Dykes on Bikes, which has been kicking off the Pride Parade since 1976. | Photos: Cheryl Guerrero/Hoodline
Pride and protest filled the streets for the city’s 49th Annual Pride Parade and Celebration this weekend.
Attracting nearly one million people each year, the parade and celebration in Civic Center Plaza are the largest outdoor event in San Francisco, according to organizers.
This year’s theme was “Generations of Resistance," honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which are viewed as a catalyst for the LGBT rights movement.
"This year’s theme … is not only a nod to the heroes of Stonewall, but also to those at Compton’s Cafeteria who stood up to police brutality in 1966, and the decades of LGBTQ+ activism, creativity, and advocacy born right here in San Francisco," said outgoing SF Pride executive director George Ridgely, Jr.
That spirit of resistance was visible on Sunday, when the parade ground to a halt for nearly an hour after protesters blocked off the route near Market and Sixth streets. Two protesters were arrested, with both police and protesters claiming acts of violence from the opposing group.
The parade resumed at noon, allowing the 280 parade contingents to finish their procession down Market Street. Dozens of floats, comprising over 50,000 marchers, featured community groups, local businesses, city agencies and corporations.
“San Francisco is an emblem of strength, an incubator of resistance, and a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ people around the world,” Ridgely Jr. said in a statement. “This Pride organization, parade, and celebration is a true collection of thousands of voices.”
Here are more scenes from the day’s Pride events:
