The biggest GLBT event in San Diego is right around the corner. The San Diego LGBT Pride parade will once again take to the streets of Hillcrest on Saturday, July 21, when more than 150,000 people are expected to turn out to help celebrate us and our diversity. That’s a powerful statement, and I hope that everyone reading this will take part in this year’s parade, either as a spectator or a participant.

One of the fundamental reasons we celebrate Pride each year with a parade and other events around the city is to raise awareness and visibility. Pride is a chance to remind all San Diegans that we are a part of the community too.

This year, our parade will reach an even larger audience than ever before because Cox Cable and Time Warner will broadcast it. So if you go, remember to smile for the cameras!

But the chance to be on TV is just one of many reasons to come out for the parade. There will be more than 200 contingents, making the San Diego Pride parade nearly twice as big as either the Los Angeles or Long Beach Pride parades. Floats and participants will cover the spectrum from local businesses, civic leaders, community organizations, religious congregations and support groups to outlandish drag queens, go-go boys and dykes on bikes.

Pride is offering cash prizes to parade contingents in eight different categories, such as best interpretation of the parade theme and the most creative local business entry. This cash incentive should ensure that we’ll see some amazing floats this year.

To take in all of the sights and sounds of the parade, we have added more reviewing stands. Five stands will dot the parade route, giving more spectators a chance to hear all about the contingents from our terrific lineup of emcees. The always hilarious Babette Schwartz will provide commentary at the reviewing stand at Sixth and Robinson. Perennial favorite Nicole Murray-Ramirez will preside at Normal and University. FOX 6 correspondent Ruben Galvan will man the stand at Vermont and University. Sirius Satellite Radio will handle the announcing duties at Tenth and University. The fifth reviewing stand will be located at Sixth and Pennsylvania and will be called the Cool Zone. This area will give spectators over the age of 50 a place to enjoy the parade in seats shaded from the sun. The 50 and Better Cool Zone is sponsored by Aging as Ourselves.

Each reviewing stand will include a station where you can buy tickets to the Pride festival, which starts immediately after the parade ends. All of the ticket stations will be staffed by members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego. For your comfort and convenience, bottled water will be sold near each reviewing stand.

Pride has added a new performance stage this year at the beginning of the parade route. Tootie and the fabulous Lips Girls will make sure the parade kicks off on the right note on the Powder Puff Step Off stage. The stage will be set up at the corner of Blaine and Normal.

If you want to start Pride weekend with a little exercise, then you might be interested in the 26th annual Run & Stride with Pride 5K Run and Walk that will immediately precede the parade at 10 a.m. Organized by Front Runners & Walkers San Diego, our city’s GLBT running and walking club, the race begins at University and Centre and follows the parade route into Balboa Park. All proceeds benefit The Center’s Youth Housing Project. To sign up for the race, go online to http://www.frwsd.org/pride2007/pride2007.html.

One last note: I am happy to announce that Pride has gone green in 2007. We are partnering with a dedicated group of volunteers to offer recycling points all along the parade route, where 47 easily identifiable recycling containers will allow spectators to dispose of plastic and paper trash in an environmentally friendly manner. Cardboard will also be recycled at the end of the parade.

While organizing Pride, our intent was to offer something for everyone. We want all of the GLBT community to feel they are a part of Pride. I encourage everyone to be a part of the celebration because it is a celebration for you!