🌈 Volunteer Spotlight: Ginger Fatale
Dancer. Therapist. Community Builder. Revolutionary.
Each month, OC Pride shines a spotlight on the incredible volunteers who help bring our mission to life. For May, we’re thrilled to highlight the radiant and resilient Ginger Fatale (They/She)—a mental health therapist, dance studio owner, and passionate force behind the scenes of OC Pride.
💬 What inspired Ginger to volunteer with OC Pride?
After moving back to Orange County and opening their queer-focused dance studio in Santa Ana, Ginger was looking for a meaningful way to reconnect with their roots and the local LGBTQIA+ community. Introduced to OC Pride through mutual friends, they joined the volunteer team in 2022—the first year the festival returned after pandemic lockdowns.
“It felt like a really fun way to get more rooted in an area that I was coming back to. Everyone was so welcoming—it felt like I'd always been part of this.”
🏳️🌈 What does being part of Pride mean to Ginger?
As someone who holds space professionally and personally—both in therapy sessions and on the dance floor—Pride offers Ginger a rare opportunity to witness and be part of a collective force.
“Being part of Pride reminds me that I’m not in a void. It’s powerful to be in one space that collects us all together and reminds us of this network that exists.”
🔥 “Revolutionary: Louder Than Ever” — What does that theme mean to Ginger?
For Ginger, 2025 is a pivotal year. With rising anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and policies, they see the Pride movement as a declaration of survival and joy in the face of adversity.
“We’re here, and us being alive and experiencing joy is a revolution unto itself. That joy will carry us as we continue to push for our own safety, healthcare, and rights.”
💖 Favorite volunteering memories? Ginger’s got two:
There’s the funny one—decorating the parade truck with a last-minute zip tie scavenger hunt, fueled by teamwork and laughter. Then there’s the heartfelt one—building a real friendship while rigging the VIP Lounge staging alongside a former acquaintance.
“Volunteering has given me a lot of personal fulfillment, but I’m most grateful for the bonds with others.”
📣 Why are community events like OC Pride so critical right now?
Ginger doesn’t mince words when it comes to the current climate:
“We’re being targeted more than ever. These are spaces that can hold our joy—but also fuel the way we fight back. We are more powerful together.”
Whether it’s about finding support, sharing resources, or simply feeling seen, Ginger believes OC Pride creates essential space for healing and empowerment.
🌟 Thinking about volunteering? Here’s Ginger’s advice:
“Definitely go for it! There are so many ways to be involved—no amount of volunteering is too small. Everything matters. There’s a huge sense of accomplishment knowing you helped make joy happen.”
Ginger Fatale, thank you for being a revolutionary light in our community. You remind us that pride is not just a celebration—it’s a collective, courageous act of love and resistance.
🌈 Interested in joining our volunteer team? Sign up here and become part of something Revolutionary.
