Every year, San Diego Pride accepts nominations from the community for the annual presentations of the Spirit of Stonewall Awards. The awards recognize individuals who contribute significantly to the LGBTQIA2S+ community through their leadership, activism, and fundraising efforts.

For reference, the awardees from the previous three years are included below each award's description.

Champion of Pride: An individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the LGBTQ community over an extended period of years with consideration to service to San Diego Pride.

2025: Courtney Johnson
2024: Paris Quion
2023: Christynne Lili Wrene Wood

Community Grand Marshal: An individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the LGBTQ community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.

2025: LGBTQIA+ Migrants & Defenders
2024: LGBTQIA+ & Allied Educators and Library Workers
2023: The Drag Community

Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award: A visual or performing artist or organization who elevates the LGBTQ community in service of education, advocacy, visibility, justice, and joy. This award is in honor of the legacy of Larry T. Baza.

2025: Jackette Knightley & Queens & Kings for Causes
2024: Patric Stillman
2023: Lindsey Deaton 

Stonewall Service Award: A group or organization which may or may not identify as LGBTQ but which has stalwartly supported the LGBTQ community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.

2025: Bears San Diego
2024: East County Queer & Trans Coalition
2023: TransFamily Support Services

Friend of Pride: An individual who may not identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, but who has stalwartly supported the LGBTQ community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.

2024: Dr. Jill Blumenthal
2023: Judith Vaughs
2022: Vanessa Green & Trinh Le

Community Service: An individual who is recognized as an up-and-coming leader within the LGBTQ community or whose contribution to the community in the past year was of particular significance.

2025: Cesar A. Reyes
2024: Jordan Daniels
2023: Naya Marie Velazco

Inspirational Relationship: Any friendship, familial bond, or intimate relationship whose love, strength, work, and commitment to LGBTQ equality embodies the humanity of our community.

2025: Julie Hoffman & Summer White
2024: Teresa Oyos & Rose Ruybal
2021: Frannya Tuchman & Jamie Arangure

Julia Legaspi Trans Leadership Award: This award recognizes trans advocates, activists, and leaders who advance justice, liberation, belonging, and joy for trans, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming communities. This award is in honor of the legacy of Julia "Jhigs" Legaspi.

2025: Bliss Vasquez
 

Deadline to nominate is March 1, 2026.

Please submit a letter of nomination stating why you think your nominee should be considered. Assume that we do not know anything about them or their accomplishments. Please be specific. The more detailed and relevant the information you supply, the better. 

Nominations will be reviewed based on the nominees' qualifications and nomination letters. The review committee considers the quality, not the quantity, of the nominations. Multiple nominations of the same person without specific information are not helpful to this process.

Read the categories carefully to ensure your nominee’s accomplishments fit the specific award criteria.

It may be easier to compose your nomination in a separate window or application, then copy/paste into the space below.