Howdy Pride Family,
San Diego Pride is honored to announce the 2025 Spirit of Stonewall Awards — a tribute to the fierce love, relentless organizing, and unwavering leadership that fuels our movement.
As anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and xenophobia escalate across the country, it is more important than ever to uplift the voices and power of LGBTQIA+ migrants and trans youth. Our theme this year, Unbreakable Pride. Unshakeable Power, calls us to honor those who live at the intersections of resilience, resistance and liberation.
These awardees reflect the leadership in our community. From grassroots defenders and direct service providers at the border to culture-shaping artists, from philanthropists to faith leaders — these individuals and organizations remind us that our pride is rooted in love, resistance, and unwavering commitment to authenticity.
2025 Spirit of Stonewall Honorees:
This year, we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in violent, illegal kidnappings of migrants and U.S. citizens from their homes, workplaces—even restrooms. LGBTQIA+ migrants like Andry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan hairstylist detained in El Salvador’s super prison, face persecution not only for who they are, but for the borders they’ve crossed and the identities they hold.
As a border community, our history, our people, and lives are inextricably tied to past and current migration. A rich mosaic of the world can be found in our streets, parade, and festival, so we choose to honor them in time where we see the militarization and backsliding of our democracy. There is #NoPrideInDetention.
San Diego Pride is proud to announce the inaugural Julia Legaspi Trans Leadership Award, honoring the legacy of the late Julia Legaspi — a fierce Filipina trans leader who championed the rights and visibility of trans and API queer communities in San Diego and beyond.
We invite you to join us in celebrating these outstanding honorees at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally — the official kickoff to San Diego Pride weekend. Let their stories ignite your unshakeable pride and inspire your unbreakable action.
Save the Date:
Friday, July 18, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Hillcrest Pride Flag, San Diego, CA
Together, we rise. Together, we resist. Together, we outlive.
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.
