By Mary O’KEEFE

The third annual Sunland-Tujunga Pride event was held at Sunland Park on Saturday, June 3. The event was founded by a 15-year-old Verdugo Woodlands High School student. She felt the school wasn’t welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community and wanted to create a safe event for her fellow students, and the community, to take part.

She along with another student joined members of the group Sunland-Tujunga Forward (STF) and reached out to local churches to help create the event. They made flags and posters. The first Pride event was just members of the group standing on a corner holding up signs to those passing by.

During that first small outreach, some people who were driving by parked their car and got out to thank the members for their support.

The next year the Pride event saw about 150 people at the park; this year there was a change in that security guards encircled the park to ensure safety. Churches, like St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church and Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills, offered support.

The young girl who started the event, now a senior in high school, had previously acted as master of ceremonies. However, this year she took a step back in fear of violence against her.

“Our message is ‘love us for who we are,’” she said. “[LGBTQ+] is not contagious.”

She added it is important for allies to speak up and show support as well.

“Use your voice for support,” she said.

In addition to information booths, Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents a portion of the area, was on-site. At the microphone, he praised the STF and the high school seniors for continuing to hold the event, and also read a poem he had written. Senator Caroline Menjivar, who also represents a portion of the area, attended the event. She is a former U.S. Marine who was elected in 2022 and is part of the LGBTQ+ community. Assemblymember Laura Friedman was on-site to speak of her support of the community, and Rep. Adam Schiff had a representative on-site to show his support as well.

A highlight of the day was the presentation to a senior of the first ever STF scholarship.

“Love your child, care for your child and accept your child,” the awardee said.