Dear Pride Family,
At San Diego Pride, our vision for a world free of prejudice and bias is seen through our year-round work in partnership with the community to create spaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued. This work is rooted in inclusion, making sure every person gets to experience the joy of their fullness and the warm welcome of a loving community.
As LGBTQIA+ people, we know what it means to be ‘othered’ by heteronormative society. Where dominant culture laid out rules and expectations for how our lives are “supposed to be” from the day we were born, our existence, expression, our networks of love and support are creative in the face of dominant culture. We imagine and create – create to the point that the exquisite fanfare of worldwide Pride festivities shut down streets, shape life-changing moments, and create space for connection and self-expression that is uniquely, beautifully queer.
Yet, a large and vital part of our community is often not included in the Pride experience of creativity, connection, and celebration due to lack of accessibility considerations.
Statistics show that 1 in 4 LGBQ folx and 2 in 5 trans people live with a disability. Ensuring that all people, inclusive of disability status, is essential to the vision of an LGBTQIA+ community that welcomes all to this experience we all hold dear. As one of the most accessible Pride celebrations in the world, San Diego Pride holds Disability Justice as one of our guiding Pillars of Justice, reflecting our deep commitment to equity and inclusion. We work towards Disability Justice through accessibility programs by including ASL interpretation, mobility infrastructure (mobility devices, ADA ramps, etc.), clear signage, sensory rest areas and more at our flagship Pride events, as well as throughout our year-round programs and events. Over Pride week alone, San Diego Pride books over 170 hours of ASL interpretation, provides free scooters and wheelchairs, installs safety ramps throughout the festival, ADA compliant shuttles, and other accommodations to ensure that each member of our community can fully participate in and enjoy our festivities.
Accessibility is one of the most important aspects of Pride, as well as one of the most cost-intensive. That is why I am thrilled that for this GiveOUT Day, every donation is matched 2:1 up to $5,000 by our Accessibility Partner and Champion, Options For All, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, tripling the impact of your donation.
I invite each of us to contribute what we comfortably can towards creating the community we wish to see. By donating and spreading the word, you help welcome folks of all disability statuses to inclusive spaces, enhance our accessibility services, and ensure everyone has that cherished experience of belonging at Pride.
Donate now, and contribute towards our shared vision of Pride for ALL!
With gratitude,
Lo Horst (they/she)
Philanthropy Manager, San Diego Pride
P.S. Another opportunity to support: the San Diego Pride Festival is our organization’s largest fundraiser of the year! The proceeds from the festival not only fuel our year-round programs for youth empowerment, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and leadership development, but is also shared out in the form of grants to LGBTQTIA+-serving programs around the world. Contribute to our mission of pride, equity, and respect worldwide by buying a ticket to Pride 2024 and join us in Making History Now!
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.
