LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights Defenders
Community Grand Marshal: An individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the LGBTQ community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.
LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights Defenders
Over the past year, immigrant rights, trans justice, and many other civil liberties have come under increasing threat, with major legal battles unfolding at the local, state, and federal levels. Actions here in our own communities are shaping outcomes nationwide. For example, Mirabelli v. Olson, filed by Escondido teachers and parents, made its way all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. At the state level, the California Attorney General, alongside parents of transgender youth, have taken various legal actions against Rady Children’s Hospital over its plan to discontinue gender-affirming care for young people.
These cases demand immense investments of time, expertise, and financial resources. They are being fought, and often won, thanks to the unwavering commitment of LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights Defenders: attorneys, legal professionals, and law firms across California and the nation.
This year, we proudly honor those who are defending our rights in the courts, from San Diego to the highest court in the land.
- This award is presented to representatives of various organizations representing this constituency.
LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights Defenders will be honored at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally on Friday, July 17, 2026. Learn more about the rally and the other awardees here.