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    Music, Rainbow Torch Ceremony, and More at the Bay Times 2024 Pride Party

    Shake It! Booty Band

    As part of the Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF monthly event series, the San Francisco Bay Times held its annual Pride Party at The Academy on the night of Thursday, June 27, 2024. The emcee was columnist and drag legend Donna Sachet, with beats by DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia Travel, who headed up the After Party.

    The event was sponsored by Olivia Travel, Bacardí, Extreme Pizza, SF Federal Credit Union, and The Academy SF.

    During the evening, the Rainbow Torch was presented by San Francisco Dykes on Bikes Women’s Motorcycle Contingent led by President Kate Brown to SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and Board President Nguyen Pham. The moment, which you can watch here, symbolically launched Pride Weekend 2024 in San Francisco. The torch will be used at the grand ceremony launching the laser display on Market Street—created by the organization Illuminate—that will last through Pride Weekend. The laser lights form the largest Pride Flag in the world that can be seen from not only in San Francisco but also from many other parts of the Bay Area. Illuminate is also the creator of Bay Lights (on the Bay Bridge) the Golden Mile in Golden Gate Park, and more.

    Following the torch presentation, former Beach Blanket Babylon star and powerhouse singer Renée Lubin Holmes accompanied by acclaimed keyboardist Dr. Dee Spencer performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “We Are Family.”

    The all-women supergroup Shake It! Booty Band, rated the top cover band by the East Bay Express, then took the stage for a full concert, which they closed out with Sylvester’s disco classic “(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real.” Bay Times Co-Publisher and “Betty’s List” founder Dr. Betty Sullivan can be seen in this clip among the many enjoying the band.

    The next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF will be on July 26, 2024. We hope you can come. Stay tuned for details!