Gay Pride Celebration Committee Of San Jose, Inc.

The Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose, Inc., also known as San Jose PRIDE is a non-profit volunteer Board, giving everyone an opportunity to celebrate Silicon Valley's diversity with the LGBT community with a two-day festival in August, including events, outreach and resources throughout the year. Over 40 years ago, in 1971, a few dozen people organized and congregated for the first Gay Rights rally in San Jose. The following year, the first gay newspaper, Lambda News, began to promote the event. In 1976, hundreds would gather for the first official Gay Pride Festival, held at St. James Park in downtown San Jose, featuring political speakers, community booths, and local entertainment. In 1977, the first Gay Pride Parade kicked off what had become the yearly San Jose Gay Pride Festival. As the city continued to grow in the 90s, gay culture started to show itself in the mainstream, and attendance began to increase. Soon the yearly celebration outgrew the Stockton Street area. In 1995, after receiving an offer from the City of San Jose to return to Downtown, the Pride Parade and Festival was relocated to its current home in Discovery Meadow Park on San Carlos Street. With year-round support from hundreds of community volunteers and sponsors, thousands from near and far gather annually to celebrate San Jose Pride, our diversity, and our community. The Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose, Inc. (GPCCSJ, Inc.) is a not-for-profit organization.