Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Vallarta Pride's organizing committee has confirmed it has reached its goal of securing $100,000 pesos in sponsorship and participation fees for the city's first LGBT pride event, scheduled to take place May 24-26, 2013.

The sponsors include LGBT owned or focused businesses from all areas including hotels, real estate, night life, design, media, and the restaurant sector. Despite only 3 weeks into the planning of the event that was created to celebrate the LGBT community while acting as a catalyst to attract tourism to the city, local response has been strong and immediate.

Bill Hevener, event organizer and owner of BuenFlex Clothing Company, expressed his appreciation of the community's response to the new initiative. While the fledgling event has not yet attracted a major international sponsor, "the committee is confident the 3-day event planned to take place during the US Memorial Day weekend will be a huge hit amongst locals, nationals and foreigners," he stated.

Tim Wilson, owner of GayPV Magazine and news portal, confirmed media coverage of the event had for many years attracted the LGBT segment without official government support. The global financial crisis forced everyone to recognize that more attention needed to be paid to the LGBT segment, one known for its higher than average disposable income, according to the IGLTA global travel network.

The organizing committee is not resting despite having reached its fund raising target. Wilson confirms that the committee has set the objective of developing four annual events ranging from 3 to 5 days to attract the LGBT sector.

"We've been on the gay destination circuit for years. The recession affected all destinations; the good thing is that our community has come out wiser, stronger and determined to differentiate our offer from other destinations by reinforcing what makes us unique. Vallarta's multi influenced culture and lifestyle," Wilson explains.

The post-recession sentiment amongst the local gay community suggests Vallarta may be going through a west coast inspired cultural and social renaissance that has seen the formation of business alliances and social advocacy groups, along with LGBT arts and cultural programs, that are working together in an effort to enhance both the quality of life for locals and the overall experience for visitors.

For more information, please visit gaypv.mx.