"Totally heartbreaking": Major Pride organization abruptly announces closurehttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/01/totally-heartbreaking-major-pride-organization-abruptly-announces-closure/ 🔗Molly Sprayregen (22 Jan 2026)
The board of Tucson Pride in Arizona recently announced that it has not only cancelled the group's upcoming Pride Festival but also is dissolving the entire organization amid financial challenges.
"This decision was not made lightly," the board wrote in a statement on the Tucson Pride website. "We recognize the deep importance Tucson Pride has held in our community since 1977, serving as a space of visibility, advocacy, celebration, and resilience for nearly five decades. We are profoundly grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, artist, activist, and community member who has supported Tucson Pride throughout its history."
The note was brief and concluded by thanking the LGBTQ+ community and allies for "unwavering support, passion, and commitment over the years." It did not explain why the board chose to shutter, but activists in the community told The Arizona Daily Star that Tucson Pride has struggled financially since former president Jimmy West was caught embezzling from the organization in 2017.
The announcement of the closure on Facebook has garnered almost 700 comments. "Totally heartbreaking for the community!" someone said. "This visibility is so important."
Many also communicated their anger at the board for giving up rather than figuring out how to reorganize or explaining to the community what the problems are so they can try to solve them. "I'm deeply disappointed and disgusted by this lack of candor and accountability!" one person wrote.
