WHEN MARCUS MAC went to the Modesto Pride event in 2010, he was inspired. He wondered how he could bring something similar to Stockton to unite the LGBTQ+ community.
“I enjoyed it so much. … I always wondered: ‘Why didn’t we have one?’” he said.
So the Stockton native made it happen.
Mac got to work forming the city’s first Pride committee. He credits Daniel Corona and the San Joaquin AIDS Foundation for being early supporters and for helping Mac put together the groundwork for what is now an annual tradition.
Two years later, the first event was held at Oak Grove Regional Park. To Mac’s surprise, the turnout exceeded his expectations.
“We had a community of LGBT and allies coming to the festival. It was a relief,” he told Stocktonia.
The following year, Mac pushed through stage fright to perform for the first time under the drag persona of Belafonte Chevalier, inspired by Harry Belafonte and Maurice Chevalier, both actors and singers.
“Your heart races, and then you get out there and you perform, and you’re giving them a show,” Mac said. “That nervousness just kind of fades away.”
Celebrating 14 years
This Saturday, Stockton Pride will return for its 14th year, with more planned vendors than last year and a higher expected turnout.
Mac, who continues to serve as Stockton Pride’s board president, said the event has evolved since its early years. Even his drag persona — he now goes by Ruby Clark St. James on stage — has changed.
“St. James is my drag family’s last name,” Mac explained. And Ruby Clark was a friend of his mother’s who was killed in a car accident. “I do honor her by using her name,” he said.
This year’s Stockton Pride theme is “Loud and Proud,” a concept that resonates even stronger with Mac after two hate incidents in the first week of Pride Month.
Stockton police said an unknown suspect threw a brick at the Central Valley Gender Health and Wellness Center on June 4, near El Dorado Street, causing a small hole in the glass that cracked the rest of a window. The building was displaying a transgender Pride flag at the time of the vandalism.
A separate incident occurred the next day in the Yosemite Street Village area, where a person removed a Pride flag from someone’s home.
“Officers responded, but the individual had fled the area,” said Stockton police Officer David Scott, a spokesperson for the department. “The incident was documented.”
Authorities described the events as hate incidents — a hostile expression that may be motivated by bias against another person’s actual or perceived identity, including race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexuality orientation or gender.
There are two types of hate incidents: those that are not crimes, but violate civil rights laws; and those that may not violate the law but still cause significant harm in a community.
“We know there is a lot of hatred toward the LGBT community. We’re not going to let that scare us,” Mac said.
“If you want to be a guy who wants to wear a dress, this is the place you can come in and wear a dress. We will not judge you over it.” Marcus Mac, Stockton Pride
Saturday will be a family-friendly event, Mac said, with food vendors, resource booths and performers. Stockton Pride aims to foster a safe, judgment-free space, he added.
“If you want to be a guy who wants to wear a dress, this is the place you can come in and wear a dress. We will not judge you over it,” he said.
“Now, if you’re wearing a certain style that doesn’t really go … we might say something there,” Mac joked. “But if you want to wear a dress, wear a dress.”
This year’s event runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, 525 N. Center St. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Other Pride events
Friday
Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus: The group presents “Everybody Say Love.” Performances celebrating the ensemble’s 40th season run Friday through Sunday at the B Street Box Office, 2700 Capitol Ave., in Sacramento.
The concert begins at 7 each night. There are also 3 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are limited; contact the theater at tickets@bstreettheatre.org or (916) 443-5300 to check availability.
Saturday
Elk Grove Pride: The celebration starts at 5 p.m. at Laguna Town Hall, 3020 Renwick Ave. This year’s theme is “Liberation is Possible.” There will be food, live entertainment, art vendors and educational resources.
Woodland Pride parade and party: Woodland Pride will kick off with a downtown parade at 10 a.m. at Main and Elm streets. There also will be a party at 212 Second St. that includes food and music.
Pride sculpt class: Sacramento’s Lavender Library, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ library and archive, is hosting a 90-minute yoga class at 5600 H St., #130, in Sacramento beginning at noon. The class requires a $20 donation and is hosted by One Flow Yoga to raise money for the community space. For more information, go to Lavender Library’s website or sign up at info@oneflowyoga.com.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
