PRIDE SOMD INC
Cause Area
- Advocacy & Human Rights
- Arts & Culture
- Community
- LGBTQ+
Location
PO BOX 1332CALIFORNIA, MD 20619 United StatesWebsite:
https://www.pridesomd.com/
Organization Information
Mission Statement
Pride SOMD is a volunteer managed, non-partisan, tax-exempt, non-profit that provides a safe space for awareness, education, inclusivity, visibility, and amplifying voices of LGBTQIA+ individuals during an annual community event. Pride SOMD is committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Calvert, Charles, and Saint Mary’s Counties.
Description
It all began in 2017. A group of LGBTQIA+ youth that were part of Our Common Calvert in Calvert County, Maryland decided they wanted to host a Pride event for the community.
The very first Pride SoMD was held at the Solomon’s boardwalk pavilion and had about fifty attendees. They held a rally, did a march up the street and ended with a potluck picnic. The next year they held a similar event, but expanded into the Corbin Nature Pavilion and had about 150 attendees. In 2019, we saw an estimated 600 attendees. As word spreads about our small Pride event we are seeing continual growth and saw even more attendees at our 4th annual Pride event in 2021. In 2022 we expanded our Pride Festival and moved to Lexington Manor Passive Park which gave us much more space and allowed more vendors to participate in our event. Come join us and celebrate Pride during National Coming Out and LGBT History month in October, when the weather is cooler and more pleasant.
In 2024 we applied for and were approved as a 501c3 Non-Profit charitable organization. We formed a Board of Directors and officially became Pride SOMD Inc.
Pride SoMD is completely volunteer run and a free event for our community. Every donation we receive goes directly to the production of our events and paying our expenses and is now tax deductible! We are always looking for more volunteers to help us in a multitude of ways as well as financial sponsors to help keep the event going from year to year. Please consider becoming a volunteer or a sponsor or both!