The MSA Annex will host the second Tucson Latino Pride Festival on Saturday.
The event is expected to be the largest celebration of its kind in the city this year. Earlier this year, organizers with Tucson Pride announced the event’s cancellation after almost 50 years.
When Steve Gallardo, co-founder of the Latino Pride Alliance, heard about that decision, he was disheartened.
“I really believe that there should be a celebration for all communities,” he said. “Anytime you have one of our pride events struggle, or in this case, literally close down, it's disappointing, but we cannot stop, we have to continue to move forward.”
Despite the nationwide pushback around diversity, equity and inclusion, Gallardo is expecting to make this year’s Latino Pride event even larger than the first one.
“If there's ever a need for pride, it is now, if there's ever a reason for Latinos to come together and be one, it is now,” he said. “There are people in Washington that would love for us to go back into the closet. Stay quiet. It's important for us to be visible, to show and send a message, we're not going away. We're definitely not going back in the closet.”
The festival will not only be about entertainment, but will offer resources like information about HIV and AIDS treatment.
“When it comes to HIV and AIDS, these diseases are preventable,” Gallego said. "We've gone a long way in terms of science and medicine and treatment, but many in our community are still not fully informed about the importance of still protecting themselves, getting tested and doing all the preventative stuff that they need to do to stay healthy.”
Gallardo is expecting thousands of people at the MSA Annex alongside local and Mexican entertainers.
“We will have four drag queens from Mexico from Drag Race Mexico, we are bringing in a banda band, and we will also have a gentleman who is a Bad Bunny impersonator,” he said.
The second Tucson Latino Pride Festival will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.
