| To our San Diego Pride Family, The San Diego Pride Festival is just three weeks away, and we hope you’re as excited as we are to celebrate our amazing San Diego LGBTQIA+ community. Our Board of Directors, and incredible team of staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver a world-class, Pride Week experience. As we continue to prepare for Pride Week, we wanted to share an update with the community. San Diego Pride recently announced the full lineup of Grammy-caliber artists, and special showcases of local performers, spotlighting the vibrant diversity within our community. Revenue from ticket sales is double what it was last year at this time. Be sure to get your tickets now at the link HERE. Producing a safe event for everyone remains our number one priority. Given today’s anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric out of Washington and beyond, as well as everything happening globally, we have added increased security measures to ensure the safety of our community. We have full faith and confidence in the Mayor’s office, SDPD, SDFD, Parks, our private security teams, and other public agencies to ensure a safe experience at San Diego Pride as they have done for previous Pride events. For reference, our protocols include: Increased private security throughout San Diego Pride programming, including the two-day festival and parade.A “clear bag” policy for all guests entering the festivalA reinforced code of conduct for all participants that includes a zero tolerance policy for discriminatory, abusive or threatening speech or conduct.The presence of Legal Observers to document interactions between law enforcement and any potential protesters.Input and strategic consulting from the chair of San Diego Pride’s Military Department regarding security efforts. To learn more, please visit our safety page, which outlines our rules, restrictions, code of conduct, and other important information. The San Diego Pride Board of Directors wants to acknowledge the concerns raised by some former staff, board members, and volunteers in recent weeks who shared a letter shared with the media. In the spirit of transparency, we have linked to our response we shared with the individuals who wrote that letter. San Diego Pride deeply appreciates any constructive feedback offered by our allies and partners who share our commitment to a stronger, more inclusive Pride. We are listening, and we are engaging directly with those who wish to work in good faith toward a stronger, more inclusive San Diego Pride. We know that this work takes time, care, and intention. We affirm that our Board of Directors and our organization remain fully committed to serving and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community every day of the year. Through our Pride 365 programs, advocacy efforts, community grants, and partnerships, we fight for LGBTQIA+ rights locally, nationally, and globally. Pride is more than a moment – it’s a movement rooted in visibility, justice, and joy. Pride Week allows us to raise vital funds for the community work that we – and partner organizations – do year-round. Thanks to your participation, and with the support of our sponsors and allies, we’re able to fund and power programs such as:Accessibility ServicesAdvocacy Art of PrideCommunity Grants LGBTQ+ Latine CoalitionSan Diego Queer APIMEDA CoalitionTrans Day of EmpowermentVote with Pride Pride Youth We know that hard work lies ahead. True change is not quick, and true healing is not linear. We remain committed to doing the work, guided by our values and shaped by the voices of our community. There will continue to be meaningful opportunities for the community to engage in the work of co-creating the future of San Diego Pride – and to ensure our path forward reflects our community. For now, with fewer than 20 days until our parade and festival, our focus is on producing a safe, welcoming experience. From the Stonewall uprising to today, the LGBTQIA+ community has driven progress not by avoiding tension, but by facing it with courage and kindness. Our path has never been easy, but it has always been visionary. We believe a brighter future is possible when we commit to working through these challenging moments together. Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and presence. We are honored to walk alongside you through this moment and into the future. The Board of Directors of San Diego Pride The Pride Board of Directors: Paris Quion, Co-Chair Noah Lomax, Co-Chair Brian Zotti, Treasurer Tyler Renner, Secretary Melody Corvalan, Director Martha Henderson, Director Lori Hensic, Director Geneva Lake, Director Oleene Perera, Director Andrew Picard, Director |
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.
