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Chadwick Horn is the Executive Director of Richmond Pride, bringing extensive experience in national and local LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Having lived in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, he has developed a well-rounded perspective on community-based activism. His involvement in the successful fight against Proposition 8 in California and the push for marriage equality in both Hawai‘i and California underscores his dedication to LGBTQIA+ rights.

Chadwick’s academic journey began in Madison County’s public school system, where he graduated high school early to attend Stanford University. He earned degrees in both Evolutionary Biology and Computer Science while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Navy during the latter years of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. His combined military and academic experience paved the way for his success as an entrepreneur, leading multiple business ventures across the United States.

Throughout his career, Chadwick has remained deeply involved in nonprofit work. He contributed to the HIV Care Wellness Program at the Quan Yin Healing Arts Center and worked with the San Francisco Sexual Health Clinic, providing free testing and counseling to the community, particularly LGBTQIA+ individuals. As an early medical trial participant in Project T(enofovir), he played a role in the research that led to PrEP becoming a widely available HIV prevention method. Additionally, he has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofit drag organizations in California and Hawai‘i.

Since 2018, Chadwick has lived in Kentucky with his fiancé Tommy of 16 years, their two bulldogs, and a small farm of animals. They originally returned to Kentucky in order to care for his mother during her battle with terminal cancer and, after her passing, chose to stay and work toward making his hometown more inclusive. This commitment led to the co-founding of Richmond Pride in 2019, alongside Tommy and a slew of other community leaders.

Tommy Helmick serves as the Vice-Chairperson and Vendor Coordinator for Richmond Pride. As a full-time realtor in Central Kentucky, he is dedicated to ensuring fair and equal housing opportunities for the LGBTQIA+ community. Beyond his professional work, Tommy actively volunteers in home and park restoration projects, supports the Special Olympics, and participates in various community events through his real estate brokerage. When he’s not working, he enjoys gardening on his farm and spending time with family and pets.

Born into a military family, Tommy spent his early years in Germany before moving to Elizabethtown, Kentucky at age nine. After completing community college, he relocated to California, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from San Francisco State University. During this time, he worked with a gay travel company, organizing nationwide events to identify and promote safe travel destinations for the LGBTQ+ community. Through his work, he gained a deep understanding of both the achievements and ongoing challenges faced by the community.

In 2018, Tommy returned to Kentucky and collaborated with like-minded individuals and local businesses to organize Richmond’s first Pride event in 2019. His mission remains the same—to raise awareness and create safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can be their authentic selves.