A long line of marchers – one wears a T-shirt with a cross superimposed on a rainbow heart, another holds a rainbow umbrella and another's sign reads "Trans kids belong" – proceeds on a city street past a Chevrolet car dealership.
Marchers hold signs and more at Santee’s Pride walk on May 30, 2026. (File photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)

The Rev. Jaime Pangman always attends the annual interfaith Light Up the Cathedral ceremony during San Diego Pride Week. As he watched the Light of Pride Award being bestowed, Pangman wondered how recipients took home awards like that.

So, when the pastor for the Santee United Methodist Church learned that his own church had won the award, he couldn’t believe it.

“I don’t feel like we’re doing anything all that special, but we’re very grateful,” Pangman said at this May’s Santee Pride Walk and Festival, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in East County with a walk, music, dancing and booths from local vendors and community organizations.

Dozens of people crowd a sidewalk in a long line beside cars and in the shade of several trees. They are wearing shirts that say "Pride" and "Proud ally." Some hold flags in rainbow colors.
Participants at the Santee Pride walk show their support with their tees and Pride and trans flags. (File photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)

“It’s just people coming together and saying, ‘Hey, we care,’” Pangman said. “And so I think that’s what they saw in us.”

The Light of Pride Award is given to a religious organization, community or individual for their role in affirming the LGBTQ+ faith community, according to San Diego Pride.

Since 2021, the Santee United Methodist Church has been part of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which seeks to welcome all LGBTQ+ people and support their inclusion in the United Methodist denomination.  

The church hosted the first Santee Pride Walk that same year, becoming one of the most prominent displays of supporting LGBTQ+ in conservative-leaning East County. 

At the recent Santee Pride Festival, Pangman said that it’s important for people to go out and be more visible with their support in order to let LGBTQ+ people know that they are loved.

A banner reads "A beacon of love in Santee." Two people hold it while marchers in a residential area hold flags and even a dog.
People march and wave flags behind a banner for the Santee United Methodist Church’s Pride walk on Saturday May 30, 2026. (File photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)

Brock Cavett, director of advocacy and programs at San Diego Pride, said that the Santee Pride Walk and Festival creates an opportunity for the community to come together in a place that really needs it.

“They’re being honored for their work in the community throughout the year, as well as for really leading the way and bringing pride to Santee,” Cavett said.

Allisyn Thomas, the interim dean at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, where the Light Up the Cathedral service will be held on Wednesday, July 15, said that the Santee United Methodist Church does their work in a community where there might not be a lot of allies speaking on behalf of LGBTQ+ people.

“The fact that they do this and they do it with passion and love is really brave,” Thomas said.