San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Everything to know about the city’s worldfamous event.
The San Francisco Pride Celebration, a mainstay of the city’s international brand, will not feature a merrymaking parade for its 50th anniversary this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the 2020 virtual celebration of Pride — a livestreamed program set for June 2728 — may go down in history as one of the most memorable iterations of the LGBTQ cultural event.
The scourge of COVID19, a Great Depressionlike economy and deep political divisions are not likely to stifle the spirit of Pride’s mission: commemorating and celebrating LGBTQ heritage, culture and freedom. Pride is a phenomenon that has survived the AIDS epidemic and the persecution of LGBTQ people. Over the years, it has come to represent the joy of diversity, appealing to people of all colors, the straight and not so straight.
The online experience of Pride also promises to be an opportunity for the LGBTQ movement to further show its solidarity with Black Lives Matter, whose pleas for racial and social equality amid police brutality have inspired people around the world.
One of the highlights of Pride this year will be the planned new LED lighting of the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks, engineered by the same folks who made the Bay Bridge dazzle. The parade may be on a hiatus, but the symbols of Pride endure.
How did Pride begin? The origins of Pride date back 50 years to the aftermath of the Stonewall rebellion, the birth of the LGBTQ movement. But San Francisco’s first Pride event in June 1970 was a humble proceeding: A few hundred courageous marchers paraded down Polk Street.
What is San Francisco Pride? The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Celebration — its official name — is a festival and parade that has taken place every year in the city for five decades. The June event is a rainbowcolored valentine to the LGBTQ community and its allies.
How did San Francisco Pride turn into such a huge event? In 1972, activists hosted their first official parade. Attendance did not take long to grow in a tolerant city that was for the most part open to gay rights. But the crowds swelled by 1978, when an appearance by Harvey Milk, the nation’s most visible gay elected official, created indelible impressions on the American psyche. At that point, San Francisco was the mecca of the LGBTQ movement, and its Pride events would attract people from all over the globe.
The parade on Market Street now typically draws hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts — many in eyepopping outfits — though parade organizers have sometimes estimated attendance at more than 1 million.
Who can participate in Pride? Anyone who identifies within the LGBTQ community — and its allies. That includes people of all ages, and even pets!
What exactly is an ally? The Human Rights Campaign defines an ally as a “person who is not LGBTQ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways,” including in the areas of civil rights, gender equality and LGBTQ social movements.
What does LGBTQ mean? The acronym LGBTQ is an umbrella term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. The Q can also refer to those “questioning” their sexual orientation or gender identity. Sometimes the LGBTQIA acronym is used. The I stands for intersex, and the A stands for asexual and/or allied.
The abbreviations reflect a movement that continues to evolve and is not easily defined.
What are the symbols of Pride? The most ubiquitous symbol of Pride is the rainbow flag, which can be seen at homes and establishments all over the world. There are many permutations of the flag, but the most common design is the sixcolor version. Each color has a meaning: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and purple for spirit.
The flag, designed by Gilbert Baker — often referred to as the Betsy Ross of the LGBTQ movement — made its debut at San Francisco’s U.N. Plaza in 1978.
What about the Pink Triangle? The Pink Triangle has become a powerful symbol of the repression that LGBTQ people and other minorities still face around the world. It also represents the persecution of gay victims in Nazi concentration camps.
A giant version of the Pink Triangle, which can be seen from miles around, is erected annually on Twin Peaks. This year, there are plans to feature 2,700 nodes of pink light, a potent declaration that San Francisco is going nowhere when it comes to being a beacon of LGBTQ pride.
What will online Pride be like? The online celebration is scheduled to take place 19 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and 27 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Highlights will include appearances by local drag performers Sister Roma, Honey Mahogany, Per Sia and Yves Saint Croissant; performances by pop star Betty Who, Queen of Bounce Big Freedia and many more; remarks from local LGBTQ leaders; and thoughtful reflections about the LGBTQ movement.
In short, most of the normal Pride events, except you watch it online.
Who are the 2020 honorees? This year, San Francisco Pride will be awarding 2020 Commemoration Awards to three pillars of the community: Cleve Jones, the legendary LGBTQ activist who originated the AIDS Memorial Quilt; Gabby Rivera, the first Latina to write for Marvel Comics and author of the young adult novel “Juliet Takes a Breath”; and Mike Wong, artistic director of the marching and pep programs of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band.
How do I watch the Pride Program? San Francisco Pride is teaming with KPIX, Channel 5, to stream the festivities live so participants can enjoy from home. Go to SFPride.org for more information.
The organization also partnered up with other Pride orgs for Global Pride, a 24hour, livestreamed festival that aims to unite hundreds of Pride organizations from across the globe on June 27. Go to globalpride2020.org for more details.
There won’t be the usual crowds, alas, but the shows will still be queer. Pride isn’t going anywhere.