Welcome to San Francisco Pride, where every identity, gender, kink and kind are celebrated! Hundreds of thousands of visitors from outside the Bay Area will attend San Francisco Pride this year. The 45th annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade takes place June 27 and 28. With over 240 parade contingents, 350 exhibitors, and 20 community-run stages and venues, the two-day SF PC&P is the largest free gathering of LGBTQ people and allies in the nation.
For a fun, quick history lesson, check the last two paragraphs of this article.
Celebration Location & Times
On June 27 and 28, the Civic Center is the location for the Celebration and all the booths and stages. On Saturday, the hours are noon to 6 pm. On Sunday, the hours are 11am to 6pm, when you may be asked to make a donation of $10 at the entry gates in support of more than 60 local nonprofit community partners.
With over 350 exhibitors and nonprofit booths at the event, San Francisco Pride offers a wide variety of artists, local and national businesses, nonprofits, artisans, food and beverages. SF Pride makes a special effort to make exhibitor booths affordable to local nonprofits that often use their space to educate, raise much-needed funds and connect with the community. There’s something at Pride for everyone!
Stay Hydrated! Stay Standing! Stay Proud!
Throughout the site you’ll find booths selling water, soda, juice and other nonalcoholic beverages. If you choose to purchase alcohol at the event, please drink responsibly and remember to stay hydrated. Civic Center Plaza and UN Plaza are designated as official smoke-free spaces.
Parade Route & Times
The Pride Parade is along Market Street with kickoff at 10:30 am, starting at Beale Street and ending at 8th Street. This year’s theme is “Equality Without Exception!” The social mission is “to educate the world, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people.” We have the obligation to vote and be vigilant.
Facilities & Accessibility
Free child-care facilities and a range of services for people with disabilities are available. With special parade-viewing areas and sign language interpretation at all performance stages, the aim is to make the event accessible to everyone. For details about accessibility, log on to the website: sfpride.org/access
Recycling and Composting
In an effort to be environmentally responsible as people continue to pioneer green event practices, San Francisco Pride provides disposal areas for recycling, composting, and trash. All cups, plates, and utensils used at the event are 100% compostable and are made from natural derivatives; please toss these into the compost bins.
Parade Grandstand Tickets and VIP Party
Grandstand seating is available for the Parade, and SF Pride will host its annual VIP Party at City Hall on Sunday from 2-5pm. Tickets and info for both are available at sfpride.org
Safety & Wellness
The Parade’s volunteer Safety Monitors work hard to provide a safer Pride Celebration and Parade. Please make sure that your valuables and effects are secure by not leaving bags or personal items unattended. Report suspicious activity or unattended packages to the nearest member of the Safety Team or at the nearest Information Booth. You are also encouraged to protect yourself and your sexual partners by employing safer sex practices during the weekend and always. Together we can help stop the virus.
Getting to Pride
SF Pride is one of the largest outdoor events in the nation in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Please do not try to park your car anywhere near the Parade and Celebration site during Parade weekend. San Francisco has an excellent (usually) transportation system! Both the BART and Muni transit systems serve Civic Center station near both the Celebration and Parade, making access to the event easy. Bicycle parking is available. Check out the comprehensive transportation guide at sfpride.org
Entertainers & Special Guests
Main Stage, Sunday: MC: Liam Mayclem. Shiny Toy Guns, Big Freedia, Steve Grand, Kat Robichaud, Siya, Lady Bunny, Mike Munich, Mystic Bill and Noel Leon, ESG, Krystle Warren, Cheer SF, Well-Strung, Glide Ensemble & Change Band, The Glamz, Morning Gloryville, Sexitude, and Bay Area Ameri-can Indians Two-Spirits.
Community Stages, Sunday: The Club Papi Latin Stage will feature headline act Los Horóscopos de Durango. The Soul of Pride Stage will feature performances by D. Woods and Julian Walker, as well as a performance by Big Freedia.
Main Stage, Saturday: MC: Carnie Asada. The Ladies of AsiaSF, Moon-lighting SF, The Monster Show, Go BANG!, Switch SF, and Lord Price.
A complete list of activities, entertainment, and event information can be found at sfpride.org
Speakers
Annually, SF Pride features speakers on topics relevant to the LGBTQ community. The 2015 series begins at 12:50pm on the Main Stage and will feature the following speakers and topics: Matthew Vines – Religious Exemptions and Public Policy; Alicia Garza – The #BlackLivesMatter Movement; Kate Kendell – Marriage Equality.
Celebrity Grand Marshals
Rick Welts, President and Chief Operating Officer of the 2015 NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. In 2011, Welts became the highest-ranking executive in men’s professional team sports to publicly acknowledge he is gay; Jim Obergefell is the named plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that is central to bringing marriage equality to all 50 states. Anthony Wayne stars in Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical celebrating the life of Sylvester as the first “Queen of Disco.” Wayne will be performing on the SF Pride Theme Float, as well as at the Official SF Pride VIP Party at City Hall.
Community Grand Marshals, Awardees, Pink Brick
Judy Dlugacz, Olivia Co-founder; Alicia Garza, #BlackLivesMatter Co-founder; Brian Basinger, AIDS Housing Alliance/SF; Belo Cipriani, award-winning author and disabilities advocate.
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal – Felicia Elizondo, Screaming Queen, pioneer, legend, icon, diva
Organizational Grand Marshal – Transgender Law Center
The Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award – Patrick Carney, Pink Triangle Organizer and Co-founder
The José Julio Sarria History Maker Award – Julia and Sam Thoron, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
The Audrey Joseph Entertainment Award – Audrey Joseph, SF Entertainment Commissioner, activist, record executive
The Teddy Witherington Award – Tita Aida, Transgender, Asian Pacific Islander, LGBTQI community leader
Heritage of Pride, 10 Years of Service Award – Tom Taylor and Jerome “Jerry” Goldstein, community advocates and fundraisers
Heritage of Pride, Pride Freedom Award – Mary Midgett, community leader, author
Heritage of Pride, Pride Creativity Award – Monica Helms, creator of the Transgender Pride Flag
Heritage of Pride, Pride Community Award – Harry Lit, community organizer and fundraiser
Pink Brick – American Family Association, U.S. nonprofit organization championing Christian activism. A symbol of the first brick hurled at the Stonewall Riots in 1969, the Pink Brick is an opportunity to highlight an individual or organization that has done harm to the LGBTQ community. It is also an opportunity to educate the community and the Pink Brick recipient about relevant issues. The Pink Brick recipient is chosen by public vote.
And Now For A Little History Lesson
Every year I read an editorial asking for the “freaks and drag queens” to please step aside and not ruin it for LGBTQ rights. And I need to remind those naysayers that it was drag queens and transgenders, way back at the end of June 1969 in New York City, hanging out at their local gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, who decided they would no longer put up with daily police harassment and arrests that were part of “normal” homosexual life for these people. At that time it was illegal to be gay, so there was no openly gay pride, no openly gay politics, and most certainly no gay parade.
On that particular night, the Stonewall patrons initiated local action that was to eventually lead to national gay liberation. They fought back. For several days and nights the Stonewall Rebellion raged on, and the so-called sissies beat the men-in-blue in a rather violent uprising (and I don’t mean just with purses). So you see, it was a very abnormal group of “freaky people wearing funny clothes” back then who made it possible for us today to cocktail and cruise undisturbed in the queer bar of our choice. And walk down Market Street holding hands. And for that matter, those nelly fellas paved the way for every one of our civil rights marches. So when you see a drag queen or “freaky person,” give ‘em the thumbs-up and thank ‘em for the legacy that continues. Flame ON, freaky people!!!
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