Our community’s tendency to subdivide into a multitude of categories has fueled a longstanding debate within the GLBT community. What was once simply known as gay or queer has divided and multiplied into a daunting number of identifiers based on sex, race, religion, political affiliation, fetish and even physical appearance. As the GLBT-etc. community marches forward toward its common goal of equality, it begs the question: Do these divisions serve or weaken our community?

Following the long Pride season, which kicked off back in May with Long Beach Pride and has lasted throughout the summer, San Diego’s Latin community celebrated its fourth annual Latin Pride last Saturday. Lacking the fanfare and popularity of other Pride celebrations, Latin Pride has hobbled along these last four years. This year the torch was passed to The Center to produce the event, and despite all their efforts, Latin Pride left much to be desired. This lack of interest by our community’s largest minority must say something about its desire for such an event.

Latin Pride did have some highlights, however. But as the numbers waxed and waned throughout the afternoon and evening hours, vendors and community service organizations packed up early due to the lack of traffic. The dance floor and stage area boasted some lively performances and at times was festive and energetic, but in comparison to the thousands of GLBT Latino/as and their straight allies living in San Diego, only a fraction benefited from what we feel was a well intended, but not well attended event.

A lot of energy and planning goes into Latin Pride, from securing sponsors and raising money to organizing volunteers and entertainment. This is no easy feat, but from a pragmatic and community service-minded perspective, the resources needed to put on Latin Pride each year, we believe, would be better utilized in fostering a greater Latino/a presence during San Diego Pride weekend.

What better opportunity to showcase your community than with thousands of participants sharing in the weekend celebration? Latino/as pour in by the thousands during Pride weekend compared to the few hundred that showed up last Saturday. And as non-Latino/as wade through the two-day festival, the likelihood of increased community visibility and cross-cultural exchange is exponentially greater.

A lot could be done. An entire section of the festival could be devoted to the Latin community, including a stage and performances, a dance floor, food, vendors and community outreach – much like at Latin Pride, and you’d be able to reach more people of both Latin and non-Latin decent.

And the same goes for Ebony Pride. Diversity is our community’s mantra, but in celebration of our differences, we’ve created a culture of exclusivity, and even instances of segregation.

Racism and discrimination still run rampant – even amongst GLBTs. However, in order to breakdown these cultural barriers, these communities should come together instead of retreating to their respective corners.

This opinion does not discount the importance of celebrating ones own culture and diversity. Issues specific to the lesbian community may differ from the gay male community, for example, but our commonalities by far outnumber our differences. It is only when we come together as a whole to celebrate both our similarities and our differences will our community be at its strongest.