Alisha Richard, a Santee resident, knew the risks when she came out as a transgender woman at the age of 57.
“Everything about living as my female self was unknown and had potential downsides,” Richard told the crowd at the Santee Pride Walk and Festival. “I could lose my job, my marriage, family and friends. But I chose to lean into the intrinsic happiness that came with finally becoming who I was always meant to be.”
Richard and hundreds of other community members gathered at the Pride walk and festival on Saturday to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in an event hosted by Santee United Methodist Church. The day began with a walk, followed by a few speakers and a festival with booths for vendors and local community organizations, along with live music, line dancing and a DJ.
The Rev. Jaime Pangman, the pastor for Santee United Methodist, said that the celebration began in 2021 as a church event and then opened up to the community two years later. It expanded to include the festival in 2024.
Pangman said that the church created the Santee Pride Walk to make sure that those who are LGBTQ+ know that they are loved, especially those who are from more conservative parts of Santee.
About 55% of Santee voters vote Republican and 45% vote Democratic, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office that was analyzed by BestNeighborhood.org.
“I think events like this help people know, whether they’re trans or gay or whatever else, that they belong, that they don’t have to hide who they are to fit,” Pangman said.
Nanette Burrell, one of the original organizers of this event, said that the walk is an important component of the celebration.
“That’s the piece that lets us get out and show the community and show Santee and East County that there really is support for LGBTQ people in our community,” Burrell said.
During the walk, hundreds of participants made their way down a two-mile path holding up signs and waving rainbow flags as people driving down Mission Gorge Road honked their horns in support.
Amber Dwyer, one of the walkers, said she participated to support her daughter who recently came out as bisexual. This was her first time attending the event.
Dwyer held up a sign that read “MY LOVE HAS NO CONDITIONS” as she walked.
“There’s so much hate around the world with our current president,” Dwyer said through tears. “I don’t think there’s any reason for it. I don’t think who people love, or what they do with their life, really hurts anybody else.”
Richard performs a one-woman show, “Alisha’s Light — Forever 57,” about her first year of transition as a transgender woman. The show won a San Diego Fringe Award this year.
Although she is not a member of the congregation, Richard said that she has gone to multiple events held by the church and always feels completely included.
“That’s beautiful with a religious community because we know a lot of religious communities are being weaponized against the LGBTQ community because of the individual that runs it,” Richard said.
Santee wasn’t the only church involved. Representatives of San Carlos United Methodist Church staffed a booth.
Chuck Haag, a church trustee, said that the San Carlos congregation took part in the event because it is a reconciling church.
Reconciling churches recognize and welcome LGBTQ+ people as members of their congregations. Santee United Methodist is also part of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
“We set up a booth this time to just let people know that there are actually churches that welcome people of {all} sexual orientations, Haag said.
The message the church wants to send, he said, is “you can feel safe with us.”
