Porsche, Mark, 1951-1993.

Mark Porsche (1951-1993) was a leader, peacemaker and outspoken dignitary for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community of Santa Clara County.

Biography / Administrative History

Mark Porsche (1951-1993) was a leader, peacemaker and outspoken dignitary for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community of Santa Clara County. He believed that GLBT visibility would promote a legacy of safety, acceptance and equality for the gay community. Porsche reflected on the purpose of the Pride Parade by stating in a press release that, "Although the Festival is held at the Fairgrounds, only those who attend see our celebration. When we celebrated in the downtown parks, everyone saw us. I look at the Parade as a chance to once again become more visible to the entire community." It was this belief that promoted the first ever city-sanctioned Gay Pride Parade in San Jose.

Personal History:

Porsche was born on February 17, 1951 in Olympia, Washington. In his short life, Porsche was father to four children, Lisa Moore of Idaho, Tiana and Sean Porsche of Washington and John Porsche of Alaska. He was brother to four siblings, Robert Porsche of California and Vickie Van Ness, Kimberly Stevens and Connie Shumate of Washington and son to Laura Porsche. Mark Porsche went to high school in Lacey, Washington and later received an Associates Degree in Arts from Tacoma Community College. In Porsche's personal life, he played piano and organ and performed with the musical groups Interstate 5 and Sounds Feasible. He moved to San Jose in the late 70s and worked as an electrician and maitre d'. In 1982, he founded Prestige Electric, located in the Koll Center in San Jose and contracted with companies such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, American Airlines, Swenson Construction and Club St. John. The family business motivated both of his sons to become electricians. Porsche and his partner, Danny Webster, had a commitment ceremony at the Metropolitan Community Church. Later, Danny Webster died of an AIDS related illness. Caregiver and ARIS Project volunteer, Mark Gillard, took care of Porsche in his final days. Porsche died at the age of 42 on April 12, 1993 in Redwood City, California from AIDS-related complications.

Community Work:

Porsche played an integral role in planning the 1991 Pride Parade including obtaining permits, securing insurance, fund raising and promotion. During his presidency of the Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose, Porsche removed many logistical obstacles by convincing both the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer to issue a proclamation that granted the week of June 3-9th Lesbian and Gay Pride Week. Porsche served as the Director of the California Association of Pride, Inc. (CAPI) and as a board member at the Billy DeFrank Center. At the state level, Porsche worked for the passage of AB2601, landmark legislation that protected GLBT people from employment discrimination. In spite of all of his public efforts, Porsche was a recovering alcoholic and member of Alcoholics Anonymous with four and a half years of sobriety at his time of death. He continued to work tirelessly as a fundraiser for the ARIS Project and was active in the Metropolitan Community Church.

History of the Pride Parade in San Jose:

On June 26, 1971, Morris Kight, the founder of the Gay Liberation Front, spoke to a group of over 100 people that provoked an impromptu march down First Street in San Jose. Following this historic event, the GLBT community of Santa Clara County did not march on the streets of San Jose for several years. As an alternative, rallies were held regularly starting in 1976 in St. James Park. In the following years, the rallies were hosted at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, the Stockton GLBT bar area and the Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center. In 1991, the parade and festival become a city-sanctioned event as a result of the efforts of Mark Porsche and the Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose. On June 8 & 9, 1991, the festival was held at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and the parade was held on the morning of June 9 at 11:00 am. In the years after Porsche's death, his legacy and dedication continues as San Jose is now home to the largest Pride Parade in the South Bay Area.