Dear Pride Family,
As we step into 2025, I remain hopeful, passionate and grateful to lead San Diego Pride. I am encouraged by the solidarity of our entire community to stand shoulder to shoulder to uphold the rights we have won in our not so distant past and now to fiercely protect those who are the most vulnerable and marginalized in our community.
We all must hear this call – we have all fought to be seen and loved for who we are, and had to work tirelessly to live our lives authentically and freely. This fight for authenticity is real for each one of us and is our common thread. These lived experiences we share cannot be taken for granted, rather I believe that these are the bonds that will hold us together through these challenging times and frankly do so with stunning solidarity.
Our common thread of adversity is unique and personal to each one of us and it reminds us of the profound power of our individuality while reinforcing the collective strength of our community. Across generations and identities, our shared experiences unite us in a vibrant, diverse, and resilient tapestry of connection and community. We need to draw closer and display courage, inclusivity, hope, and an unwavering commitment to each other.
As we look to the future, we must agree to continue to weave these threads tighter to support one another—our friends, our families, and, most importantly, the vulnerable and marginalized among us. In moments of uncertainty, these bonds remind us that we are never alone. Each of us contributes to something greater, and together, we are a force of love and light that outshines even the darkest of times.
San Diego Pride stands as a beacon of this unity. Hosting one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations in the world is a testament to our shared strength and resilience. This upcoming July 19th and 20th we will gather together to proudly and joyfully host our San Diego Pride a community driven Pride – we are here for you, our community, our allies and each other. Our arms are open, and we stand hand in hand with you, supportive and strong.
We invite you to join us.
Join a community coalition, sign on as a volunteer, attend a Pride event or program and commit to purchasing a ticket for your San Diego Festival. Whatever way you step up in support or contributing please know that your participation strengthens our community and prepares us to meet the challenges ahead.
With the arrival of this new year, San Diego Pride reaffirms its commitment to uplifting and empowering our community. We are embarking on a Strategic Planning process to lay the groundwork for the next 50 years of Pride to fulfill our mission across our dynamic LGBTQIA community.
Our goal in this process is to have many voices at the table and find ways for those who want to share and provide feedback into this plan to be able to do so. More to come as we kick off the process this month. via survey and workshop and include that in the messaging multiple oppos to feedback on plan and implementation
Let 2025 be a year of connection, action, hope, and power. Let us celebrate the common threads that unite us, drawing strength from one another and building a future where every LGBTQIA+ individual can live authentically, with dignity, joy, and love.
In solidarity and with love,
Leane Marchese
Executive Director, San Diego Pride
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
