Let Me Introduce You To…

Tanya Raz, Community Partnership Manager
“I am so excited to be working with such a wonderfully diverse and talented group of people at San Diego LGBT Pride and I look forward to helping Pride build strong partnerships with our community non-profit organizations.”

This is Tanya’s first year volunteering with Pride. For the past four years she has been one of Pride’s Community Partners, 211 San Diego. 211 San Diego is an information referral service for San Diegans, connecting people to resources. It was through Tanya’s efforts that 211 San Diego became a partner of Pride and has a presence still at the festival. -Bob Leyh, Volunteer Manager

Why do you volunteer with San Diego LGBT Pride?
I loved the past four years being at the festival as a Pride Community Partner and I wanted to take the next step to becoming a Pride volunteer. When I found out the previous Community Partner Manager (Martha Henderson) became a member of the Pride Board of Directors, I jumped at the chance to step up. I am really excited about this opportunity to continue the great work Martha has done in connecting community organizations and non profits with Pride.

What’s your official Pride title and what does it mean?
My official Pride title is Community Partnership Manager and that means I coordinate and oversee the 20 different Pride Community Partners. In February, I reached out to each community partner to review and update their partnership agreements. During the festival, I’ll be onsite to ensure our partners have the resources and support they need to be successful.

When you aren’t volunteering with Pride, where might you be found?
Well, I could be in class at San Diego State. I’m half way through my course studies. I’m in an Interdisciplinary Studies program that combines Sociology, LGBT and Women’s studies.

Or, I could be at home in Encanto hanging out with my boyfriend and more than likely studying.

Or, I could be with my two teenage daughters.

What are you reading right now?
I’m a full-time student, who has time for recreational reading? For my LGBT studies class, I’m reading ‘Gay Life and Culture; A World History’ by Historian Robert Aldrich.

What’s the last movie you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
I’m in a relationship, a full-time student at San Diego State and the mother of two teenage girls; who has time for movies?! That said, I did see this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture, ‘Moonlight.’ It was a moving powerful picture that showed how trauma can make people stop loving and how important it is to allow yourself the freedom to love.

Coffee or tea?
Tea. I drink tea all day.

What’s playing on your iPod?
Oh that’s easy – 80’s British Music.

What should people know about you?
How much time do you have?

I was born in London and lived there until I was 9 years old when my parents moved to San Diego. However, my family spent several years driving around the United States, vagabonding, before returning to San Diego.

I have an adventurous spirit that keeps me on the go. I’m a total foodie, poet, art collector and love to cook. I relish the obscure and people who dare to bend norms.

My nickname is “Twister,” because I tend to come into people’s lives like a tornado and then they are never the same as they were before they met me.

What’s the best advice you have for someone coming to Pride?
Have a good time and enjoy the music, but make time to visit the different Pride Community Partners. If you ride your bicycle to the festival, you can park it for free at the Bike Coalition Bike Corral. Before you go into the festival, be sure and visit the Lesbian Health and Wellness and the 211 San Diego tent. Once inside the festival, stop and get a cup of coffee from the Alano Club coffee cart and then browse through the Art of Pride. Be sure to visit the Lambda Archives exhibit and the Leather Realm, and when you get thirsty, look for the Different Strokes Swim Team selling water. Additional Community Partners are FOG (who present the Senior Cool Zones), the T-Spot, Hillcrest Town Council and Bankers Hill Community Group.

What is it about Pride that excites you?
First, I’m excited to be able to connect all these community organizations with Pride and celebrate their diversity. Second, I love it when people are not ashamed or afraid of being different. I love it when we can support nonconformity and diversity because then we can show the world that there are too many of us to try to push down.

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Be Part of the Pride Family!

If you’re interested in volunteering with San Diego Pride, we’d love to have you! Please follow the link below to learn more about how you can be involved in your community!

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