Six years ago Oakland Pride rebooted itself, and it's come a long way. A small street festival with entertainment in 2010 has grown into a full-fledged Pride event, complete with a parade. This year's celebration Sunday, September 11 will feature an expanded children's area, four stages, the parade, and plenty of fun for everyone.
But after all the celebrating there's a need to reevaluate initial organizers' goals as they were planning the festival's return. They said then – and it remains on Oakland Pride's website today – that "Oakland Pride is committed to facilitating leadership and coalition building for the funding and development of the first LGBTQ community center in Oakland for everyone." But the fact is that no money has been raised for the center because most years Oakland Pride has run over budget, only recovering its financial footing last year, according to Oakland Pride board Co-Chair Carlos Uribe. The Pride budget is modest, only $250,000 to $270,000 this year, and less in previous years, which makes putting any money into an account for a community center unrealistic.
For now the Pride board should abandon the community center idea and focus on what it does best – producing a fun and safe Pride parade and festival.
While there may be a need for an LGBT community center in Oakland, opening any type of facility will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if it's to really make an impact, provide services, and draw visitors. We're not sure if the city needs a community center, but would certainly like to see a decision based on survey results and other feedback that Oakland Pride officials had planned to obtain. (As we reported last year, Pride officials were supposed to engage the public by hosting roundtable community meetings this year. We don't know the results of those gatherings or if they were held.) Six years ago, the Pride office was in a vacant building in Jack London Square that organizers said would make a great LGBT center. Well, Oakland Pride isn't there anymore, the site is still vacant, and it's doubtful it would have been an ideal location anyway. Proximity to a BART station will also be essential for a center's success, especially one that seeks to serve queer youth.
There are community centers in nearby cities, so perhaps the size and scope of an Oakland center should be commensurate with the need. The Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley already serves northern Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and has been an institution since it opened in 1973. In Contra Costa County, the Rainbow Community Center has been in operation since 1992, when it began as an offshoot of the Pacific Center.
After this weekend's Pride festivities, the Oakland Pride board needs to seriously examine and update its mission. It doesn't do the community any good to keep hearing about a fantasy LGBT center in Oakland when not a dime has been raised for it. The Pride board should conduct a survey to gauge community need and support but only at a nominal cost. Otherwise, it's an idea that's best left to some other organization dedicated to the purpose of operating a center.
Getting a community center open will take more than money; it will need the support of government leaders, local officials, and buy-in from the community. So far, an LGBT center is not a priority for Oakland's city government, as it is focused on more pressing problems like police accountability and the housing crisis.
This weekend is about celebrating LGBT Pride. So go and enjoy Oakland Pride Sunday. And thank the board and volunteers for their efforts at what they do best: putting on a great event. But the board should be realistic about concurrently organizing the annual event and pursuing a community center project. Although worthy, the center could prove impractical if there isn't the need or support from the community to justify it.