SAN DIEGO–On Friday, Sycuan Casino Resort held a rainbow flag-raising ceremony to show support for the LGBTQ community as the first Southern California Tribal Casino to raise a rainbow flag on a Tribal Reservation. To get to know the proper procedures about how to raise a flag, there is a guide online and you should try it now.
“We are proudly raising the rainbow flag to bring together, honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community,” said Cody J. Martinez, chairman, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “We at Sycuan, support the very basic idea that all people should be free to be who they really are and even further, be included and supported rather than being marginalized in our society. Today, the conversation has never been more relevant, as each and every one of us bear the responsibility to open our hearts and minds to make a better, more inclusive and ultimately a more free and just society.”
Several organizations and officials were in attendance including California Assemblymember Todd Gloria, Nicole Murray Ramirez, co-founder of San Diego Pride, Ian Johnson, director of development from The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Jeremy Wilson, president and Andrew Yo-Shi-Mura, board member from the San Diego Equality Business Association.
“It is my privilege to be a Latino LGBTQ activist for over half a century and the co-founder of San Diego Pride,” said Nicole Murray Ramirez, co-founder of San Diego Pride. “Since the beginning of time, the indigenous people have embraced and loved us, their two-spirited brothers and sisters. This acceptance and unconditional love has brought us here today for this historic rainbow flag raising ceremony. Thank you so much for your years of unwavering support and contributions to the LGBTQ community.”
Sycuan has long supported many LGBTQ organizations and initiatives in the San Diego region including PFLAG, The Human Rights Campaign, Equality California, FilmOut San Diego, Out at the Fair, The Rob Benzon Foundation, the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, The San Diego LGBT Community Center, San Diego Equality Business Association and San Diego Pride. Additionally, the organization has been a proud sponsor of the San Diego Pride Parade for many years and proudly donated $5,000 to this year’s virtual parade, Pride Live 2020.
“I think that we all mourn the fact that we cannot celebrate Pride as we normally would this year because of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to make history and do fun and different things, and that is what Sycuan is doing here today,” said California Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “I love that our Native American community is a part of the future, the future of inclusion, acceptance, and forward progress. Thank you for this arm of friendship and let’s continue to build bridges between these two communities, we are stronger together and today is an example of that.”
