 |
| San Francisco Pride Parade Marchers Welcome You! PHOTO BY RINK |
By Sister Dana Van Iquity of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Welcome to the 42nd annual San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade. Hundreds of thousands of visitors from outside the Bay Area will attend SF Pride this year. If that includes you, then make a trip to the on-site Information Booths for a copy of the Pocket Pride or Pride Guide with the most current event map, information about the Parade, and the 411 on the more than 20 community-run stages and venues throughout the Pride Celebration area.
With close to 500 exhibitors and nonprofit booths at the event, SF Pride offers a wide variety of artists, local and national businesses, nonprofits, food, and beverages. SF Pride makes a special effort to have 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!
You can enjoy beverage discounts all day at Pride by making a minimum donation at the event entrance gates. The donations benefit a myriad of nonprofit charities. In return for your generous support, you will get a sticker that earns you discounts on beverages at SF Pride designated beverage booths – all day long! If you choose to enjoy alcohol at the event, please drink responsibly and remember to stay hydrated. “Pride don’t gotta be a DRAG,” say The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Drink water frequently. Have brunch and snack all day long. Sit down B4U fall over. Co-factors of drugs and sex can interfere with your personal behavior, communication skills and friendships in all types of sordid ways. Carry a safety whistle and blow like hell if you see trouble. Report suspicious activity or unattended packages to the nearest member of the Safety Team or at the nearest Information Booth. Keep yer cell in yer pocket. Make it a safe and sane Pride.
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 at sfpride.org.
Recycling and Composting
In an effort to be environmentally responsible as people continue to pioneer green event practices, San Francisco Pride provides four disposal areas for garbage, recycling and compost. Marked signs will be posted. Almost all of the beverage cups used at this event are 100% compostable and are made from natural derivatives.
Parade Grandstand Tickets and Accessibility Info
The Grandstands are the perfect way to enjoy the Parade. Tickets are provided on a sliding scale to those with accessibility needs and their partners. Go to sfpride.org. Accessibility Seating is also available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The Civic Center MUNI/BART Station is located right next to the entrance to the Grandstands.
Getting to Pride
SF Pride is one of the largest outdoor events in the nation in the heart of a major metropolitan area. BART and Muni transit systems serve Civic Center station near both the Celebration site and Parade route, making access to the event easy. Please don’t try to drive there. It will be hell to park. If you take Muni, plan ahead to not arrive late. For more information, visit sfmta.com or call 311 or 415.701.2311. For fares, schedules, and to plan your BART trip, visit bart.gov. There is also bicycle parking available. Check out the comprehensive transportation guide at sfpride.org.
Celebration Location & Times
On June 23 and 24, the Civic Center is the location for the celebration and all the booths and stages. On Saturday, June 23, the hours are noon to 6 p.m. On Sunday, June 26, the hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Parade Route & Times
The Pride Parade is Sunday, June 24 along Market Street with kickoff at 10:30 a.m., starting at Beale Street and ending at 8th Street. This year’s theme is “Global Equality.”
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 this 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 gay or lesbian bar of our choice. And walk down Market Street holding hands.
h
And even imagine Global Equality. 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!!!
