Santa Cruz pride celebration draws large crowd on Sunday
The chance to be free and be themselves, that’s what brought thousands of people to the 41st annual Santa Cruz pride celebration Sunday. About 7,000 people came out to enjoy a day of celebration of the queer community.The corner of Cedar and Cathcart street was ground zero.
“The idea is to be able to come here and celebrate you get your authentic self on and know that you are safe and loved and celebrated,” pride coordinator Dina Izzo said.
That’s exactly why transgender, Rosario Medina of Watsonville came to pride Sunday.
“It was hard for me at first. Three years ago I came out, it was really hard because I feared rejection. I feel like I was going to lose everybody,” Medina said.
But Medina said it was quite the opposite, and he came to pride with a group of his supporters.
Surrounding businesses seemed to be supporting the pride event as well. Organizers said the event will likely cost about $15,000 to hold the celebration.
“We’re giving 15 percent of all, from the sale of all appetizers between 12 and 4,” Ian Mcrae co-owner of Hulas Island Grill said.
Hulas also handed out free rainbow snow cones with a donation jar for pride. McRae said they collected a couple hundred dollars just from donations.
The city of Santa Cruz also participated in donations. All money that’s put in to the designated parking machines will go towards SC pride.
You could find many vibrant costumes, from rainbow hair, to feathers, and tutus, all symbols of free expression. But Medina said he’s a little more on the conservative side.
“It’s not easy for transgenders to be out there. At any moment you could be attacked, gay bashing or anything and it’s really terrifying,” Medina said.
However the day went peaceful with a police presence. Pride workers believe society is moving in the right direction.
“This is something people look forward to every single year. It lifts them up it gives them hope. It shows youngsters that gay people are OK, that trans people are OK, that queer people are OK, they are just the same as me,” Izzo said.
