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United in Pride

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Solidarity with Prides and the LGBTQ+ Community

As leaders in our diverse communities, we stand united in condemning the growing threats against Pride events and the LGBTQ+ community at large. We are deeply concerned by the escalating attacks and disruptive activities perpetrated by anti-LGBTQ+ groups, including extremist factions such as the Proud Boys. These attempts to incite fear, spread disinformation, and sow division within our society are unacceptable.

We have seen a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and an alarming increase in public hostility towards our LGBTQ+ community, leading to fear of physical violence and harm. The ongoing attacks and threats have reached a point where our Pride celebrations, symbols of joy and unity, are now being targeted. This is an affront to our cherished American principles of equality, liberty, and justice. 

We firmly believe that safety is a fundamental right, not a privilege. No ideological differences should culminate in life-or-death consequences. We pledge to work tirelessly to safeguard our LGBTQ+ community and Pride events.

We condemn these threats and stand unwavering in our support of the LGBTQ+ community. We will use our collective platforms to counteract the false narratives propagated about our community to foster a climate of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance.

We are not fair-weather friends of the LGBTQ+ community. We understand the importance of Pride for our LGBTQ+ community. These events are not mere celebrations, but potent symbols of defiance against hate, resilience against oppression, and an affirmation of existence. The vibrant Pride events planned for this year all across San Diego County will not be marred by hatred. They will remain shining beacons of diversity, love, and unity.

To all those spreading hate, we say this: We are not strangers to adversity. We have faced it before and we will face it again. Our LGBTQ+ community is resilient, born from the crucible of struggle, and hardened by a history of vibrant resistance and radical love. Your fear, hate, and violence cannot silence us. We are many, we are diverse, and we are powerful.

We call to action all our fellow leaders, community members, and allies. Let us stand in unity against fear, hate, and violence. Let us ensure the power of our intersectional solidarity leads to positive action. We are LGBTQ+ and allied leaders in business, faith, community, and elected office. Our collective strength is our best weapon in the face of adversity. Together, we can and will continue to Thrive! Now, more than ever, it’s time for Pride.

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This joint statement is signed by 90 organizations, institutions of faith, and businesses, as well as 88 community, faith, and elected leaders. The list will be updated periodically. Click here to add your organization to the list.

Community Organizations

  1. San Diego Pride
  2. ACLU – SDIC
  3. ADL San Diego
  4. Art of Pride
  5. BikeSD
  6. Center for Community Solutions
  7. Change Begins With ME (Indivisible)
  8. Circulate San Diego
  9. City of San Diego LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance
  10. Diversionary Theatre
  11. Downtown San Diego Partnership
  12. Equality California
  13. FilmOut San Diego
  14. GLSEN San Diego
  15. Human Dignity Foundation
  16. Jewish Family Service of San Diego
  17. Kiwanis Club of Hillcrest All-Inclusive
  18. La Jolla Playhouse
  19. Lambda Archives of San Diego
  20. Lambda Rising Soccer Club
  21. LEAD San Diego
  22. LGBTQIA+ Survivor Task Force
  23. Mama’s Kitchen
  24. Meals on Wheels San Diego County
  25. Modern Military Association of America
  26. National LGBTQ Task Force
  27. North County LGBTQ Resource Center
  28. Our Time to Act United
  29. Out Professionals
  30. Pacific Arts Movement
  31. PFLAG San Diego County
  32. POZabilities
  33. Pride Youth Coalition
  34. Proyecto Trans Latina
  35. Queer Asian Social Club
  36. Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego
  37. Regional Task Force on Homelessness
  38. San Diego API Coalition
  39. San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition
  40. San Diego Convention Center
  41. San Diego Foundation
  42. San Diego History Center
  43. San Diego LGBTQ+ Latine Coalition
  44. San Diego Pride Military Department
  45. San Diego Public Library
  46. San Diego Queer Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American Coalition (QAPIMEDA)
  47. San Diego Regional Chamber
  48. San Diego Women’s Chorus
  49. Stepping Stone of San Diego
  50. Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Inc.
  51. Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association 
  52. The Old Globe
  53. The San Diego LGBT Community Center
  54. TransFamily Support Services
  55. TRANSFRONTERAS.ORG
  56. Uptown Community Service Center
  57. Volunteer with Cheli
  58. World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024

Institutions of Faith

  1. All Faith Center
  2. American Baptist Churches USA Evergreen
  3. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Encinitas
  4. Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  5. Chavurah Shir Ha-Yam
  6. Congregation Beth Am
  7. Congregation Dor Hadash
  8. Dharma Bum Temple
  9. Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
  10. First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista
  11. First United Methodist Church of San Diego
  12. Kensington Community Church
  13. Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
  14. Mission Hills United Church of Christ
  15. Normal Heights United Church
  16. Pioneer Ocean View UCC
  17. St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
  18. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, City Heights, San Diego
  19. Summit UU Fellowship
  20. Temple Emanu-El
  21. Tifereth Israel Synagogue
  22. University Christian Church

Company / Business

  1. Better APC
  2. Cultura
  3. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
  4. KOA+ROY
  5. OutAt Inc – Out at the Fair®
  6. Red Ace Press
  7. Red Door Interactive
  8. Sum of Us Festival
  9. The San Diego Union-Tribune
  10. Waves, A Psychological Corporation

Elected and Appointed Officials

  1. Congressman Scott Peters, 50th Congressional District
  2. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, 51st Congressional District
  3. State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, State Senate District 39
  4. State Senator Steve Padilla, California State Senate District 18
  5. Assemblymember Chris Ward, California State Assembly District 78
  6. Assemblymember Akilah Weber, California State Assembly District 79
  7. Vice-Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 3
  8. District Attorney Summer Stephan, County of San Diego
  9. Jordan Marks, San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk 
  10. Nick Serrano, Vice Chair, San Diego County Water Authority
  11. Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego
  12. City Attorney Mara Elliott, City of San Diego
  13. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, City of San Diego, District 9
  14. Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, City of San Diego, District 3
  15. Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, City of San Diego, District 2
  16. Councilmember Kent Lee, City of San Diego, District 6
  17. Councilmember Raul Campillo, City of San Diego, District 7
  18. Hon. Andrea Beth Damsky, Division 2 Director, Helix Water District
  19. Vice Mayor Colin Parent, City of La Mesa
  20. Councilmember Patricia Dillard, City of La Mesa
  21. Councilmember Jack Shu, City of La Mesa
  22. Rimga Viskanta, San Dieguito Union High School Board President
  23. Katrina Young, San Dieguito Union High School Board Member
  24. General Manager Sandra Kerl, San Diego County Water Authority
  25. CEO Sharon Cooney, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
  26. California State Youth Commissioner & Youth Organizer Aidan Lin

Community Leaders

  1. Ryan Bradley
  2. nicole buruse
  3. Benny Cartwright
  4. Rick Cervantes
  5. Ryn Corbeil
  6. Kathleen Dang
  7. Heather Dugdale
  8. Susan Hartman
  9. Haydee Juarez
  10. Clay Kilpatrick
  11. Heidi Knuff
  12. TC Krentz
  13. Nicole Kronick
  14. Michael Lavach
  15. Kevin Lee
  16. Rabbi Avi Libman
  17. Noah Lomax
  18. Jimmy Lovett
  19. Connor Maddocks
  20. Mark D. Maddox
  21. Joseph Mayer
  22. Kevin Mayer
  23. Emmanuelle McCall
  24. Oleene Perera
  25. Rip Rippetoe
  26. Leah Shapiro
  27. Angela Smiley
  28. Evan Sorem
  29. Russ Sperling
  30. Kat Tessero
  31. Shaun Randall Travers
  32. Eden Tropp
  33. Luke Vaughn
  34. Nicole Verdes

Faith Leaders

  1. Rev. Dr. Abigail Albert, All Faith Center
  2. Reverend Dr. David Bahr, Mission Hills United Church of Christ
  3. Reverend Mary Sue Brookshire, Pioneer Ocean View UCC
  4. Bishop Susan Brown Snook, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
  5. Revered Daniel Brunner, American Baptist Churches USA Evergreen
  6. Andrea Beth Damsky, Lay Cantorial Soloist, Chavurah Shir Ha-Yam
  7. Reveren Brandon Duran, Kensington Community Church
  8. Rabbi Matthew Earne, Congregation Beth Am
  9. Canon for Mission Jason Evans, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
  10. Dr. Stephen Fitzgerald, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
  11. Alan Hay, First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista
  12. Susan Jester, Lay Minister Evangelism, St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
  13. Pastor Molly Lorden, Normal Heights United Church
  14. Rev. Dr. Michelle Kirby, Metropolitan Community Church
  15. Reverend Daniel Koeshall, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
  16. Rabbi David Kornberg, Congregation Beth Am
  17. Priest-in-Charge Richard Lee, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, City Heights, San Diego
  18. Senior Minister Caleb Lines, University Christian Church
  19. The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch
  20. Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Temple Emanu-El
  21. Rabbi Mathew Marko, Tifereth Israel Synagogue
  22. Rabbi Yael Ridberg, Congregation Dor Hadash
  23. Rev. Trudy Robinson, First United Methodist Church of San Diego
  24. Reverend Brent Ross, Normal Heights United Church
  25. Rev. Justine Sullivan
  26. Minister Sharon Wylie, Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  27. Pastor Laura Ziehl, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Encinitas
  28. Jeffrey Zlotnik, Dharma Bum Temple
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About 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.

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