CELEBRATE

Some virtual events fill void

the pandemic on the very populations they look to honor with the celebrations.

Nancy Maldonado, CEO of the Chicano Federation, said Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for community members to toast their culture and roots, but the loss of events this year due to the pandemic had caused many in the community to feel overlooked.

“It has really put a damper on these celebrations and honestly during a year when we need it the most,” Maldonado said.

There are typically countless events across San Diego around Hispanic Heritage month, but not having those events, although it’s understandable, has left a void among the Latino community, Maldonado said.

The organization opted to cancel its annual Hispanic Heritage Month fundraiser and not hold a virtual event in its place. However, it has turned its focus to promoting Latino-owned businesses across its social media platforms. LGBT History Month also looks different. The achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender icons are typically celebrated throughout the month of October — when the community also celebrates Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.

Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride, said the organization will hold virtual events and stream educational content throughout the month to ensure there is visibility of the community and education is available.

The organization recently held its annual celebration of the LGBTQ community without its traditional parade and festivities, but with a livestreamed daylong presentation that recognized heroes of the LGBTQ community and victims of bias and bigotry. There was also music and congratulatory messages from celebrities and local elected officials.

Lopez said nearly half a million people joined the virtual celebration; still, it could never replace the inperson event.

“Loosing that celebration opportunity was hugely devastating for so many in our community,” Lopez said.

An important piece of the festivities and parade is that it allows LGBTQ community members to feel free, spend time with friends and, for some, to hold hands in public without judgment, he said.

“The loss of that is something that people grieve and mourn,” Lopez said.

In addition to the celebration, it’s also an educational opportunity about the LGBTQ community and provides a platform to uplift the stories of struggle.

San Diego Pride is working in collaboration with more than 30 Pride organizations across the country to hold a nationwide LGBTQ virtual 5K/10K event to commemorate National Coming Out Day.

The Filipino-american Arts and Culture Festival put on by Filamfest was moved to a virtual platform this year as well. Rather than having several events that highlight Filipino martial arts, traditional music, dance and food, there will be online presentations.

James Diokno, executive director of Filamfest, said much of the festival focuses on educational opportunities that allow Filipinos to learn about their roots and history.

Although the virtual component limits firsthand instructions about food, music and martial arts, it has allowed the organization to reach more people across San Diego, he said.

“The in-person events were mostly focused on (San Diego City Council) District 4, but now we are able to extend our reach to an audience who haven’t had an opportunity to experience Filipino culture,” Diokno said. Around this time last year, volunteers with the Sherman Heights Community Center were planning and organizing for the Day of the Dead festivities held throughout October and the beginning of November.

They would be making papier mâché skeleton puppets and holding sugar skull painting workshops in anticipation of the holiday. Instead, they are holding workshops over the Internet.

Daniela Kelly, executive director of the center, said programming this year is focused on educational tutorials on face painting, cooking traditional Day of the Dead bread and building altars.

The center will allow 25 families to build altars inside its multipurpose room, but instead of hosting tours inside, there will be a video available that includes interviews with the families who built the altars.

She said it will definitely not be the same as in years past, but this might be a good opportunity to reach more residents and teach them about the tradition, while being mindful of everyone’s safety.

“For us, it will be about honoring the celebration but prioritizing the health of our community,” Kelly said.