United in Pride
Assessor/Recorder/ County Clerk Jordan Z. Marks has added his name to the list of community, faith, business, and elected leaders to embrace United in Pride: Solidarity with Prides and the LGBTQ+ Community Joint Statement. Read more below or view the statement here.
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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 80 organizations, institutions of faith, and businesses, as well as 79 community, faith, and elected leaders. The list will be updated periodically. Click here to add your organization to the list.
Community Organizations
- San Diego Pride
- ADL San Diego
- Art of Pride
- BikeSD
- Center for Community Solutions
- Change Begins With ME (Indivisible)
- Circulate San Diego
- City of San Diego LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance
- Diversionary Theatre
- Downtown San Diego Partnership
- Equality California
- FilmOut San Diego
- GLSEN San Diego
- Human Dignity Foundation
- Jewish Family Service of San Diego
- Kiwanis Club of Hillcrest All-Inclusive
- Lambda Archives of San Diego
- Lambda Rising Soccer Club
- LEAD San Diego
- LGBTQIA+ Survivor Task Force
- Mama’s Kitchen
- Meals on Wheels San Diego County
- Modern Military Association of America
- National LGBTQ Task Force
- North County LGBTQ Resource Center
- Our Time to Act United
- Out Professionals
- Pacific Arts Movement
- PFLAG San Diego County
- POZabilities
- Pride Youth Coalition
- Proyecto Trans Latina
- Queer Asian Social Club
- Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego
- Regional Task Force on Homelessness
- San Diego API Coalition
- San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition
- San Diego Convention Center
- San Diego Foundation
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego LGBTQ+ Latine Coalition
- San Diego Pride Military Department
- San Diego Queer Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American Coalition (QAPIMEDA)
- San Diego Regional Chamber
- San Diego Women’s Chorus
- Stepping Stone of San Diego
- Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Inc.
- Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association
- The Old Globe
- The San Diego LGBT Community Center
- TransFamily Support Services
- Uptown Community Service Center
- Volunteer with Cheli
- World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024
Institutions of Faith
- All Faith Center
- American Baptist Churches USA Evergreen
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Encinitas
- Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Chavurah Shir Ha-Yam
- Congregation Dor Hadash
- Dharma Bum Temple
- Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
- First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista
- First United Methodist Church of San Diego
- Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
- Normal Heights United Church
- Pioneer Ocean View UCC
- St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, City Heights, San Diego
- Summit UU Fellowship
- Temple Emanu-El
- Tifereth Israel Synagogue
- University Christian Church
Company / Business
- Better APC
- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
- KOA+ROY
- OutAt Inc – Out at the Fair®
- Red Ace Press
- Sum of Us Festival
- The San Diego Union-Tribune
- Waves, A Psychological Corporation
Elected and Appointed Officials
- Congressman Scott Peters, 50th Congressional District
- Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, 51st Congressional District
- State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, State Senate District 39
- State Senator Steve Padilla, California State Senate District 18
- Assemblymember Chris Ward, California State Assembly District 78
- Assemblymember Akilah Weber, California State Assembly District 79
- Vice-Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 3
- District Attorney Summer Stephan, County of San Diego
- Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego
- City Attorney Mara Elliott, City of San Diego
- Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, City of San Diego, District 9
- Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, City of San Diego, District 3
- Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, City of San Diego, District 2
- Councilmember Kent Lee, City of San Diego, District 6
- Councilmember Raul Campillo, City of San Diego, District 7
- Hon. Andrea Beth Damsky, Division 2 Director, Helix Water District
- Vice Mayor Colin Parent, City of La Mesa
- Councilmember Patricia Dillard, City of La Mesa
- Councilmember Jack Shu, City of La Mesa
- Hon. Jordan Z. Marks, Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
- General Manager Sandra Kerl, San Diego County Water Authority
- CEO Sharon Cooney, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
- California State Youth Commissioner & Youth Organizer Aidan Lin
Community Leaders
- Ryan Bradley
- nicole buruse
- Benny Cartwright
- Rick Cervantes
- Ryn Corbeil
- Kathleen Dang
- Susan Hartman
- Haydee Juarez
- Clay Kilpatrick
- Heidi Knuff
- TC Krentz
- Nicole Kronick
- Michael Lavach
- Kevin Lee
- Noah Lomax
- Jimmy Lovett
- Connor Maddocks
- Mark D. Maddox
- Joseph Mayer
- Kevin Mayer
- Emmanuelle McCall
- Oleene Perera
- Rip Rippetoe
- Leah Shapiro
- Angela Smiley
- Russ Sperling
- Kat Tessero
- Shaun Randall Travers
- Eden Tropp
- Luke Vaughn
- Nicole Verdes
Faith Leaders
- Rev. Dr. Abigail Albert, All Faith Center
- Reverend Mary Sue Brookshire, Pioneer Ocean View UCC
- Bishop Susan Brown Snook, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
- Revered Daniel Brunner, American Baptist Churches USA Evergreen
- Andrea Beth Damsky, Lay Cantorial Soloist, Chavurah Shir Ha-Yam
- Canon for Mission Jason Evans, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
- Dr. Stephen Fitzgerald, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
- Alan Hay, First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista
- Susan Jester, Lay Minister Evangelism, St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
- Pastor Molly Lorden, Normal Heights United Church
- Rev. Dr. Michelle Kirby, Metropolitan Community Church
- Reverend Daniel Koeshall, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
- Priest-in-Charge Richard Lee, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, City Heights, San Diego
- Senior Minister Caleb Lines, University Christian Church
- The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch
- Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Temple Emanu-El
- Rabbi Mathew Marko, Tifereth Israel Synagogue
- Rabbi Yael Ridberg, Congregation Dor Hadash
- Rev. Trudy Robinson, First United Methodist Church of San Diego
- Reverend Brent Ross, Normal Heights United Church
- Rev. Justine Sullivan
- Minister Sharon Wylie, Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Pastor Laura Ziehl, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Encinitas
- Jeffrey Zlotnik, Dharma Bum Temple