San Francisco Pride will be online in June
San Francisco Pride might have had to cancel its inperson 50th anniversary celebrations amid coronavirus concerns, but the festival and its partner organizations are hosting a slate of online programming the last weekend in June.
The weekend’s centerpiece takes place 19 p.m. June 27 and 27 p.m. June 28, which includes welcoming remarks from government officials as well as live and recorded performances. Full programming will be revealed next week, but S.F. Pride Executive Director Fred Lopez hopes to reflect a range of voices similar to the event’s 20 communityprogrammed stages each year, spanning the Sundance CountryWestern Dance Corral and the Soul of Pride African Diaspora Stage and Village, from the Women’s Stage
to the Faerie Freedom Village.
“Let me be clear, our specialty has been and still pretty much remains creating a fantastic and spectacular outdoor event — the largest outdoor event in San Francisco, and one that is seen the world over as a bucketlist event,” Lopez told The Chronicle on Wednesday, May 20.
“The guiding star is the mission of the organization: to educate the world on LGBT issues, to commemorate the heritage of LGBT folks, to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and work to liberate our people, and also to elevate the voices of those who are working hard globally to liberate our people, wherever we may be found.”
Lopez acknowledged that the digital realm presents a steep learning curve for the organization and that it will be impossible to replicate online all the inperson facets of Pride. But he and the organization believe a virtual Pride can still achieve what’s most important.
“At a time when there is so much uncertainty, the Pride 50 online events have the potential to touch millions of lives, providing joyful inspiration and highlighting the resilience in our communities,” said S.F. Pride Board President Carolyn Wysinger in a statement.
One event, at least, is expected to take place outside. At 8 p.m. June 27, the Pink Triangle plans to partner with Illuminate, which designed the light display on the Bay Bridge, to light up the traditional Twin Peaks display, with the aid of more than 2,700 LED nodes.
Pride’s partner events commence June 25, with Lavender Talks, presented with the Commonwealth Club. At 1 p.m., TV and radio host Michelle Meow is scheduled to moderate a panel discussion with this year’s Pride awardees: Cleve Jones of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, author Gabby Rivera and Mike Wong, artistic director of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s marching and pep bands.
At 4 p.m. that same day, Openhouse plans to host its LGBTQ Senior Prom, which welcomes all generations but especially invites older community members who didn’t have great proms during their own youths. This year’s event takes the form of online performances as well as a groupled dance routine.
Also on June 25, Frameline44 launches a virtual fourday Pride Showcase in partnership with the Castro Theatre, featuring screenings of “Ahead of the Curve,” “Fun in Boys Shorts,” “Fun in Girls Shorts” and “Transtastic,” with full programming to be announced June 3.
Trans March, now in its 17th year, is scheduled to take place online June 26. Global Pride — the first worldwide consortium of Prides — takes place as a 24hour live stream beginning 4 p.m. that day.
At noon June 27, Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet are expected to duke it out in the kitchen for the title of Brunch Queen at “Pride Brunch 2020: Live at Home!” Tickets get you home delivery of brunch and cocktails, with proceeds benefiting PRC (formerly Positive Resource Center), which gives legal, health and social services to people with HIV/ AIDS, substance abuse problems or mental health issues.
KPIX and KBCW are also slated to air “Fifty Years of SF Pride,” featuring footage from decades of parades as well as interviews with a range of voices who have participated in festivities over the years, starting at 11 a.m. June 28.
In place of the traditional Pride Flag raising ceremony, San Francisco Mayor London Breed is scheduled to host an online kickoff June 5, complete with community conversations and performances.
“Pride is one of my favorite times of the year in San Francisco,” Breed said in a statement. “However, we are in an unprecedented publichealth emergency with an uncertain future, and we must do everything we can to protect our entire community and put public health first.”
For more information, visit www.sfpride.org.