TLC (Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, left, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas) will headline San Diego Pride July 15. Photo: Dennis Leupold
SAN DIEGO — TLC and JoJo will headline San Diego Pride next month, and the festival will feature more than 100 performers across four entertainment stages.
“We are so looking forward to performing at San Diego Pride,” Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins said in a Facebook post on TLC’s official page. “There is so much power in expressing yourself without fear. We hope all LGBTQ people will stand proud and be exactly who they are. Persist with Pride!”
The two-day San Diego Pride Festival will take place July 14 from noon to 10 p.m. and July 15 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Marston Point in Balboa Park.
TLC, who will headline July 15, were early supporters of the LGBTQ community who gave a voice and financial support to people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Grammy-winning group has had nine of their songs reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” and “Unpretty” all reaching the coveted No. 1 spot.
Organizers estimate about 40,000 people will attend both days of Pride.
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PRIDE PARADE, FESTIVAL TICKETS
The San Diego Pride will take place July 14. The 1.5 mile route will begin at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag, the intersection of University Avenue and Normal Street, proceed west on University Avenue, turn south on Sixth Avenue, turns left onto Balboa Drive and end at Quince Drive.
Advance, online general admission tickets for the festival are $20 for a single-day, $25 for a weekend pass, excluding online service fees. Tickets will be $30 at the gate. Volunteers, teenagers, and children will be admitted free.
JOJO TO HEADLINE FESTIVAL
JoJo, who has used her platform to highlight suicide prevention resources like the Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline, will headline July 14.
“It is my honor to stand in solidarity with Pride as we make strides towards true equality, protection, and inclusion,” JoJo said in a statement. “I adore seeing so many various expressions of individuality at Pride while all unified in love.”
Here are other music acts who will perform at the festival:
- LE1F is a queer black rapper and producer who has worked to directly confront the homophobia that exists within the genre.
- Kim Petras is a transgender artist who discuss the importance of supporting transgender youth.
- Paris Sukomi Max is a local artist who inspires the queer community to live life authentically open as a form of protest.
- Graciela Beltran is a Mexican singer who has championed anti-bullying efforts to LGBTQ youth.
“I hope everyone will take the time to learn more about the bold and brilliant LGBTQ artists who will be attending Pride, and join us in enjoying their music at the Festival this July,” Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride said in a statement. “For many of us, Pride is the one time a year that we have to love and dance in the daylight, and I am so proud of our team for working diligently to ensure that the diversity on our stages reflects back to us all the diversity in our community.”
