San Diego Pride Founding Leadership
As we celebrate 50 years, San Diego Pride honors our Founding Leadership that lay the foundations of our organization and movement in San Diego. Despite being denied a permit to march, San Diego’s first Pride march was held in 1974. In 1975, with legal support from the ACLU in San Diego and experienced Pride organizers from other cities, San Diego held its first permitted Pride march, and has continued to host a Pride march or Parade every year. Another major turning point came in the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1989, with the 15/20 committee (15 years of San Diego Pride, 20 years since Stonewall) explore the possibility of taking Pride in a new, more professional direction. And then finally, 30 years ago, in 1994, with the guidance of Pride volunteer and staff leadership, we incorporated as a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was this leadership that turned San Diego Pride into the year-round organization arts, culture, education, & advocacy organization that you know today. This leadership led the way in launching our community grants, turning San Diego Pride into one of the most philanthropic Prides in the world. The history of Pride in San Diego has been full of rainbows, glitter, and sunshine, yes, and has also been quite difficult at times. Our Hero of Pride, this group of founding leaders, has been integral in our ability to survive, thrive, and continue making history now.
Our full list of leadership in those key years is below.
(NOTE: These names were collected through archival sources; if you see any discrepancies in the below lists, please reach out to us at [email protected])
First March (1974)
One of the most contentious years in San Diego Pride history is 1974. For many years, 1975 was considered by Lambda Pride to be the year of the first Pride march. However, many people pointed out that there was a march in 1974 and that to not count it would be a disservice to the people who were brave enough to march. Others felt that 1975 was somehow a more official event for various reasons.
Clouding the issue even further is the lack of photographs or a clear record. There were precious few gay publications at the time, and the mainstream papers were far from gay friendly. The passage of time has also contributed to confused and fading memories as years have blurred together. What is clear is that a march did occur in 1974, although it may have lacked a permit or official sanction from the city and the precise date is unknown.
First Permitted March (1975)
Nicole Murray Ramirez
Tom Homann
Jess Jessop
Jeri Dilno
15/20 Committee (1989)
Chris Kehoe
Doug Moore
Neil Good
Tim Williams
Joseph Mayer
Scott Fulkerson
Jeri Dilno
Renee Richetts
1993 Steering Committee:
Lary Baza (Co-Chair)
Vertez Burks (Co-Chair)
Rand Conley
Jeri Dilno
Scott Fulkerson
Stan Lewis
Joe Mayer
Doug Moore
Cheryl Robinson
Judy Schaim
Pam Schwart
Tony Venezuela
1994 (Pride Incorporated)
Board of Directors:
Doug Moore
Joe Mayer
Suanne Pauley
Larry Baza
Cheryl Robinson
Jeri Dilno
Louis Sands
Judy Reif
Stan Lewis
Rand Conley
Tony Venezuela
Judi Schaim
Pam Schwartz
Staff:
Brenda Schumacher (Executive Director)