June is Pride Month, when Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) communities, and others who feel like their sexual identity is outside the mainstream, celebrate the freedom to be who they are.
Pride Month is celebrated each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in Manhattan, a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States. Today, celebrations include colorful pride parades, picnics, workshops, symposia, concerts and other events that attract millions across the globe.
While most Pride events take place in June, some cities hold their celebrations at other times. The San Diego Pride Festival, for example, typically occurs in July.
The 2024 festival takes place Saturday, July 13, through Sunday, July 21, at Marston Point in Balboa Park. The festival includes more than 50 LGBTQ+-serving organizations, over 100 artists across four stages and draws 40,000 attendees.
Many San Diegans may not know that the first Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade in San Diego was held in 1974, more than 50 years ago.
San Diego Pride, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, raises funds primarily through festival ticket sales to support its community philanthropy, which has distributed more than $2.5 million to foster pride, equality and respect for LGBTQ+ communities.
LGBTQ+ Support & Resources in San Diego
In addition to San Diego Pride, several other nonprofit organizations in San Diego live out the spirit of Pride Month all year long.
San Diego Foundation (SDF) and our supporting organizations have funded LGBTQ+ programs and initiatives through grants made to Mama’s Kitchen, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, North County LGBTQ Resource Center, The San Diego LGBT Community Center, also known as “The Center,” and more organizations.
A major resource for local LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, The Center is the nation’s second oldest and one of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the U.S. It provides direct program services to men, women, youth, seniors, families, LGBTQ+ Latino community members and their families, and those living with HIV.
In fiscal year 2023, The Center provided more than 78,000 direct service visits to San Diego community members.
In 1993, The Center established an agency endowment fund at SDF to ensure long-term sustainability and support for the local LGBT community in perpetuity. More than 30 years later, The Center continues to fulfill its mission to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of local LGBT and HIV communities.
Other local LGBTQ+ resources include PFLAG, the Lambda Archives, San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and the Diversionary Theatre, which provides a theatrical platform to explore complex and diverse LGBT stories.
