Santa Maria kicked off Pride Week Tuesday, a vibrant run of celebrations and events running through Sunday with the theme “Strength in Diversity.”

The theme sets the tone for festivities centered around inclusivity, community and visibility for the city’s LGBTQIA+ population, according to Suzette Lopez, executive director of HOPE and lead organizer of the Santa Maria Pride Committee.

“It is our second year doing a full week’s worth of activities,” said Lopez. “It was a success last year and it went so well that we saw the need to do something similar this year.”

The week began Tuesday evening with the City of Santa Maria officially proclaiming June as Pride Month, a moment Lopez described as meaningful in today’s political climate.

“We really do need the city's support and the fact tha

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