Dear IB Friends & Fam,
The first PRIDE I ever attended was the summer of 1998 in San Diego, CA. It fell on the same weekend as my 21st birthday, which seemed like divine timing for a young twink who had just recently come out of the closet. I was in University, living in SoCal, working two jobs and living in my first apartment. I was young, naive, and not quite understanding the impact of my first PRIDE.
Admittedly overwhelmed, my college roommate Jen and I kicked off the PRIDE weekend as the clock struck midnight on Friday. I was officially 21 and the fake ID was put on a shelf as we headed to RICH'S in the Hillcrest district of San Diego. Saturday marked my first PRIDE Parade. I remember cheering until my voice was gone, sweating under the steady San Diego sun, dancing in the streets and hugging strangers. The floats passed by as Dykes on Bikes swirled with gay cheerleading troops, gay soccer leagues and hunky go go boys from both sides of the border. As we cheered and danced I heard a loud bang and was surprised to see smoke pouring from a float of dancing speedo clad men. Tear gas billowed from underneath the float and into the crowd. Rushing over the street like a rolling fog, the gas exploded from the float and was carried towards us on the warm July breeze. First confusion, then fear filled the sidewalks as people fled covering their eyes and choking. People with strollers moved quickly into store fronts along University Avenue while others pushing wheelchairs or assisting elderly community members rushed for cover. It was in this quick moment that I realized—PRIDE IS A PROTEST.
Since then, I’ve celebrated PRIDE in cities across the globe and the U.S., including Madrid, Sitges, New York City, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Portland, Boise, Hudson, Ontario, Seattle, and Bellingham. Wherever I am during PRIDE, whoever I am with, however loud the music or how wild the weekend—I always take a moment to remember my first PRIDE. People from the curb's edge rushed with bottles of water to wash the eyes of those temporarily impaired. Strangers rushed to help those in need, protecting the elderly, rushing to aid those with children—not stopping until everyone was accounted for and the parade resumed. I remember the feeling of everyone cautiously pushing back to the curb, many people hand in hand, chanting,"We're Here, We're Queer, Get Used to it!". As protesters held signs saying "GOD HATES FAGS", I remember the energy of the crowd, hand in hand with irritated eyes, standing strong, cheering on each float that glided before us.
It was this first PRIDE weekend that informed me as a young homosexual. That set my heart on fire. That scared me. That inspired me. That pushed me forward and showed me community. This first PRIDE set before me the very simple ideology that love is love and community is everything.
It brings me great honor to wish you HAPPY PRIDE 2025! I am overcome with joy that I have the privilege and opportunity to be an out and proud business owner. It fills me with a deep sense of confidence to know that, even as LGBTQIA+ rights are tested and challenged, I stand firmly with my community—rooted in love, committed to equality, inclusion, and the fundamental right to exist freely and celebrate queer joy.
Thanks Divas ❤️
Ty McBride
Founder & Creative Director
My College Roommate, Jen, and I: San Diego 1998
PROUDLY QUEER-OWNED: HAPPY PRIDE