A Decade of Pride: “Where Everyone Knows They Matter”
October 05, 2026 - 12:47 AM
Mt. SAC‘s Pride Center, the campus' LGBTQIA2S+ program, celebrated its 10th anniversary with fabulous decorations and a host of fun activities.
“We had close to 200 attendees,” said Pride Center Director Rony Castellanos Raymundo after the event. “Today was all about existing and resisting unapologetically.”
Over 1,700 students have been served by the Pride Center for the past decade, and the event was as colorful as the Center’s history, featuring Drag Queen Bingo, Printmaking, a Zine Workshop, and a Banned Book Reading with games and prizes. The tent used for the event centered the Transgender Flag and disco balls to honor the trailblazers of the LGBTQ+ movement, who are often forgotten. Castellanos Raymundo says this fits in with the vision to continue to bring trans visibility, education, and services to the Mt. SAC community.
A special 10th Anniversary magazine was handed out that featured creative writing, poetry and visual art by Pride students. It was truly a new decade for the Center, as a new Pride Center logo was also unveiled
During the opening welcome, Assemblywoman Blanca E. Rubio’s office presented the Center with official recognition from the California State Legislature “for serving LGBTQIA2S+ students for a decade.” Meanwhile, numerous Mt. SAC officials attended, including Trustee Gary Chow. Speakers shared the history and importance of the center on campus, including Vice President of Student Services Melba Castro, Dean of Student Services Koji Uesugi, and Eric Lara, Associate Dean of Student Success and Equity.
“Today, the colors around us reflect the pride we have in celebrating the richness of who we are, especially our LGBTQIA2S+ community,” said Castro. “This is what it means to create a campus where everyone can show up authentically, feel valued and know that they matter.”
The day was capped off by a Pride Parade throughout campus led by President Dr. Martha Garcia.
To learn more about The Pride Center in Bldg.6-160, check out this recent article. If interested in how the Pride Center was first created, check out this 2020 article about its first few years in Bldg. 26.
Click to View Gallery (Photos: Robert Bledsoe)
