Mixed Media
Santa Fe Pride 2018
Cities and towns across the country hold gay pride celebrations each June, at which we whoop it up on parade floats and let loose in the name of celebrating our true selves. But there is some sense among older people — who fought for gay liberation long before the movement gained mainstream social acceptance — that younger folks today don’t understand the struggles of the past and might take the concept of “gay pride” for granted. Doug Nava, president of the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, the organization that sponsors Santa Fe Pride, recognizes this issue and has chosen to bridge the generation gap by giving young people opportunities to participate in the organization of Pride and get to know their elders in the community.
Mark Westberg, a twenty-six-year-old freelance artist and performer, worked closely with Nava to design this year’s logo, which they are referring to as an LGBT coat of arms. “There is an olive leaf that represents a tree of life and a rainbow crown that represents the sun and the life of our community,” Westberg said. “We have a rainbow fist and a dove; we have a pink triangle with a black band across it to represent people in our history who did not make it out of the various persecutions that have existed. We have genderqueer symbols and symbols representing marriage equality. It’s all encompassing, one big coming-togetherness.”
Haley Pippin is the sixteen-year-old drummer for the indie-pop band Last Cause, the members of which met at The Candyman Strings & Things Rock Camp and have been playing together for about a year. Pippin said Nava was among the only people in Santa Fe who would give the group a gig. “I was looking for events that would be cool to play at, and thought Santa Fe Pride sounded awesome. Most places think we’re too young to be any good, but Doug gave us a great slot.”
Last Cause takes the stage on the Santa Fe Plaza at around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, at the annual Pride celebration, which starts at 11 a.m. Other performers include Funnadix and Hella Bella. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the PERA Building (1120 Paseo de Peralta). For a complete schedule of Santa Fe Pride events, visit santafepride.org. — Jennifer Levin