San Quentin residents held an inaugural Pride event in the Gym and on the Lower Yard. The event lasted three days.
Festivities included hundreds of incarcerated members of the LGBTQ+ community and other community supporters. Resident James “Jooty” Johnson kicked off the event by welcoming everyone to the event. She spoke about the history of SQ and the importance of organizing the historic event for their community.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence visited the prison wearing drag attire as they mingled with residents. Sister Shalita Corndog and Sister Eva said they were surprised by the number of people in prison who showed up to support their community.
“It is so easy to live a few miles away from a prison as big and full as San Quentin, and not even have the slightest awareness as to what goes on,” said Corndog. “[Seeing] how packed it is, is eye opening to the reality of the prison industrial complex in the United States.”
Corndog pointed out that if someone thinks that a loving creator does not like ribbons and glitter, one must look around and notice what a zebra or a giraffe looks like. “Our creator is a rainbow,” said Corndog.
Tolerance has become part of prison’s evolution; history shows that in past decades the LGBTQ+ community lived in the shadows, suffering from mental anguish. Lack of acceptance and understanding of their community was evident because they were subject to violence and abuse.
According to resident Dustin Laney, he felt comfortable in uncomfortable situations because prison is built to push you away from the LGBTQ+ community, but here at SQ, he found a community that he never thought he would have. Laney recognizes the stigma about being queer inside prison. He identifies as bisexual. The three-day event gave him the opportunity to stay connected to his community.
For trans women, this historic day meant liberation and community. “This day to me is a joyable event. We are now able to celebrate Pride Day,” said resident Estrella Redondo. “Donald Trump needs some self-help groups himself [so] he can be educated about the LGBTQ+ community. He portrays a lot of hate, but he doesn’t even know us, what we’re all about, or our way of life.”
The event transferred to the outdoors where incarcerated residents and volunteers performed on a stage assembled on the basketball court. Residents and volunteers also danced to different musical genres in the middle of the court. On the sideline, Purses and Bags of Love Giveaway handed out bags of popcorn and candy; they also held a scavenger hunt with a bag of goodies going to the winner.
Georgetta Jemison-McAlpine, founder of Purses and Bags of Love Giveaway, said, “Love has no color, love has no gender, and love is unconditional. If you say you love me, you have to accept everything about me. Good, bad, or indifferent, love covers a multitude of faults.”
The Kiki Ball offered residents a change to feel free as they participated in a runway competition with lights and paparazzi (incarcerated media) following as they modeled on the red carpet. A panel of four judges cheered and voted for models wearing backpacks filled with books and laptops. SQ resident Kaomacng P. Saeliaw won the competition.
There were multiple categories, including School Boy/Girls and Realness.
“As a transgender woman you don’t expect this acceptance inside prison. What this day means to me — it brings tears to my eyes seeing history not only as California but as humans,” said Kaiya Kramer, one of the judges at the KiKi Ball. “LGBTQ+ is not just acronyms. It is hard not to look at what is going with the Donald Trump and the Republicans when you see the President saying we are going to remove you from the budget. I feel deep fear because of what is going on and how it affects my friends, and I say this as a transgender woman.”
Winners
- Painted Face – Adriana
- Natural Face – Douughboi and Jaime
- King and King – Patrick and Lee
- King and Queen – Jooty and Jason
- Queen and Queen – Douughboi and Panda
- Duke – Jamal
- Duchess – Angie
Tie
- Best Dressed (Tie) – Smoove and Douughboi
- Thug Realness (Tie) – Smoove and Douughboi