In honor of pride in June, AIA San Diego highlights local landmarks in a series called, ‘pride in five’
“These sites deserve recognition for the important roles they’ve played in defining the region’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities.”
As Maya Angelou says “you can’t really know where you are going, until you know where you have been.” Join AIASD in collaboration with Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) and our WIA committee, in this exploration of important architectural and historic landmarks in our community.
“San Diego has many historic places, events, and people connected to the LGBTQ community. These sites deserve recognition for the important roles they’ve played in defining the region’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities. It is especially important to preserve sites that represent key events in the continuing battle to secure LGBTQ rights. These places provide a physical connection with this civil rights struggle and allow people to travel to a specific place in time that is not possible to get from just reading about it. SOHO strives to show the layered historic and cultural importance of LGBTQ places by bringing these important stories into the cultural narrative through protecting and preserving the physical sites that tell these stories best. “ – Bruce Coons, Executive Director, Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO)
While most of these buildings are not designated historic, AIA San Diego recognizes them for their contribution to our LGBTQ+ community and history. Matthew Winter, Director of Mixed Use at LPA Design Studios and City of San Diego Historic Resource Board Member notes that “It is important for potential historic resources to be evaluated by all designation criteria. They can include items that are traditionally considered outside of the built environment. They can be evaluated whether a resource reflects special elements of the City's, a community's, a neighborhood's, historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, or political development. Additionally, resources can also be evaluated whether a resource is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history.”
We hope you enjoy the following project highlights, help us celebrate pride this month by sharing the history behind these San Diego landmarks with others!
Also, learn more about SOHO and how their work celebrates historical architecture important to our local community.
“Historical sites can be evaluated & celebrated for their connection to significant historical events or persons.”
Image courtesy of KPBS
Image courtesy of Diversionary Theatre
Five LGBTQ+ Landmarks in San Diego
Pride in Five References
[1] https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/hiv/Pages/default.aspx
[2] https://www.diversionary.org/
[3] https://www.safdierabines.com/diversionary-theater-renovation/
[5] https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/dsd_hrb20210325_item01.pdf
[6] https://www.kpbs.org/news/2018/aug/29/truax-house-restoration-and-conversion-apartments-/
