In the wake of Tucson Pride's collapse, the city's LGBTQ community is figuring out what comes next, and for at least one organizer, the answer starts with plants.

Tucson Pride, founded in 1977 and one of the oldest Pride organizations in the United States, announced its disbandment in January after canceling its annual festival and citing ongoing financial challenges. The board said any donations would be refunded within 30 to 90 days.

The news blindsided many in the local LGBTQIA+ community. In response to the announcement on Facebook, community members expressed confusion and frustration, with some calling Tucson Pride a "cultural anchor" and a "lifeline for people who don't have one anywhere else."

The shutdown left a significant void, prompting community members to gather at Bumsted's on March 23 to discuss what, if anything, should come next, with a handful of groups stepping up to take on a planning role, including Tucson Queerstory and the Sonoran Pride Alliance.

During the forum, facilitated by the Center for Community Mediation and Facilitation, about 60 community members voted 29 to 23 against hosting a 2026 Pride festival similar to past events, citing concerns about finances, time and organizational capacity, according to a report from the event.

Participants brainstormed more than 130 ideas for what Pride could look like going forward, ultimately reaching consensus on 19 priorities.

Three themes emerged from those discussions: a desire for smaller, grassroots events rooted in the local community rather than corporate sponsorship; a vision of Pride as a year-round presence rather than a single annual festival; and a call for transparent, accountable governance, including the possibility of forming a new nonprofit.

"There's broadly a desire to have an event that stems from the community and more of a way for people to meet each other, rather than a commercial event," said Kyle Snowden, who attended the meeting.

Despite voting against a traditional festival, participants were not ready to give up on Pride entirely. A dozen people stayed after the meeting to begin forming an organizing committee, and nearly 30 others signed up to help in some capacity.

At least two groups that were not present at the March 23 meeting have since announced plans to develop their own Pride festival, meaning Tucson could end up with multiple Pride-related events in 2026 rather than one unified effort. It is unclear whether permits have been filed for any of those events.

One idea that came out of the meeting is the Queer Earth Day Seed and Plant Swap Sunday at Reid Park, Ramada 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring plants, seeds, seedlings or cuttings to share, along with lawn chairs and coolers.

For Snowden, an avid gardener, the swap was a natural way to bring people together around something close to his heart.

"I'm a gardener and I have a bunch of seeds," Snowden said. "One tends to accrue seed packets, so I have 50 or more that are half-full."

Snowden will be bringing his haul, along with some seedlings to share. He said the group hopes the swap will be the first of many events.

"This first one is very grassroots. It's not ticketed, it's open to everyone and it's the right time of year," he said. "We just wanted to kickstart something and get the ball rolling from there."

The coalition will be meeting again to continue planning and is still looking to recruit new members.

"It's all very open. We want to hear from people who want to show up," Snowden said. "We're still seeing who is willing to be the planners. The events will be reflective of that broader community spirit."

People interested in getting involved can fill out this Google form and leave a comment about their desired participation.

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.