Here at the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List,” we often say that we’re “bi-Bay,” because we have an office in Oakland and attend many East Bay events. An annual can’t-miss favorite is Oakland Pride, which is big enough to have something to please nearly everyone, yet is still small enough to have a more family feel than some of the nation’s larger Pride events.
History
Before there was Oakland Pride there was East Bay Pride, which was celebrated in Oakland from 1997 to 2004. It was led by the efforts of former Oakland City Councilmember Danny Wan and the city’s LGBT Roundtable. In 2005 and 2006, the event evolved to become “Out In Oakland.”
In 2008, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan—who is now also an San Francisco Bay Times columnist—and others led efforts to re-organize an LGBT Roundtable in the city. Since then, members of the Roundtable and representatives from the LGBT community decided that it was time to resuscitate Oakland Pride for the long term, and advocate for our community’s rights and interests.
Revitalized Oakland Pride
Since the renewal of this effort, Oakland Pride has been busy networking with allies and partners. According to a statement issued by the organization, “Our goal is to create a vibrant and viable organization worthy of the LGBT community in the East Bay. Oakland Pride is set to celebrate our annual Pride festival on the second Sunday of September. As we continue to raise funds for the festival, the longer-term goal is to support our larger goal for the creation of an LGBT Community Center in Oakland for everyone.”
The organization further wants to be of assistance in providing a sustainable solution to implement or support needed services for challenges—especially in low-income, multi-cultural elder and young LGBT communities. To reach these and other goals, Oakland Pride is collaborating with a host of organizations that help our community and include Our Family Coalition, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, Pacific Center, East Bay AIDS Advocacy Foundation and many more.
FAQs
The music, in particular, is always incredible at Oakland Pride, and this year’s lineup promises to be one of the best ever. For more information about that, please turn the page! And please put Oakland Pride on your calendar, Sunday, September 13. The Parade starts at 10:30am at Broadway and 14th Street. The Festival runs from 11am to 7pm at Broadway and 20th Street. Exit from the 19th Street BART station and you’ll be nearly right at the entrance!
For more information, visit www.oaklandpride.org
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