Dear friends,
As the incoming Chair of the Indy Pride Board of Directors, I want to share my deep gratitude for the way our community continues to show up for one another. Pride in Indianapolis has never been just a weekend in June. It has always been a year-round commitment to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ Hoosiers can gather, celebrate, advocate, and thrive.
Recently, I had a conversation with a community elder who helped organize Pride in the early days–when the celebration took place quietly in a basement, and when people scattered the moment the press showed up out of fear for their safety, their jobs, or their families. Hearing that story again, in this moment, was grounding. It reminded me that visibility was not always a given, joy was not always safe, and community was something people risked everything to build. We stand on that legacy–one of courage, persistence, and defiant hope.
That history has been on my mind especially as we continue building momentum with our Together We Thrive campaign. Many of you have already stepped forward with generosity, and we are so grateful for this strong early response. But we also need to be honest: the landscape around us is changing rapidly. Corporate DEI funding has contracted nationwide. Sponsorships that once reliably supported Pride events are now less predictable. And the cost of delivering safe, accessible, joyful programming continues to rise.
This means our path forward must be shaped with our community, not just for it. To sustain Indy Pride’s current level of programming–from year-round events to essential operational capacity–we must grow individual contributions. Your support is no longer simply helpful; it is foundational. Each gift, at any level, strengthens our financial footing, protects our independence, and ensures we can plan confidently for the months and years ahead.
We know what Indy Pride can do when our community comes together. We’ve lived that truth for thirty years: from basement gatherings to the festival grounds today, from whispered networks of support to the vibrant, visible community we now steward. And we also know what’s at stake if we don’t act with care and clarity at this moment.
So today, I’m asking for your support. If Indy Pride has been a home for you, a connection point, a place of celebration or belonging, I hope you’ll consider giving to Together We Thrive. Your donation will help keep Pride strong, stable, and future-ready. Thank you for everything you do to carry this work forward.
Yours, with pride,
Alex Richardson, Ph.D. (he/him)
Chair, Board of Directors
Indy Pride
