San Diego Pride is proud to announce the 2021 recipients of the Spirit of Stonewall Awards. Pride annually accepts nominations from the community to recognize individuals, organizations, and groups who have contributed significantly to the LGBTQ community through their leadership, activism, and fundraising efforts. Awardees will be honored at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally and during our Pride Live 2021 livestream event.
This year’s recipients include:
Champion of Pride – Dwayne Crenshaw
Community Grand Marshal – Moe Girton
Stonewall Service Award – San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition
Inspirational Relationship – Jamie Arangure & Frannya Tuchman
Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award – Matt Morrow
Stonewall Philanthropy Award – The Burgess Family
Community Service – Ana Laura
Light of Pride – Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition
Friend of Pride – County of San Diego Board of Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher
This year’s awards include the inaugural Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award. The award is named after San Diego Pride’s first Latino co-chair, the late Larry T. Baza. Larry was known as an LGBTQ, art, and intersectional human rights advocate and activist. Baza was a mentor to countless people across generations. Our community lost Larry to COVID-19 earlier this year.
“Since Pride’s first permitted march in 1975, we honor the origins of our movement at the Spirit of Stonewall Rally. Our annual rally weaves together our intergenerational intersectional movement by honoring those who are leading the way and calling our community to action,” said Pride Executive Director Fernando López. “Our LGBTQ community is under attack across this country. Honoring our heroes and connecting ourselves to our history, reminds us all that we are still not equal under the law and drives us to pursue justice with joy.”
The annual Spirit of Stonewall Rally kicks off Pride weekend on Friday, July 16 at 6:00 PM at The Hillcrest Pride Flag (1500 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103) and commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, when the LGBTQ community fought back against state-sanctioned police violence and discrimination. Hosted by the Hillcrest Business Association and held in conjunction with the annual Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, this year’s rally will be a scaled back, in-person event and streamed online.
Additional San Diego Pride 2021 details will be announced in June.
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.
