Sunday in June, the Santa Cruz Pride Parade and Festival kicks off Pride month.
Santa Cruz Pride as it exists today grew from the first Santa Cruz "Gay Pride" event in 1975, the fourth Pride event in the state after San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. During that first event, there were four days of events that included workshops, a dance, concert and then a picnic and festival in San Lorenzo Park. The San Lorenzo Park event included live music and a tug-of-war across the San Lorenzo River with men on one side and women on the other side.
Every LGBTQ+ related activity or program developed across Santa Cruz County was because of the people that gathered for that first Pride event in 1975.
The first parade began in 1977 and traveled down Pacific Avenue and then across the Water Street Bridge into San Lorenzo Park. This same path was followed for many years.
During the first years, there were peaceful protests that took place.
Our Rich and Vibrant History
Every year since 1975, there has been a Pride event, even in 2020 during the pandemic when we had a virtual pride that you can still view on YouTube here. This is the history we are celebrating with our 50th Anniversary.
Tug of War at the First Pride.
Singers at the First Pride.
1990 was the first year there was an annual theme for the Pride parade and events - the first one was, “
1991 is when the first grand marshal was named. Gary Reynolds was the first grand marshal. Gary passed away from AIDS complications the day after he was honored as the first grand marshal.
