Pride by the Beach has come a long way in 18 years and this year, we’re showing up bigger, bolder, and braver than ever
By Roxanne Deatherage
It all started with a dream. Max Disposti and John John launched the very first Pride by the Beach with little more than a vision and a whole lot of heart. They made something out of nothing: bringing visibility, joy, and community to Oceanside when it was needed most. After Max and John John lit the spark, Tina Light-Rose and Shanon Rose kept it alive, each putting their own stamp on Pride. Then came Lisa Nava, my mentor, my friend, and the powerhouse who helped Pride by the Beach grow into what it is today. Thanks to Lisa’s leadership, what once was a small grassroots gathering has turned into an event that welcomes over 20,000 people every year.
I first joined Pride by the Beach as a volunteer back in 2019, doing everything from hauling tables to helping run booths. After three years of loving the work and the people, I stepped into the role of Pride Director in 2022 and it’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to carry this incredible tradition forward.
In 2019, we welcomed about 8,000 people. When the world shut down in 2020 and 2021, we didn’t let Pride disappear. We hosted full virtual Prides to make sure our community stayed connected even when we were physically apart. Then, when we were finally able to gather again in 2022, more than 20,000 people flooded downtown Oceanside to celebrate resilience, survival, and love. That was the moment we knew: Pride by the Beach was no longer just a local event. It had become a movement.
What to Expect in 2025
This year, Pride by the Beach is back on Saturday June 7 from 12 PM to 6 PM, taking over downtown Oceanside with even more love and even more space. We’re adding and stretching the festival by an extra block to make room for all the new memories about to be made.
You’ll find the heart of Pride in all of our incredible zones:
● The Youth Zone, a vibrant space where LGBTQIA+ youth can connect, create, and be themselves.
● Transtopia, a zone built by and for our trans and nonbinary community to gather, find resources, and celebrate identity.
● Queerosity, a place for people to ask questions without judgment.
● And brand new this year, The Advocacy Zone, a place where attendees can plug into the work of protecting our rights, connecting with resources, and making their voices heard in a world that needs us louder than ever.
This year’s theme is personal.
Our 2025 theme is B.R.A.V.E.: Bold, Resilient, Authentic, Voice, Equality. Each word carries the spirit of what Pride by the Beach is all about and what our community has always stood for.
● Bold: Pride belongs to those who dare to live openly and love fiercely, no matter the cost.
● Resilient: We are a community that refuses to back down. We survive. We rebuild. We keep dancing.
● Authentic: Pride by the Beach is a place where you don’t have to fit anyone else’s mold. Your truest self is your strongest self here.
● Voice: Every story matters. Every voice deserves to be heard. Pride isn’t silent—it’s a joyful, roaring celebration of existence.
● Equality: At the core of everything we do is the fight for real, lasting equality—for every letter in LGBTQIA+, for every person, every family, every future.
This theme isn’t just a banner we hang up, it’s the mission behind every booth, every performance, every hug at Pride by the Beach. In a world that often asks us to shrink ourselves, we are choosing to be B.R.A.V.E. together.
Pride is More Than a Day, It’s a Year-Round Movement.
Pride by the Beach is also a celebration of everything the North County LGBTQ Resource Center stands for and everything we offer to the community all year long.
The Center isn’t just a building; it’s a lifeline. We offer programs that support, affirm, and empower LGBTQIA+ people across every age, identity, and background, including:
● Free Mental Health Services for youth, adults, and families
● The Unicorn Homes Program provides safe transitional housing for LGBTQIA+ youth
● Housing Support Services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness
● Support Groups for trans and nonbinary individuals, parents, seniors, and youth
● Youth Programs, including leadership development, mentorship, social events, and a after-school program
● Health Navigation Services connecting people to affirming healthcare
● Advocacy and Outreach fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights at the local, state, and national levels
● Crisis Support Services for individuals facing discrimination, violence, or family rejection
● Community Education and Trainings making North County a safer, more inclusive place for all
● Food distribution for everyone.
When people come to Pride by the Beach, they’re not just coming for a festival. They’re stepping into a living, breathing community that exists 365 days a year because of the work the North County LGBTQ Resource Center does. Pride is where all that love, fight, and hope come alive in the streets for everyone to see.
At a time when LGBTQIA+ rights and existence are being challenged across the country, Pride by the Beach stands as a powerful reminder that visibility matters. Joy matters. Community matters. For 18 years, we’ve shown up for each other and in 2025, we’re just getting started.