Tucson Pride, one of the oldest Pride organizations in the United States, announced Wednesday it is shutting down after nearly five decades, leaving members of the local LGBTQIA+ community shocked and searching for answers following the cancellation of its annual festival.

The group announced its official disbandment in a statement posted to its Facebook page and website. The organization was founded in 1977.

A representative of Tucson Pride did not immediately respond to Tucson Spotlight's request for comment.

News of the group’s shutdown comes after the cancellation of its annual Pride Festival in November, which was originally meant to be postponed until February.

“After thoughtful discussion and careful consideration, the Tucson Pride Board of Directors regrets to announce the cancellation of the Tucson Pride Festival scheduled for February 21, 2026,” according to the statement. “Additionally, the newly appointed Board has made the difficult decision to close Tucson Pride as an organization.”

The statement said any donations or financial contributions would be refunded within 30 to 90 days.

People responding to the Facebook post expressed mostly confusion and anger.

Commenter Shawn Cullen wrote that, as someone deeply involved in Tucson’s LGBTQ community, the news was extremely disappointing.

“Canceling a festival is painful. But closing Tucson Pride as an organization entirely is something else,” Cullen wrote. “Tucson Pride has been a cultural anchor since 1977. It’s not just an event — it’s visibility, advocacy, joy, resilience and a lifeline for people who don’t have one anywhere else.”

While the group did not provide an explanation for the board’s decision, some commenters assumed it was due to financial issues or fears related to the Trump administration.

Turquesa Cimino wrote that the statement seemed to hint at money troubles.

“This reads a lot like fraud/embezzlement has been uncovered and Tucson Pride cannot see a way out of a situation without bringing on big shadows of doubt on the community as a whole. What a shame, because in a time that the community needs support, someone so greedily caused it to disband,” Cimino wrote.

According to Tucson Pride’s Instagram page, the group hosted the third-oldest Pride festival in the United States.

Tucson Pride has previously spoken about financial issues, including a 2024 announcement regarding the loss of its nonprofit status and accumulated debt.

After deciding to postpone the annual November Pride Festival, the group said in an earlier statement that the delay was not a setback, but an investment in Pride’s future.

Emma LaPointe is a journalism, political science and German Studies major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at emma.m.lapointe@gmail.com.

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