San Francisco Pride Parade & Festival
By Kate Blood
30 Jun 2008
San Francisco's legendary gay pride parade and festival draws tens of thousands of participants from all walks of life.
This year's pride parade theme —"United by Pride, Bound for Equality"— was celebrated by hundreds of LGBT families and newly married couples. San Francisco's straight, Irish Catholic mayor Gavin Newsom appeared in the parade to thunderous applause. Newsom has championed same-sex marriage rights since he took office in 2004.
After the parade, celebrity grand marshal Cyndi Lauper performed in front of City Hall as the gathered masses of colorfully dressed party-goers danced their asses off.
Going into the festival I was concerned that people might not want to have their photographs taken. Boy George, was I wrong! Only one person turned me down — and I have a feeling the refusal was more about the state of her makeup than her lifestyle.
Everyone I photographed at the event — gay, straight and in-between — was united by pride in their city.
As San Francisco goes, so goes the nation!
