Indy Pride

Indy Pride is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a community-based, non-profit organization that seeks "to unite and serve its members and the LGBTQ community of Central Indiana through leadership development, educational and support programs, and community events that achieve inclusivity, equality, strong community connections, and awareness of LGBTQ issues."[5] The organization started in 1995 as the coordinator of the city's annual gay pride parade and event—Indy Pride Festival—but later grew into an umbrella for multiple LGBT community entities, including the Chris Gonzalez Library and Archives, Indy Bag Ladies, and Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival.[6]

Indy Pride, Inc.
PredecessorJustice, Inc.[1]
Established1995 (1995)[1]
TypeNonprofit
Registration no.35-1951286
Legal status501(c)(3) organization
PurposeLGBTQ+ support
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Region served
Central Indiana[2]
Membership (2018)
638[3]
Executive Director
Shelly Snider[4]
Revenue (2018)
$695,225[3]
Expenses (2018)$636,771[3]
Staff (2022)
2[2]
Volunteers (2018)
400+[3]
Websiteindypride.org

History
Side One of the Indiana Historical Marker (Installed 2022) commemorating the origins of Pride. Located on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
Side Two of the Indiana Historical Marker (Installed 2022) commemorating the origins of Pride. Located on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.

Before the creation of Indy Pride, Justice, Inc. held the first LGBTQ event held in a public space in June 1988.[1] In 1990, they held Celebration on the Circle at Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis), the largest Indianapolis LGBTQ event at that time. Indy Pride started in 1995 as an independent organization and coordinator of the Indy Pride Festival, and later received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 1997.[7] They began negotiations in 1999 with Justice, Inc. to combine Pride events, with the two non-profits eventually merging in the mid-2000s.[1]

In 1996, the organization began an annual scholarship program and the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Between 2001 and 2003, the Indy Pride, Inc. event was moved to Massachusetts Ave as a Street Fayre. However, in 2003, under the leadership of Gary Brackett, the Street Fayre was replaced with a festival at University Park. Additionally, the Cadillac Barbie Pride Parade began in 2002, then named in honor of Gary Brackett's drag persona, a member of the Indy Bag Ladies. They eventually renamed the event the Indy Pride Parade in 2020.[1][7] In 2005, the Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard was created, which in 2011 became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit.[8] In 2010, Indy Pride moved the event from University Park to War Memorial Plaza, renaming the festival the Circle City IN Pride in 2012.

Chris Handberg served as the first Executive Director of Indy Pride from 2017–2021.[9][10] Shelly Snider was appointed Executive Director in 2022, becoming the first female executive director of Indy Pride.[4]

Events
Indy Pride Parade in 2009

The all-volunteer organization puts on several yearly events, including Indy Pride Festival, Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival, Laugh OUT Loud, Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Hoosier 250 Tricycle Race, and Circle City Volleyball Tournament.[11][12]

Community support

The organization produces events and fundraisers, including through the Indy Pride Bag Ladies, which enables them to make significant monetary contributions to the Indiana LGBT Community.[13]

Grants

Indy Pride grants funds to many local non-profit organizations, including Gregory Powers Direct Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, Indiana Youth Group (IYG), Step-Up Inc., The Damien Center, and others.[14]

Indy Pride Scholarship Program

The Indy Pride Scholarship Program was established as a way for Indy Pride to reward future and current students attending an accredited Indiana-based university or college who are making significant contributions to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Straight Ally (LGBTQS) community through their academic pursuits. The scholarship also provides for those who identify as members of the LGBTQS community who have demonstrated a lack of support to attend an institute of higher education. The annual program began in the mid-late 1990s and continues today, with $16,000 awarded in 2018.[15][16][17]

Board of directors

The organization enlists an entire volunteer Board of Directors, including an Executive Board composed of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board also consists of 5-17 additional board members.[18]

Board Presidents have included Jim Lasher (Chairman, 1994-1995), Linda Batchelor-Ballew (1995-2000), Ivan Howard (2000-2003), Gary Brackett (2003-2007), Scott VanKirk (2007-2011), Nicholas Murphy (2011-2014), Chris Morehead (2014-2015), Jason Nolen-Doerr (2015-2022), Jenny Boyts (2022 - Present). Boyts is the first female board president, and she introduced Girl Pride as an Indy Pride event in 2022.[19]

See also

References
  1. Opsahl, Sam (July 2021). "Indy Pride". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  2. "About". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. "2018 Indy Pride Annual Report" (PDF). Indy Pride, Inc. pp. 20, 22, 24. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. Harris, Shakkira (January 11, 2022). "Indy Pride names new executive director". WRTV. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  5. "Mission". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  6. "History of Pride". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  7. "History of Pride". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  8. "Details about Pride of Indy Bands Inc". Internal Revenue Service. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. "Indy Pride Sees Change and Opportunity in Organizational Leadership". Indy Pride, Inc. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  10. Twigg, Tara. "Indy Pride Appoints First Executive Director". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  11. "About". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  12. "Indy Pride Hoosier 250 is back and it was fabulous!". www.indystar.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  13. Zeigler, Connie (2017-10-17). "Backtrack: Drags to Riches". Indianapolis Monthly. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  14. Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "INDY PRIDE INC - Form Form 990 for period ending Dec 2016 - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-06-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. "History of Pride". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  16. Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Indy Pride Inc, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-06-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. "ANNUAL REPORT 2018" (PDF). Indy Pride. 2018.
  18. "Indy Pride, Inc". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  19. "Indy Pride celebrates the women of the LGBTQ+ community with Girl Pride". WRTV. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
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