pride
A JOURNEY FROM PROTEST MARCH TO CELEBRATION AS TOLD BY FRANCO GUILLEN
TIJUANA PRIDE
AKA “FRANCESKA” by cesar a reyes
MANY PEOPLE THINK OF
PRIDE FESTIVALS AS FULL OF JOY AND CELEBRATION, BUT EVERY PRIDE EVENT HAS A
HISTORY THAT IS ROOTED IN POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND
THE STRUGGLE FOR ACCEP- TANCE AND VISIBILITY. THIS STRUGGLE PROMPTED THE
FIRST MARCH FOR GAY RIGHTS IN TIJUANA IN 1995, WHERE
A SMALL BUT VOCAL GROUP PUBLICALLY DEMANDED
RESPECT AND THE FREEDOM TO LIVE OPENLY.
Franco Guillen, better known by his drag persona “Frances-
ka,” is a Mexican native who was raised in Stockton, California before moving to San Diego in the late ‘80s where he started working in HIV/AIDS services. Franco has been involved with Tijuana Pride since the start. Proud of his Mexican heritage, he fought for the gay community and gay rights early on. Franco shared some of his memories about the beginning
of what would become Tijuana Pride. He hopes that we all acknowledge the history of the fight that has made it possible for our community to live “out and proud” today. The parade and festival are the result of many people who worked and committed their lives to making things better. Not unlike the Black Cat Tavern or the Stonewall Inn in
the Unites States, Tijuana’s Pride Parade is said to have been set into motion following police raids of several gay bars in 1991. A small group of individuals joined together to rise up. Franco recalls that the first of many battles were waged to obtain the required parade permits from the state and city governments. Through individual grassroots efforts and plenty of door-knocking, the first march was eventually held in 1995. A small contingent marched, with Franceska holding the banner in front and a small but supportive crowd
24 RAGE monthly | JUNE 2018
cheering from the sidelines. Over time, more people have joined the march, unafraid of the visibility. Attendance and participation have grown each year and the event has become a great parade and festival. Although much smaller than San Diego’s week of nonstop events in July, Tijuana now hosts the third-largest Pride festival in Mexico. Attract-
WE NEED TO GET INVOLVE, THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE CHANGE IS TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN. WE ALL HAVE THE POWER AND THAT’S CALL VOTING.”
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