San Francisco throws one of the more colorful and prominent Gay Pride festivals in the world, with the key events taking place over the last weekend in June (on June 27-28 in 2009). Like many other cities that celebrate pride in June, San Francisco does so at this time in part to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, New York City's Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969. Of course, San Francisco has a rich and lengthy history of gay rights, and the city's Pride events are well-attended, well-organized, and great fun for visitors - it's also reputed to be the largest Gay Pride celebration in the United States, and with gay marriage having been legalized in May 2008, then faced with a voter repeal in the name of Proposition 8 in November 2008, you can bet that 2009 Pride will generate plenty of excitement (it also marks the 40th annivesary of Stonewall).
Shop for the best hotel deals in San Francisco during Gay Pride.
Many major cities around the world host their Gay Pride Celebrations around this same time, among them Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, Santa Fe, Seattle and Toronto.
Gay Pride in San Francisco centers around a full weekend of parties, celebrations, and parades. The main events are a celebration at the Civic Center on Saturday, June 27, from noon until 6 pm, and a Parade on Market Street on Sunday at 10:30 am followed by another celebration at the Civic Center from noon until 7 pm that same day.
I've also gotten word this year that the official San Francisco Dykes on Bikes Pre-Pride Party takes place June 27 from 1 until 5 pm at SoMa's famed Eagle Tavern, which is at 398 12th Street. President of Dykes on Bikes Sandy Caughlan writes that "Our Pre-Pride party includes live music, food, beer and soda. Featuring live music from Blair Hansen and burlesque with the Twilight Vixen Review and the Fella-Fem Drag Kings. Great food and fun!" Check the Dykes on Bikes website for more information on this legendary organization, and further details on the Pre-Pride Party and other events.
The San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration takes place over Saturday (noon to 6 pm) and Sunday (noon to 7 pm) at the San Francisco Civic Center, just east of San Francisco City Hall. Festivities include more than 300 vendors, artists, and other exhibitors; a slew of music and comedy acts playing on the Main Stage, and similar performances at Pride's other stages, such as the Trans, Homo Hip Hop, Asian and Pacific Islander, Women's, Soul of Pride African American, and Latin stages. Entertainment in 2009 includes BoA, Solange Knowles, The Cliks, and many others. There's also going to be a Marriage Equality Commitment Ceremony, with a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, on Saturday at 1 pm.
The final event is San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade, which begins at 10:30 am on Sunday, June 28, and proceeds along Market Street, beginning at Market and Beale streets (near California Street) and continues for about 10 blocks, ending at 8th Street. Here's a map of the Parade Route.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, such as Bay Area Reporter and San Francisco Bay Times, for details. Also see the San Francisco CVB's outstanding site on GLBT travel.
