There were amazing vibes throughout Pride weekend in San Francisco this year. The amount of support and attendance for all of the events that occurred starting with the 11th annual Trans March June 27, and ending with The San Francisco Pride Festival, was inspirational.
The Trans March began with a youth and elder brunch at noon in Dolores Park. Trans and queer youth and elders bonded and conversed over food, games and activities. Folks chatted, danced and enjoyed live music, powerful speakers and performances. The march promptly started at 6 p.m. to the historic location of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot at Turk and Taylor, where the City of San Francisco unveiled a new street sign named for late transgender icon Vicki Marlane.
Marlane was a pioneering transgender performer and a fixture in the Tenderloin performance scene. She was a role model for decades to transgender women and drag performers. After she died in 2011, members of the community petitioned to name a street after her. Marlane will be the first transgender person and the fourth LGBT person to have a street named after her in San Francisco.
A trolley was made available to those with mobility issues and elders so that they could participate and have visibility in the march. “The mission of the San Francisco Trans March is to inspire all trans and gender nonconforming people to realize a world where we are safe, loved, and empowered.” For more information, visit www.transmarch.org
The Dyke March on the following day was even bigger as thousands of people convened again at Dolores Park. This year’s theme was “My body, my business, my power.” The politics that surround women’s bodies, as if that’s all we are, is ridiculous. Why do so many people want to control what we do with our own bodies? A quote from their Web site states, “What we do with our bodies has always been at the heart of the struggle for women’s rights, for dyke rights, for transgender rights and the human right to live in the radical body you are born with.” We couldn’t agree more. For more information, visit www.thedykemarch.org.
The San Francisco Pride Celebration was free of charge and open to the public. The two-day celebration took place in Civic Center Plaza in downtown San Francisco from June 28-29. Attendees were encouraged to donate $5 at the gate but no one was turned away for lack of funds. It truly felt like a community event where everyone was welcomed. With 300 exhibitors, and more than 20 community-run stages, the San Francisco Pride Celebration is, possibly, the largest gathering of LGBT people and allies in the nation. No one was confined to a beer garden; you could walk around freely with your drink. Those that weren’t of drinking age were having a blast watching stage performers and just hanging out with friends. It felt very open and we were glad to see youngsters celebrating freely.
The San Francisco Pride Parade took place Sunday morning. It kicked off from Beale Street along Market and ends at Market and 8th Street, near Civic Center Plaza. We rushed out of our hotel two blocks away from Civic Center and forgot to put sunblock on. With over 200 parade contingents, the parade lasted for four hours and we walked away with sunburns. We were so excited to see Janet Mock, Jewlyes Gutierrez, and Lea DeLaria (Boo) from Orange is the New Black. This year marks the 44th anniversary of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade. For more information, visit http://sfpride.org/
We spent four nights partying with the ladies of Eden. Starting with the Kick Off Party at the Supper Club June 26, which was hosted by Brittany Duet. We loved the music played by DJs Lady Ryan and Fusion. The “All White Everything” was held at the Factory the next day. There were several rooms playing various types of music throughout the venue. The VIP room upstairs gave a full view of the dance floor, on-stage performances and dancers. The official “5th Year Anniversary Party” was held on Saturday at the Mezzanine. Goapele performed live and signaled the $1,000 balloon drop. There was a complimentary champagne toast, VIP areas and a backstage area where we were able to see Goapele’s performance with a view of the crowd. The parties were packed with performers, celebrity guests, DJs and go-go’s including Lauren Bedford Russell (The Real L Word), Rose Garcia (The Real L Word), Jessica Clark (Lilith from True Blood), Ari Fitz (The Real L Word), Colette Carr, Aima the Dreamer and Oh Blimey; DJs Val G, Motive, Lezlee, Angie Vee and Dirty Rich Kidd; Eden go-go’s Unique, Babs, Carter, Blondie, Mayako and Amanda. We loved the diversity of the crowd, the music and the venues. Each party was unique and fun. Check them out at www.edeninthebay.com
If you haven’t celebrated Pride in San Francisco, it simply is a must. It’s an unforgettable experience.
This year’s San Francisco Pride was my first ever Pride. Trans March, Dyke March, Pink Saturday, the Parade, and Festival, I made it to at least part of all of those. It was amazing, I came back a changed woman! <3
That’s wonderful Anna! It’s a freeing experience in my opinion. I remember my first Pride in NY wondering, where do all these people hide during the week. Lol! 🙂