San Diego Pride Announces 2009 Theme

"Stonewall 2.0: Activism for Equality"

The theme commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City while embracing today's new generation of LGBT grassroots activists and the methods they've used for mobilizing attention to equal rights.

This year's theme reflects on gay civil rights activism of the last 40 years and calls upon each one of us to take action and demand full equality. We've made many advances since the Stonewall Riots marked the start of the modern gay rights movement in 1969, and since San Diego's first Pride march was held 35 years ago. The inner activist in each of us must answer the call to achieve full civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all LGBT people. Click Here to Read More

San Diego Pride Announces Board Appointment

San Diego LGBT Pride has announced the election of Carl L. Worrell to its Board of Directors.

Worrell is the corporate controller for Retail Pro Inc., and earned his degree in business administration at Western Illinois University. He brings to the Pride board more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience including several years in senior management for other non-profit organizations.

"In addition to Carl's enthusiasm and desire to get involved, we are pleased to add his finance and accounting talents to the board's knowledge base," said Pride Board Chair Philip Princetta. Click here to read full story

Manchester Grand Hyatt Boycott is Working

Who said the LGBT community would be too complacent to have a real impact with a boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt? Keep talking and telling your friends because the San Diego Business Journal reported on December 15, 2008 that the boycott has cost the hotel $2.4 million in canceled bookings.

Developer Doug Manchester donated $125,000 supporting Proposition 8 to take away the rights of same-sex couples to get married. Since this year's Pride events, Unite Here Local 30 and others have supported weekly protests in front of the 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.

Hotel Marketing Manager Kelly Commerford said protests have cost the hotel $2.4 million because of canceled bookings in conjunction with meetings at the property or the San Diego Convention Center. Two groups canceled meetings at the Hyatt, including the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, which represented $775,000 in lost business.

Tell your friends and family.

2009 Pride Celebration Dates

Parade, Saturday, July 18

Festival, Sat & Sun, July 18 & 19

Click here to take the 2008 Pride Survey... Thank you

2009 Spirit of Stonewall Awards - Nominate Now!

San Diego Pride is accepting nominations from the community for the annual presentation of the Spirit of Stonewall awards. The awards are designed to honor local individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on San Diego's LGBT community.

You are invited to nominate your volunteers, longtime supporters, employees or organizations that support our community through their tireless work or actions. Click Here to Read More

Photo: Laura Mustari, 2008 Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award recipient.

Providing Holiday Meals to Families in Need

San Diego Pride board, staff and volunteers raise $3,205 for Family Matters to provide holiday meals to LGBT families in need.

On Wednesday, December 16, a check was presented to Family Matters to assist with their efforts to ensure our LGBT families that find themselves in need this year are taken care of. The donations were specifically collected to provide meals to LGBT families this holiday season.

Family Matters is a program of The Center and has long been a community partner of San Diego Pride. Photo: Ron deHarte, executive Director SD Pride and Jane Schmoll, Family Matters Coordinator.

Click here to learn how you can support Pride

Donations Will Help Support 2009 Pride Parade

Pride touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and this year will be no different. With your help we can continue our community enhancement efforts. Please consider making a contribution to San Diego Pride. All gifts are tax-deductible and can be made online through a secure server.

When you participate in the annual San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Pride celebrations, you are supporting many community organizations that are vital to the health and well-being of the LGBT community and you help make the largest LGBT celebration in San Diego possible for our entire community - The annual Pride Parade.

Your generosity and support helps us foster pride in and respect for LGBT communities locally and globally. Thank you!

2008 Parade photos are online - click here

A Celebration of our Diverse Community!

"One of the most popular events of its kind in the country."
The San Diego Union-Tribune

The San Diego Pride Celebration is the 5th largest in the United States attracting 160,000 spectators to the Parade and 50,000 to the weekend Festival. The Pride Parade is the best attended and largest single day event in San Diego.

The Pride Parade is a powerful display of diversity, acceptance and celebration. Thousands of Parade participants move with flamboyant splendor on the mile long route with their gay banners waving above the exuberant caravan of lavish floats, drag mavens in fancy duds, dykes on bikes and gay-friendly politicians, sponsors, and civic organizations. Over three hours, the streets of Hillcrest burst with colorful displays of pride amid music and dancing emanating from the nearly 200 parade contingents. 150,000 enthusiastically cheering spectators lining the Parade route, the Pride Parade is a highlight of the Celebration.

The two-day Pride Festival features multiple stages of entertainment, musicians, bands, comedy and dance performers, 300 participating vendor booths, an Art exhibit, a Vintage Auto Show, cultural presentations, great food and much more!

Our Mission is to foster pride in and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, locally and globally.

"Many consider San Diego the best Pride in North America. It's friendly, sunny, and just the right size for fun." Gay & Lesbian West Coast Vacation Planner