By Joanie Juster—
Pride Month is here, with all its rainbow-tinged hoopla, celebrations, parties, and more. Rainbow flags once again fly proudly along Market Street (thanks to SF Pride for organizing, preparing, and hanging the flags!), inspiring locals and visitors alike. From films at Frameline to fabulous Pride Nights at the SF Giants, SF Opera, and the Golden State Valkyries, there is more going on than I can possibly list here. (Although for a look at what’s going on, check out my Bay Times colleagues Sister Dana and Donna Sachet; they keep their fingers on the pulse of what is going on.)
We are navigating dangerous times, when visibility counts more than ever. For every five communities that raise a rainbow flag to indicate that all are welcome, there’s one that tears them down. For every town whose library hosts a popular drag story hour in their public library, there are others that ban both the drag queens, and the books. For every legislative step forward toward full equality, there are dozens of bills attempting to, not just criminalize, but erase trans people from public life.
That is why all the hoopla, celebrations, parties, flags, and marches are so necessary. Every kid growing up in a town where they are not accepted for who they are needs to see hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their allies on the streets, cheering them on, and letting them know that they are not alone. They need to know that acceptance and love are possible for them—maybe not in their hometown, but somewhere. They need to see that there are people—lots and lots of people—who are fighting for them, and who have their back.
This is the time for every person of conscience and compassion to stand up, speak out, be visible. Basic human rights are on the line: the ability to be who you truly are, the right to love who you truly love, and to have access to economic opportunities and to affordable, quality healthcare. Oh, and the right to vote, and have your vote counted. Is this too much to ask? As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, we all deserve more than a circus on the lawn of the White House.
Coming Together as One: Trans Ally March
For the past six years, the People’s March and Rally has marched, danced, and sashayed down Polk Street in June as a grassroots alternative to big pride parades. Launched in 2020 by activists and community leaders Alex U. Inn and Juanita MORE!, People’s March was created to support LGBTQ+ people and people of color, especially as these vulnerable communities came under increased attacks from the current administration. Last year, SF Pride joined forces with the People’s March, emphasizing the importance of unity within these communities during such dangerous and challenging times.
This year, the tent is growing even larger. Instead of holding a separate People’s March two weeks prior to Pride Weekend, a coalition of local LGBTQ+ and resistance groups are joining forces to create a new event, the Trans Ally Rally, on Saturday, June 26. The coalition is bringing together some of San Francisco’s most iconic LGBTQ+ organizations: SF Pride, SF Dyke March, and the SF Dykes on Bikes®. But this time it is being joined by the local branch of Indivisible—the nationwide resistance group that has organized some of the largest protests in this country’s history.
People’s March co-founder Alex U. Inn explained why this coalition of organizations came together to create the Trans Ally Rally. “When they draw a line across the trans body, they are drawing a line through the heart of every person who claims to love freedom. If one of us isn’t safe to exist, none of us are. We will not be silent.”
The coalition of LGBTQ+ groups with a group that includes allies emphasizes the need for everyone to step up and fight on behalf of the trans and BIPOC communities, which are facing unprecedented legislative attacks across the country. Indivisible released a statement saying, “We stand up for those who are being harmed by bigoted and genocidal policies, and we will protect our loved ones. Join us in allyship and community to stand with trans folks under attack.”
The Trans Ally Rally will start at 10 am at the Embarcadero Plaza for a march from there directly to the People’s March stage in the Civic Center, where it will culminate in a rally, live music, and performances until 5 pm, all supported by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. People will be encouraged to also support the SF Dyke March Rally beginning at 3 pm at 18th and Dolores streets. The SF Dyke March will then begin at 5 pm. More info is at https://tinyurl.com/TransARally
Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede
In case you haven’t seen enough films at Frameline, we have one more to recommend.
For 27 years, LGBTQ+ people from all over the world gathered in San Francisco each fall for the Sundance Stompede, a joyful celebration of community and country-western dancing. I can attest to the “joyful” part personally, as I volunteered at Sundance Stompede for many years, and it was one of my favorite events of the year.
After a long and successful run, 800 people gathered in San Francisco in November 2023 for one final Stompede. Fortunately, a film crew captured this final weekend. Their film, Last Dance at Sundance Stompede, includes interviews with co-founder Ingu Yun and other participants, reflecting on the history of how Stompede grew from a small AIDS fundraiser in the early 1990s to an event where dance united queer people across the spectrum, and everyone could feel welcome and safe, and have a marvelous time.
Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede is streaming now through June 21. It is a wonderful addition to all the other Pride events. Click here for a streaming pass: https://tinyurl.com/Stompede25
B Safe 4 Pride
Pride Month brings many of us out into public spaces, and into the streets, for parties and events. Bars and restaurants will be full of people, both local and visiting from outside the Bay Area. With so much going on, it is easy to forget basic safety rules to ensure that you and your friends will enjoy Pride safely. The San Francisco Safety Coalition is launching “B Safe 4 Pride,” a campaign to remind us all of basic safety precautions. Their motto is, “Be Safe, Have Fun, Take Away Only Good Memories and Experiences.”
For additional information: https://www.castropatrol.org/
Love, Pride, and Soccer
June is not only Pride Month. For much of the world, the focus this month will be on the World Cup, the international association football (soccer) competition that is regarded as the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. In the Bay Area, anticipation for this prestigious sporting match is even higher, thanks to the fact that one of the games will be held at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, where Qatar will be playing Switzerland on June 13.
Dr. Nasser Mohamed, an openly gay Qatari activist who now lives in San Francisco, saw this as an opportunity to promote queer visibility and human rights. In his home country, same-sex sexual activity is prohibited and punishable by up to seven years in prison. Meanwhile, in the U.S., individual states, and the federal government itself, have been actively and increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ people, proposing and enacting laws and policies aimed at erasing them from public life, and making budget cuts that will cause real harm as funding for HIV prevention and care, trans care, and culturally appropriate LGBTQ+ health services disappears.
These repressive political systems exact a high personal cost of visibility. Dr. Nas is bringing together a coalition of artists, activists, and community leaders to create Love Is You, an event blending art and activism to call attention to the personal cost of living openly under systems that criminalize or suppress identity. Advertised as “part dance floor and part public demonstration,” Love Is You is meant to reclaim public joy and visibility, and spark conversations. The message they are sharing is clear: “No government, ideology, or system should be allowed to erase a person’s humanity. The broader message behind Love Is You is simple. The freedom to believe, to choose, and to love should not depend on where someone was born or whether living honestly puts them at risk.”
Love is You will take place on June 13 at The San Francisco Mint, from 4 pm–10 pm, and is for guests 21 and older. Admission will be free. In addition to music and dancing, there will be a food and beverage service and visual installations.
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
In Case You Missed It
Published on June 11, 2026
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