Indy Pride Sees Change and Opportunity in Organizational Leadership

Chris Handberg, Executive Director of Indy Pride for the past four years, announces his resignation following this year’s Indy Pride Festival. The organization looks forward to a focus on year-round educational events in addition to its annual June Festival.

INDIANAPOLIS, June 17, 2021 – The Board of Directors of Indy Pride, Inc. announces that Chris Handberg has resigned as Executive Director of the organization effective Wednesday, June 30, 2021, due to developments in his professional career. Handberg will serve as a consultant to Indy Pride as the organization seeks a new Executive Director.

“I have truly been privileged to work alongside the most dedicated, passionate, and selfless people I have ever met,” said Chris Handberg, outgoing Executive Director Indy Pride, Inc. “When I started, Indy Pride wanted to move beyond being ‘just a festival’ to an organization that provides meaningful engagement with its community, establishes strong partnerships with organizations, and has a foundation to better the lives of LGBTQ+ people across Indiana. I believe we have seen major growth and accomplished those goals. I am ready to have a personal shift of focus and remain excited to see what is next for Indy Pride.”

Indy Pride, Inc., best known for the annual Indy Pride Festival, just wrapped its 2021 virtual Festival this past week with over 35,000 attendees. Indy Pride, Inc. is an active philanthropic partner supporting other LGBTQ+ organizations in Central Indiana and providing educational scholarships to emerging leaders. The organization is poised for growth and ready for a continued change driven by dynamic leaders and change-makers.

“We owe much of Indy Pride’s success to the outstanding leadership of Chris Handberg,” said Tanner Alexander, Board President. “As the Board and I plan for the future, we want to listen to our community to learn how Indy Pride can continue to be the best resource for LGBTQ+ folx. We will continue to program and host the stellar events and activities we are known for, and we are excited to use this time of transition to listen to the community. We are working on identifying the role Indy Pride should play in the community, how we can best serve people moving forward, and we are looking forward to gaining new perspectives. Expect those conversations later this summer and fall.”

Indy Pride is actively engaged in dialogue with multiple candidates for the Executive Director role and has strategized and assigned interim responsibilities to both the President and members of the board. “We’ll be selecting an interim Executive Director to help us facilitate these new changes and maintain the exceptional level of organization and leadership we’ve seen for the past four years,” said Alexander.

In the immediate future, Indy Pride is moving forward with its in-person parade planned for this October, the date for the fourth annual Indy Pride Career Fair, as well as other events will be announced soon. “We’ve grown so much as an organization and as a community. I expect the next chapter to be filled with even more growth and learning, and I couldn’t be more excited for the vision and potential ahead of us,” said Alexander.

Media Contact: Jenna Slesinski [email protected] 317-210-0043

About Indy Pride, Inc. Indy Pride, Inc. produces events that educate, honor our history, and celebrate the diversity of the Indianapolis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community. We exist to unite and serve our members and the LGBTQ+ community of Central Indiana through leadership development, educational programs, and community events that achieve inclusivity, equality, strong community connections, and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.