FOR DYKES ON BIKES Women’s Motorcycle Contingent member Sabine Balden, Sunday’s Pride Parade in San Francisco was different yet somehow eerily the same as the early days of LGBTQ struggles.
Balden’s bike had a sign in front of it reading, “Angry Old Queers” surrounded by flames. The fire motif spread to her outfit, which was lined with red flames, nodding to her previous job as a firefighter.
Balden said over the past 40 years she has lived in the Bay Area, she’s seen positive change for trans and queer people, but now she sees all that progress rapidly disappearing. For her, the energy of this year’s parade felt similar to the original spirit of the first Pride marches that fought for LGBTQ rights during a time when the community’s existence was being questioned.
“It’s like 30 years’ worth of activism is just gone. It has all gone up,” said Balden. “I love the fact that we’re coming back to our real roots and get finding our anger again instead of it just a party by corporate people.”
This year’s theme was “Queer Joy is Resistance,” and spectators were alerted to the start of the parade when the motorcycle club revved their engines, sending the smell of gasoline through the air as their chrome bikes throttled. Many bikers had flags attached — Pride flags, trans flags, and political statements criticizing President Donald Trump and his administration.
Throughout the day, bubbles floated through the air and rainbow flags waved above San Francisco’s Market Street as the city celebrated queer and trans joy with bold defiance against recent attacks on marginalized communities. Massive crowds and marchers alike danced and laughed as the floats cruised by during the 55th annual parade.
Over 200 contingents traveled from Embarcadero Plaza down Market Street and concluded at the Civic Center. Private companies, nonprofits, international consulates, and elected officials marched with the parade’s five grand marshals.
The marshals were Kenan Arun, director of operations at the LGBT Asylum Project, Jahnel Butler, associate director of trans services with the San Francisco Community Health Center and also the current Overall House Mother of the House of Chanel in ballroom culture, Jessy Ruiz, a transgender woman who fled violence in her country of Mexico, Tyler TerMeer, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation and co-chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council, and Tita Aida, aka Nicky Calma, a social activist and a long-time advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness in the AAPI communities and for transgender people.
Thousands gathered on sidewalks with smiling faces and people yelling “Happy Pride!” at one another amid cardboard signs and chants protesting the struggles vulnerable communities have faced across the country.
Posters saying, “Protect trans kids,” “No ICE”, and “F— Trump” were seen on both sides of the metal barriers flanking the parade route. Chants of “Free, Free Palestine” spontaneously erupted as marchers and spectators seemed to unify against social injustices they wanted to highlight.
“Queer Joy is Resistance” was chosen by the SF Pride community during a political climate that has seen the trans and queer people across the country feeling threatened.
“Ultimately, the theme of San Francisco Pride is a powerful symbol of the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and determination to fight for equality and justice,” says the SF Pride organization on its website. “It provides a platform for the community to express its voice and to be heard by allies, policymakers, and society at large.”
Several notable public figures participated in the festivities.
Mayor Daniel Lurie walked along the edges of the parade to greet spectators.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, held a “ICE out of SF” sign as he rode aboard a bus. The sign sparked spontaneous chants against the federal agency.
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, rode alongside Delaware congresswoman Sarah McBride, who is the first openly trans person in the U.S. House of Representatives.
People old and young traveled from all over the world to watch corgis in rainbow bandanas trot alongside drag performers lip syncing to Lady Gaga’s discography. For some it was their first time attending such a large spectacle.
Grade schooler Josie traveled from Concord with their parents Rick and Alyson Scofield. Josie’s parents spoke about the joy they had seeing their young child be happy and get excited by so many groups marching by.
“To come out here and have people just feel together is amazing. I wanted my child to feel included, and we said why not come here today,” said Alyson.
Also coming to San Francisco’s parade for the first time was Antonio LaPorte in a rainbow colored Ghostface costume. He talked about wanting to support a community of people that welcomed him with open arms.
“I am straight, but I am a big, big ally,” said LaPorte. “I understand that a community as strong as this, they’re going to need as much support as possible. So, I’m honestly willing to give that support however I can. They have shown me so much love I want to give back.”
Frequent paradegoers Andrea Salmeron and Pamela Solorzano have been attending the event for over eight years, ever since they immigrated from Latin America. The couple said the energy of this year’s celebrations was different than the previous ones they’ve attended.
“This year felt empty, almost sad,” said Salmeron. “Last year there seemed to be more going on and there were more companies that supported the parade, but now many have removed their inclusion policies.”
Despite the fact that a perennial criticism of the Pride Parade is that it had become “too corporate,” for Salmeron, seeing support for LGBTQ people across different organizations was a plus, not a minus.
“Honestly, it felt like we were all united,” she said. “I saw a lot of sections in the parade with Latino organizations. It felt like a lot of people were supporting our community.”
After the massive parade and festival at Civic Center concluded, many more events for partygoers were planned throughout the city. SF Pride organizers hope the greater Bay Area will continue to find opportunities to unite and celebrate each other.
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