Dear Community,
It is with deep humility and gratitude that I step into the role of Interim Executive Director at San Diego Pride. This is a pivotal time for our organization and for our community as we face continued assaults on LGBTQIA+ rights, on trans and nonbinary people, and on our very freedom of expression. In the midst of these challenges, I feel honored to join such a talented team of staff, dedicated board members, and incredible volunteers who embody the spirit of Pride every single day.
The assault on our First Amendment right to freedom of speech is deeply personal to me. At this moment, when our rights are curtailed — whether through book bans, drag bans, the government crackdown on whistleblowers, or restrictions on protest — it is not only LGBTQIA+ people who suffer. These actions add to the evidence of a rising authoritarian government, one that threatens the liberties of us all. History reminds us that attacks on one community are often a prelude to broader assaults on democracy itself.
Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to creating spaces that foster belonging, resilience, and joy within our community. I know the power of Pride to transform lives — not just during the festival, but throughout the year as we gather, advocate, and care for one another. My role is to listen to the San Diego Pride community, to learn, and to ensure that San Diego Pride continues to thrive and serve the movement. Our work is grounded in the understanding that queer liberation is inseparable from the broader fight for justice — disability justice, economic justice, environmental justice, gender justice, health justice, racial justice, and reproductive justice. Pride matters because it calls us to celebrate who we are and to resist every effort to silence, erase, or divide us.
I am profoundly grateful to the generations of movement leaders who have laid the foundation for the work we continue today. Together, we will continue to advance the mission of fostering pride, equality, and respect for all LGBTQIA+ people — locally, nationally, and globally.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks ahead and to building on the strong foundation this community has created. Thank you for trusting me with this responsibility during this time of growth and transition.
In Pride and Solidarity,
Madonna Cacciatore
Interim Executive Director
San Diego Pride
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.
