This past June, 98 Rock midday host Myki Angeline was on hand as a Grandstand Host for the yearly Sacramento Pride parade, hosted once again by the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.
LISTEN NOW: Sacramento LGBTQ+ Pride with Myki Angeline
Joining Myki for a chat surrounding the incredible event this year are Sacramento LGBT Community Center Communications & Marketing Manager Priya Kumar, and Events Director Collin Lourenco who share what they do in their daily roles at the center, which has been a pinnacle in the LGBTQ+ community in the Sacramento area since the late seventies.
"It's like night and day from where we were coming out of the pandemic," Collin says about this year's celebrations. "I think the community felt that too," he adds. "Not in just the quality of the events but also just everyone's willingness to get back together. That was what was really exciting about 2023's Pride events -- just the turnout we had where folks just came out in droves to show support. I don't think it's solely based on being further away from the pandemic, but also what's happening in LGBTQ legislation right now. I think folks are really wanting to show their support."
"We all felt it," Collin adds. "it was a weekend of love and expression, and I was getting kind of verklempt looking at photos as all our photographers started sending them in of just how much joy there was in everyone's photos and expressions."
"I think the biggest thing is mental health support for youth especially," Priya says of the center's needs at the moment. "Since 2020 we have seen just an increase in the amount of mental health support need amongst everyone, and now especially the youth, especially the unhoused youth, and the LGBTQ+ youth that are coming to us."
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