| Tucson Pride | |
| Type: | Non-Profit 501(c)(3) |
| Area Served: | Tucson, Pima County, Arizona |
| Location: | Tucson, Arizona |
| Former Name: | Tucson Gay Coalition |
| Founded Date: | May, 1976 |
Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance, commonly known as Tucson Pride, is an American LGBT pride organization based in Tucson, Arizona.[1]
Founded in 1977, Tucson Pride claims to be Arizona's first and oldest LGBTQ organization.[1] It was founded in the aftermath of the 1976 murder of Richard Heakin.[1] Heakin, who lived in Nebraska, visited a friend in Tucson and was beaten to death by four teenagers while exiting the Stonewall Tavern bar. The attackers were subsequently tried as juveniles, and sentenced to probation.[2] Heakin’s murder became a motivation behind the foundation of Tucson Pride.[1]
Tucson Pride first hosted an LGBTQ community event, the Gay Pride Festival & Memorial Picnic, at Himmel Park on June 26, 1977, also the National Gay Pride Day that year.[3]
Tucson Pride is a non-profit organization. All members of the Board of Directors for Tucson Pride, as well as its committees, serve on a strictly volunteer basis. No member receives any payment, financial or otherwise, for serving. There are currently 10 members serving on the Board of Directors.
The Tucson Pride events "Pride on Parade"[4] [5] and "Pride in the Desert"[6] are funded by a combination of community fundraising by the pride committee, corporate sponsorship's, vendor fees and donations collected from the participants at the festival.
Tucson Pride is a member of CAPI (Consolidated Association of Prides, Inc.) and Interpride.