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A parade participant dances in front of community grand Marshall Brian “Chickpea” Busta at the 2018 San Francisco Pride parade. Anne Wernikoff/KQED
A parade participant dances in front of community grand Marshall Brian “Chickpea” Busta at the 2018 San Francisco Pride parade. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)
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Your Guide to SF Pride 2019 Events and Parade

It’s the last full weekend of June, so that means it’s time for San Francisco Pride weekend.
Bianca Hernandez

It’s time for San Francisco Pride weekend. Have questions? We’ve got you covered.

What is SF Pride Weekend?

The two-day event is the culmination of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, which is held in June to honor the Stonewall riots.

Queer History

Pride events are held throughout June across the city.

According to the SF Pride website, “the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest gathering of the LGBT community and allies in the nation,” which is not an overstatement. Last year, organizers estimated 100,000 people attended the parade alone, with an additional 50,000 participants.

This year’s theme is “Generations of Resistance,” which is a nod to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Compton’s Cafeteria riot and the history of the community in San Francisco.

SF Pride weekend itself is comprised of two components: the celebration and the parade.

Where will it be?

The celebration will be at Civic Center Plaza from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. There isn’t a fee to enter, but donations of $1 to $5 are requested at the gate. This event features multiples stages, speakers, performers and vendors. This year’s guest list includes Kristin Beck, Pabllo Vittar and Amara La Negra. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will also be celebrating 40 years of community service, ministry and outreach.

The SF Pride Parade up Market Street starts Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and runs from Embarcadero BART to Civic Center. There are about 200 contingents in the parade itself, ranging from local organizations to corporate floats.

One of the mainstays is Dykes on Bikes, who traditionally kick off the parade. This year’s list of grand marshals includes Mrs. Vera, Vincent Crisostomo, Donna Personna and Mrs. Billie Cooper, along with celebrity guests from “Vida” and “Tales of the City.”

There is also the Trans March on Friday and the Dyke March on Saturday.

What should you bring?

There are restrictions on what can be brought into the celebration area—so alcohol, drones, coolers and various other items will not be allowed into the space. (Booze will be sold inside the Civic Center venue by some vendors if you have need.)

The high temperature is expected to be around 63, so water (stay hydrated!), sunscreen and layers are a must. Yes, sunscreen. The weather can be fickle and you don’t want to risk an unfortunate sunburn that’ll stick around until the end of the season.

Attendees are discouraged from bringing bags, but if need be they cannot be larger than 18 square inches.

A backup charger would also be beneficial, if not for taking great photos, then for keeping tabs on safety alerts.

How do you get there?

If you’re heading to the celebration, Civic Center Muni and BART stops will be the most direct way to get there. Depending on where you want to view the parade, anything from Embarcadero to Civic Center Muni and BART should get you there.

If you are taking Muni to the event (or anywhere downtown), you should check the reroutes schedule that will go into effect starting Friday. The reroutes will affect the 5-Fulton, 5-Owl, 19-Polk and 21-Hayes.

It’s not suggested that you drive to Pride, but if you choose to do so, organizers have provided some pre-paid parking information.

There will also be road closures. Streets around the Civic Center will be closed through early Monday morning, with some closures starting as early as Thursday. The parade route up Market will also result in closures, so be prepared to reroute in order to avoid traffic and crowds (because there will be crowds).

The San Francisco Police Department has a handy safety video for all your Pride needs.

FYI

Activists have questioned having police presence at SF Pride “given the long history of police brutality against the queer and trans community.” Gay Shame wrote an open letter to the organizers, but SF Pride has not responded to KQED’s multiple requests for comment on the issue.

What hashtag should people use on social media?

#SFPride2019

Tag @KQEDNews in your Twitter and Instagram posts and we might feature your photos and videos!

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