Oakland Pride Now a Program of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center

New leadership appointments and date change aim to strengthen the future of Pride in Oakland.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:20am

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The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center and Oakland Pride have announced a significant organizational transition, with the Oakland Pride board of directors voting to formally dissolve as a standalone nonprofit and continue forward as a program of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. This transition reflects years of collaboration between the two organizations and responds to the growing need for a more stable infrastructure to support Oakland's largest downtown festival and one of Oakland's most visible and meaningful celebrations.

Why it matters

This move will allow Oakland Pride to have the financial and operational infrastructure it needs to thrive, as the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center will provide fiscal sponsorship, direct funding, lines of credit, and staff support. The transition also aligns with the original mission of Oakland Pride to be tied to the establishment of an LGBTQ community center in Oakland.

The details

The transition will bring new leadership appointments, including Manifair Hwang as Director of Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships, and Brandon Harami as Pride Director of Operations. Additionally, the Oakland Pride Parade and Festival 2026 will take place on Sunday, August 16, a new date aimed at avoiding potential conflicts with holidays like Labor Day and Mexican Independence Day.

  • The Oakland Pride board of directors voted to formally dissolve as a standalone nonprofit in 2026.
  • The Oakland Pride Parade and Festival 2026 will take place on Sunday, August 16.

The players

Oakland LGBTQ Community Center

A community center that has been in existence for almost a decade and will now oversee the Oakland Pride event as a program.

Oakland Pride

The organizer of Oakland's largest downtown festival and one of Oakland's most visible and meaningful LGBTQ celebrations.

George Smith III

Board President of Oakland Pride since 2023.

Joe Hawkins

CEO and Co-Founder of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center.

Manifair Hwang

A founding board member of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, serving as Board Treasurer during the first 5 years, and a longtime bartender in Oakland's bar scene. She is the new Director of Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships for Oakland Pride.

Brandon Harami

The new Pride Director of Operations, bringing deep civic experience and a lifelong connection to California's LGBTQ+ community. He previously served as the LGBTQ+ Liaison in the Oakland Mayor's Office, co-founded the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District, and authored Oakland's Pro-Choice Sanctuary City ordinance.

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What they’re saying

“This was not a sudden decision—it was an inevitable one. When I took over as president of the pride board, there were major issues that I had to handle including problems with the Department of Justice (DOJ), vendors who had not been paid for years, and poor financial recordkeeping. It was a mess. Although we were able to resolve those issues, years of improper use of credit cards badly damaged Oakland Pride's ability to access any lines of credit, making it difficult to produce Pride without relying on credit and other financial support from the Center. Bringing Pride fully under the center will allow it to finally have the financial and operational infrastructure it needs to thrive.”

— George Smith III, Board President of Oakland Pride since 2023 (sfbaytimes.com)

“Oakland Pride has always been about more than one day. As a Co-Founder of both Oakland Pride and the center, this is a full-circle moment. The original mission statement of Oakland Pride included language that tied the purpose of Oakland Pride to the establishment of an LGBTQ community center in Oakland.”

— Joe Hawkins, CEO and Co-Founder of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center (sfbaytimes.com)

“The Oakland Pride Parade and Festival has always been a uniting event for everyone to come together and celebrate Oakland's LGBTQ community and its rich diversity. I am honored to help steward the event towards sustainability and an exciting future.”

— Manifair Hwang, Director of Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships, Oakland Pride (sfbaytimes.com)

“Oakland is one of the most diverse, creative, and politically alive queer cities in the country. As someone who grew up queer in California, raised by two gay dads, and spent years working inside City Hall to expand protections and recognition for our community, this role feels deeply personal. Pride here should reflect Oakland: bold, inclusive, and rooted in care for one another.”

— Brandon Harami, Pride Director of Operations, Oakland Pride (sfbaytimes.com)

What’s next

The transition to the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center will allow Pride to have the financial and operational infrastructure it needs to thrive, with new leadership appointments and a date change for the 2026 event.

The takeaway

This transition marks a significant milestone for Oakland Pride, as it aligns the event with the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center's mission to support the community year-round through essential services and programming. The new leadership and date change aim to strengthen the future of Pride in Oakland and deepen its impact as a celebration and a vehicle for community care.