On an overcast and chilly morning in Sunland-Tujunga, local community organizers and activists gathered to celebrate, for the fourth consecutive year, LGBTQ+ Pride at Sunland Park.

In 2021, a group of high school students formed the group Sunland-Tujunga Voices United (STVU). In June of that same year, STVU held the first LGBTQ+ Pride event in Sunland-Tujunga with support from the local non-profit ST Forward. Since then, ST Forward and its community allies have continued to organize the event, hosting ST Pride in 2022 and Foothills Pride in 2023. 

This year, Foothills Pride was organized by ST Forward, STVU, Somos Familia Valle and Village Poets. Several other organizations were represented at the event including the Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health, Friends of Rockhaven and the Theodore Payne Foundation. 

A volunteer from the California Institute of the Arts organized an interactive craft table for families.

“I think it’s really important for queer people to have a community in smaller towns,” the volunteer said.

Local politicians came from across Los Angeles to show their support for Foothills Pride. State Senator Anthony Portantino attended for the third consecutive year and presented ST Forward and fellow civic leaders with an certificate before saying a few words to show his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. State Senator Caroline Menjivar attended for the third consecutive year as well. Her office presented a local LGBTQ+ graduating senior with a scholarship for future education. A representative from LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez’s office was also present at the event to distribute resources and to demonstrate support. 

Kevin Perez, president of Somos Familia Valle, has been organizing for the past 10 years events for LGBTQ+ Pride in the San Fernando Valley.

“Keep pushing and keep organizing,” Perez advised. “When people get to see the labor of your love coming together, I think that’s when you’ll see the community investment and the community need.”

Shaded by the pine trees at Sunland Park, families from across the foothills gathered to browse the booths of local vendors and to listen to LGBTQ+ poets, singers, comedians and performers.