San Diego Pride Organizational Updates

By Joslyn Hatfield

San Diego Pride is excited to share several important updates with our community! We are thrilled to welcome four new or returning members to our Board of Directors: Melody Corvalan, Jordan Daniels, Joshua Dunn, Martha Henderson and Paris Quion. These individuals bring deep passion, experience, and dedication to advancing Pride’s mission of fostering pride, equality, and respect for all LGBTQIA+ communities.

Melody Corvalan (She/Her)

A San Diego native and proud granddaughter of Mexican migrant field workers, Melody was the first in her family to attend college. She was accepted to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where she majored in International Studies. In her twenties, she lived in Argentina, where she picked up a lasting souvenir—her now 15-year-old son, Diego.

Melody is the daughter of a retired mariachi musician, and her son has proudly continued the family tradition as a fifth-generation trumpet player. Melody, however, claims no musical talent of her own and instead discovered a passion for event planning. With over 20 years of experience planning weddings and events, she returned to San Diego in 2016 to lead the Weddings & Events department at the Hotel del Coronado. Today, she serves as Director of Sales & Events at Belmont Park—San Diego’s historic and iconic beachfront attraction that she fondly remembers visiting as a child.

Melody came out in her 30s, a life event that inspired her to get involved in nonprofit work benefiting the LGBTQ+ community. Her contributions include work with the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the San Diego chapter of the Human Rights Campaign, and the San Diego LGBT Community Center. She and her partner Roman—a transman, advocate, and housing specialist—co-parent two beloved dogs: Mika, a black standard poodle, and Oso, a black poodle mix.

Jordan Daniels (He/They)

Jordan is a Queer Black and Jewish creative who has supported and served San Diego county’s LGBTQ+ community for over a decade. From attending programs and volunteering at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, to helping lead the GSA at MiraCosta College as it built the “Queer Corner” in the Student Union, raised money for its endowed scholarship program, and produced the school’s first-ever drag show, Jordan has been deeply committed to the community. 

Jordan obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at CSU Long Beach, where his lens of social justice and equity evolved through his storytelling, community service, and social media activism. Upon graduation, Jordan began working within San Diego’s Jewish community, and volunteering in the Black Queer and Trans community.

Today, Jordan lives in Hillcrest, serving Jews of Color and LGBTQ+ Jews around the country, and continues supporting San Diego’s Black Queer and Trans community as President of San Diego Black Pride. He remains dedicated to serving the community through in-person programs as well as through social media education and conversations at @johodaniels. He also is the co-host of the award-winning iHeartMedia’s show BFF: Black Fat Femme Podcast, which facilitates incredible dialogue with some of the country’s most vibrant Black Queer and Trans changemakers, media figures, and community members.

Joshua Dunn (he/him)

Joshua Dunn, a native of San Diego, is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities and promoting equity as a fundamental social principle. From a young age, Joshua has been involved in community outreach through local ministries and various volunteer organizations serving both San Diego residents and individuals from around the world. Before joining the San Diego Pride Board, he pursued a passionate career in the arts, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase and receiving the National Young Arts Honorable Mention. Post Covid Joshua made a career shift back to civic engagement. Joshua began his work at Options for All where he worked with individuals who have intellectual and physical disabilities as a direct support professional. From there, he began working with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency as a Human Services Specialist. Joshua currently serves as a Community Representative for Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. Joshua’s passions include increasing the social awareness around the importance and positive outcomes of diversity, uplifting marginalized voices, and ensuring justice works for all.

Martha Henderson (she/her)

Martha (she/her)  has dedicated over 20 years to the event industry in Southern California, bringing expertise, innovation, and a commitment to quality to every project. As an openly queer woman in the field, she has not only made a mark through her technical proficiency but has also championed inclusivity and representation in an industry where diversity is vital. With a passion for problem-solving and a deep understanding of the event eco-system, she continues to push boundaries and inspire others through her work and advocacy. Martha is excited to bring her passion for safe inclusive spaces back to San Diego Pride.

Paris Quion (she/her)

Paris Quion is a Southern California based drag entertainer, business woman, activist and advocate for the LGBTQ community. Born and raised in San Diego California, Paris is always proud to boast about the impact the Hillcrest community has had in her upbringing and their important role in who she is today. Her parents used San Diego’s LGBT Center Services during her coming out as well as throughout her transition which inspired her to help further their outreach now as an adult. She’s known most for being a career fundraiser, volunteer and for devoting her life, skills and resources to the betterment of the queer community with a focus on our youth and our most vulnerable community members. Off stage she is a regular fixture in government spaces, corporate businesses, and school campuses training in LGBTQ rights and gender sensitivity. She also shares her journey as a trans person in hopes of a gentler world for community and putting a face to the possibilities of what can happen when our community is given the opportunity to thrive.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Andrew Picard and Lori Hensic for their years of leadership and service. We wish them well on their future endeavors. Their vision and commitment have strengthened Pride’s work and impact, and we are grateful for all they have contributed to our community.