Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 12:59:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Rex Wockner Subject: FIRST PRIDE PARADE IN TIJUANA JUNE 17 ************************************************** * Copyright (c) 1995 Rex Wockner and affiliates. * ************************************************** TIJUANA'S FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE IS SATURDAY, JUNE 17 Large San Diego Presence Strongly Urged by Rex Wockner ***************************************************************** ACCENT MARKS: e in Mexico, e in Jose, i in Garcia, e in Que, o in Accion, O in Oyeme. UPSIDE-DOWN QUESTION MARK: before Y in Grupo Y Que? ITALICS: Shown on word 'is' like this: *is*. ***************************************************************** TIJUANA, Mexico -- Tijuana's first-ever gay-pride march steps off from 2nd Street and Constitution Avenue Saturday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m. That intersection is at the southwest end of Plaza Santa Cecilia, the slanted block-long mall that begins right across Revolution Avenue from the "Welcome to Tijuana" arch. The organizers, the gay-rights group Grupo Y Que?, strongly urge gay/lesbian San Diegans and other southern Californians to make the trip south to support their Mexican brothers and sisters in what can only be seen as a very brave step forward. The San Diego Trolley will get you to the border for $1.75 or you can drive and park safely on the U.S. side for $5. It's a safe 15-minute walk to the parade site from the border crossing. U.S. support is important to the march's success for at least a couple of reasons. First, all seven of Tijuana's gay bars and discos have refused to participate in the parade for fear of repercussions from authorities, such as trouble with licenses. And second, the most-conservative of Mexico's three main political parties, the Partido Accion Nacional, or PAN, is now in power in the state of Baja California. In other states (but not in Baja yet), PAN officials have aggressively repressed gays since coming to power recently -- so the bigger the turnout for the march, the less of a chance Tijuana gays will face repercussions later this summer. There is little chance of police action against the parade itself, which takes place in the busy downtown on a Saturday afternoon. There is also minimal chance of hostile actions by people on the street. U.S.-style gay-bashing is unusual in Tijuana. "We told the police it was a human-rights march," said Grupo Y Que's? Alejandro Garcia. "We didn't tell them we were homosexuals and they didn't ask, but I don't expect any trouble. "It will be quite a victory if a lot of people show up," Garcia continued. "It'll be a happy celebration. We are not looking for a fight or for a debate over whether we should have rights or not. We want a celebration, and the people in the bars say they are going to come. "And when nothing bad happens," Garcia said, "maybe next year the gay bars won't be afraid to join us. "It *is* important that people behave," Garcia cautioned. "No drugs, no fighting, no bad conduct, no nudity." Garcia pointed out that there have been annual marches against AIDS in Tijuana since 1991, with no problems at all. Grupo Y Que's? Jose Navarro added: "The social conditions to organize a human-rights march exist at this time in Tijuana. Our theme is, 'From Silence to Celebration for Gay and Lesbian Human Rights.'" "You don't beg for rights, you win them," states a flyer for the parade. Groups confirmed to march include Club Oyeme from Mexicali, Grupo Gay Rosarito, Grupo Hipocampo from Ensenada, Grupo Gay Tecate, PACTO (the Latino AIDS organization in San Diego), Gay and Lesbian Latinos con Orgullo from San Diego, the Binational Center for Human Rights, the feminist organization Casa de la Mujer-Factor X, and the Imperial Court of San Diego. The parade will proceed south on Revolution Avenue, the huge tourist street. A rally will follow in the Rotary Club park where Revolution dumps into Agua Caliente Boulevard. For further information, dial direct 011-52-66-80-99-63 or 011-52-66-80-94-82. The parade will wrap up Grupo Y Que?'s Second Gay Cultural Week. The week's activities include: June 10: An exhibit of gay posters in Plaza Santa Cecilia from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. And the premiere of the play "Coming Out Of The Closet" at 10 p.m. at Mike's Disco, 6th Street and Revolution Avenue. June 11: A screening of "The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" at 8:30 p.m. at Mike's. June 12: An interview program on Estereo Frontera (102.5 FM), entitled "Now I Speak," from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 14: A conference entitled "Gays In The Family" hosted by the Valenzuela Rodriguez family at Vittorio's Restaurant at 9th Street and Revolution at 7 p.m. (The restaurant is owned by the family of San Diego gay activist Tony Valenzuela.) June 16: The movie "Frida" on the big screen at Mike's at 8:30 p.m. June 17: The closing party for Gay Cultural Week, including the premiere of the film "It's My Life" and a "special program," starting at 10 p.m. For further information on these events, phone the numbers listed above. And please make the trip to TJ for the march. Mexico City has had a gay-pride parade for years, Tijuana is Mexico's fourth- largest city -- and now is the time gay and lesbian Tijuanans have chosen to make this leap. == end ==