Tucson Pride, One of America's Oldest LGBTQ+ Organizations, Shuts Down After Nearly 50 Years

Tucson Pride, established in 1977 following the murder of 21-year-old gay man Richard Heakin outside a gay bar in Tucson, announced its dissolution on January 21, 2026. The organization's board of directors shared the news via a Facebook post, stating the decision was not made lightly and recognizing Tucson Pride's deep importance to the community.

The announcement canceled the Tucson Pride Festival scheduled for February 21, 2026, which had been rescheduled from November 22, 2025, due to logistical conflicts with another large event, financial losses from the 2024 festival, and organizational issues. Organizers committed to refunding all vendor fees, sponsorships, and prepaid contributions within 30 to 90 days.

Tucson Pride, described as the third-oldest LGBTQ+ pride event in the United States, had operated annually since 1977, with interruptions in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The board's statement thanked the Tucson LGBTQ+ community and allies for their support, noting that "Tucson Pride exists because of you, and its legacy will forever remain part of our city’s history.

Financial and operational difficulties preceded the shutdown. The organization faced declining sponsorships and donations, debt from the 2024 Pride festival, and a temporary loss of nonprofit status in 2021 due to missed tax filings for 2021 and 2022. Social media posts from October 2025 highlighted additional challenges, including volunteer shortages, a shifting political climate, and increased hostility toward LGBTQ+ causes, issues echoed by other groups like Phoenix Pride. No event permit had been filed for the February festival with city authorities, raising further concerns.

Members of Tucson's LGBTQ+ community voiced dismay. Wolf Gaona, the 2024 Mr. Tucson Pride winner, called the closure unfortunate and attributed it to mismanagement, claiming organizers promised but failed to share financials. Longtime attendee Colette Barajas described the festival as a vital space of expression, playful energy, music, and community connection. Scott Blades, executive director of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, called the news shocking and disappointing but not unexpected, urging transparency from former board members and asserting that Pride in the community transcends one organization.

Despite the dissolution, Tucson's LGBTQ+ landscape remains active. Groups such as Southern Arizona Senior Pride, Eon Youth Lounge, Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, and Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network continue to serve transgender people, gay individuals, and others in the community. Advocates expressed optimism that new leaders will organize future Pride events, building on Tucson Pride's legacy of visibility, advocacy, celebration, and resilience.

The closure occurs amid broader challenges for LGBTQ+ organizations in Arizona, where residents face anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in daily life and state politics, alongside national trends of declining corporate support. Federal tax records and accounts from former board members indicate years of warning signs that eroded trust and stability.