Pride events across Arizona are struggling — but Bisbee just had its biggest one yet

Pride organizations across Arizona are struggling right now.

Phoenix Pride filed for bankruptcy. Tucson Pride canceled their festival and dissolved the organization. Flagstaff Pride scaled back their yearly festival.

It’s a trend that’s affected Pride organizations across the country — as corporate sponsorships have subsided under pressure from the Trump administration’s anti-DEI efforts.

But, at least one Pride organization in the state is thriving.

Bisbee Pride took place over the weekend in the artsy southern Arizona town. And organizers estimate that the three-day community event this year was bigger than ever —bringing out more than 7,000 people to celebrate.

Bisbee Pride President and CEO Ramon Garcia spoke to The Show about the event and the nonprofit’s lasting legacy.

Full conversation

LAUREN GILGER: Good morning, Ramon. Thanks for coming on The Show.

RAMON GARCIA: Good morning, Lauren. Thanks for having me.

LAUREN GILGER: All right. So, let’s just first talk about Bisbee Pride as an organization. How did it begin?

RAMON GARCIA: So, Bisbee Pride began about 22 years ago. It started out really as a group of friends hosting a potluck. And today it’s grown into a nonprofit that has one of the largest celebrations in Bisbee throughout the year, and what’s become now the last standing Pride celebration in southern Arizona.

LAUREN GILGER: Right. So, we’ve seen, as I mentioned, other Pride organizations across the state, really across the country struggle, some dissolve entirely, some are scaling back. Why do you think that has not happened for Bisbee Pride?

RAMON GARCIA: I really think it’s based on our philosophy. I think that a lot of organizations and and pride celebrations across the country relied heavily on corporate sponsorship. In Bisbee, we rely heavily on community sponsorship and support. We don’t have corporate backing. We — our business communities, our neighbors, our friends throughout the year pitch in and and that’s how we really have an event.

Additionally, unlike a lot of other Pride celebrations where they are gated events where you have to pay a fee to get into a venue for a set amount of hours and and watch and kind of be closed off. In Bisbee, we’re an open, free event for the most part. We encourage people to come and go as they please. We encourage people to patronize our businesses, our restaurants, they stay in the hotels. They can come and go to their places where they’re staying throughout the day, get out of the heat. Though I think one of the attractions for Bisbee is that we tend to be about 10 degrees cooler than most places, so we have a lot of people.

LAUREN GILGER: [LAUGHS] We’ll take that.

RAMON GARCIA: Exactly.

LAUREN GILGER: Right. So, I mean, it sounds like you really emphasize the community part of this, Ramon, like you’re partnering with local businesses, the local government there, local churches even.

RAMON GARCIA: Absolutely. I mean, I think one of the things that that Bisbee Pride is, is aside from a celebration of the LGBTQ community, it’s really a celebration of Bisbee. And we have pride in Bisbee. But, yes, we have, you know, wide community support. We partner with churches, with religious organizations, with civic organizations. You know, the city has always been very good about working with us in open spaces and during our parade to be able to accomplish things. So, you know, Bisbee’s — I think, its endurance has been because of its uniqueness and the way we do things.

LAUREN GILGER: Yeah. Do you think some maybe bigger Pride organizations, events have have lost their sense of purpose as, you know, that it’s like ticketed and gated off and, you know, they’re dealing with these major corporate sponsorships and the losses of those?

RAMON GARCIA: I think that, you know, ultimately, the the main goal is still there. But, yes, I think the influence and the reliance on, on corporate dollars has really taken away from, you know, what Pride was was meant to be, which was a celebration of community.

LAUREN GILGER: Yeah. You’re from Bisbee, right?

RAMON GARCIA: I am. I’m native. I grew up here, went to school here. Spent time away, went to college at the UA, worked throughout different parts of the country, but ultimately chose to come back.

LAUREN GILGER: Yeah. So, as you’ve been leading this organization for quite a while now, I mean, have you seen that this event grow? I mean, it sounds like not just folks from Bisbee are coming to this anymore.

RAMON GARCIA: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You know, we — Bisbee Pride was started 22 years ago because there was kind of a lull in tourism during this time of year. And they was trying to figure out what what could help, what could encourage people to come to Bisbee. This group of friends in the gay community decided, "Well, let’s let’s try to do a Pride celebration." Which initially, you know, was meant to be a local celebration —

LAUREN GILGER: Sure. But it’s gotten a lot bigger than that, it sounds like.

RAMON GARCIA: It’s gotten a lot bigger. I will tell you, last year our approximation was about 5,000 people. And our estimates this year were closer to [7,000]. And I really think that the changes and the losses of celebrations in neighboring communities have really added to our visitors. We sell out. It’s one of the largest celebrations in Bisbee throughout the year, you know, and it’s a multiday celebration.

LAUREN GILGER: Yeah. Last 30 seconds for you, Ramon. Any favorite moments from this year’s celebrations, favorite events?

RAMON GARCIA: I think the parade. The parade is always a highlight. We have great response. We had the attorney general, the secretary of state, Congresswoman Grijalva were here. But it was also a larger parade than we’ve seen in a long time.

LAUREN GILGER: Yeah. All right. Well, thank you very much for coming on the show. Bisbee Pride President and CEO Ramon Garcia joining us. Ramon, thanks very much. Appreciate it.

RAMON GARCIA: Thank you.