Dear Pride Family,
We are a different kind of Pride organization. As we mark Give OUT Day, I’m reaching out to you, our committed community members, with an urgent call to action. Together, we have the power to shape the future of our LGBTQ community, a future that promises acceptance, resilience, and progress for our younger generations.
The undeniable reality we face today is our LGBTQ community is under attack. The rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation, particularly anti-trans laws targeting our youth and healthcare, threatens our safety, our dignity, and our very existence. These are not just abstract issues; they are challenges that deeply impact the lives of our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends right here in San Diego.
This is where San Diego Pride steps in. We’re not just a Pride party planner, we are a beacon of hope, a bastion of resistance, and a champion of transformative justice. We tirelessly labor to build our community’s capacity, tear down the walls of discrimination, and amplify the voices of those of us too often pushed to the sidelines. Our first-ever Pride Power Summit brought together over 40 grassroots leaders, arming them with the resources and network they need to continue fighting for our rights. They are now on the front lines of this work across the county.
Our youth programs, a cornerstone of San Diego Pride’s work, offer safe havens and nurturing spaces for LGBTQ youth from elementary age through 24. Through our efforts, we foster mentorship, education, and community, with initiatives like our signature Youth Leadership Academy, now anticipating its 10th year. Every dollar you invest fuels these critical resources, driving a future where every young LGBTQ person can flourish with acceptance, self-assurance, and the tools they need to succeed.
So, I’m calling on you today, on this Give OUT Day, to support this work and our future.
Your generosity supports San Diego Pride’s youth initiatives and pivotal advocacy work, enabling us to continue pushing back against injustice and advance LGBTQ equality.
We are a different kind of Pride organization, and together, with every generous donation we receive today, we strengthen our capacity to enact change, create safe spaces, and bolster the courage of countless individuals to embrace their authentic selves and Thrive!
With Pride,
Fernando Z. López
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Executive Director
San Diego Pride
Fernando Lopez was the Executive Director of San Diego Pride. Lopez’s years of LGBT advocacy, nonprofit management, public education, diversity consulting, media relations, guest lectures, and organizing have made them a consistent presence ensuring the struggles of the LGBT community are ever visible.
