Grand Marshal

2015 Spirit of Stonewall Awardees

Every year, San Diego Pride accepts nominations from the community for the annual presentation of the Spirit of Stonewall Awards. The awards recognize individuals who contribute significantly to the LGBT community though their leadership, activism, and/or fundraising efforts.

Community Grand Marshal – Trans Community
Rather than honor a single person, San Diego Pride has named the entire Trans* Community as the Community Grand Marshal for the 2015 San Diego Pride Parade.

From the streets of Greenwich Village to the cover of Time magazine, the trans* community has come a long way.

Since well before the Stonewall Riots of 1969, trans* people have been standing up and fighting for our rights, dignity, and equality, right alongside our LGB siblings. In fact, three years before Stonewall, in 1966, a group of trans* women took a stand against discrimination and police harassment in Los Angeles – an event now known as the Compton Cafeteria Riots.

At Stonewall in ‘69, trans* & gender non-conforming activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major, and Sylvia Rivera played a huge role in the riots and ongoing movement that rippled forth.

While the trans* community has gained some increased visibility in recent years, we continue to face a disproportionate amount of discrimination, legal inequality, and hate-driven violence.  It has never been more important that our entire LGB community stand in solidarity with our trans* siblings in the struggle.

The Community Grand Marshal contingent will include trans* and gender non-conforming individuals from all walks of life standing side-by-side with friends, families, and allies.

Our hope is to highlight the T in LGBT as we continue our shared struggle, honoring the contributions of people who are trans* and gender non-conforming in the pursuit of liberty and justice