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News + PoliticsScenes from Pride Weekend, Day One

Scenes from Pride Weekend, Day One

A vocal (and huge) trans march, a huge marriage rally … and it stayed warm pretty late

Tom Ammiano had the crowd laughing
Tom Ammiano had the crowd laughing

By Tim Redmond

JUNE 26, 2015 – The weather stayed warm long enough, and the Trans March was big and loud and visible, and the party on Castro was a giant celebration … and the first day of Pride Weekend was about as upbeat as it could be.

Some moments:

Tom Ammiano, the former teacher School Board member, supervisor, and state Assembly member, drew huge cheers at the marriage celebration on Castro and Market. He had a few things to say ….

“Clarence Thomas has a rim chair. All of his commentary is tongue in check.”

“What do Ted Cruz and the confederate flag have in common? Neither one is hung!”

He also made the serious point: “I’m very proud that LGBT people in media interviews have referred to Charleston, because those are dots that are connected.”

And as for the archbishop of San Francisco? “He thinks gay rights is like a chess game, and I say to him: Queen to Bishop. Check.”

Carole Migden was as feisty as ever
Carole Migden (with Sup. Scott Wiener in the backround) was as feisty as ever

Former State Sen. Carole Migden reminded the crowd that it was generation of activism and visibility that made today’s decision happen.

Sup. David Campos called for a moment of silence for people who could not be there
Sup. David Campos called for a moment of silence for people who could not be there

Sup. David Campos said he never thought, as a young man, that he would see the day when queer people had the same legal rights as everyone else. “We all know some people who didn’t live to see this day,” he said. “Harvey Milk gave his life for us.” He asked for a moment of silence, the only somber note in the festivities.

State Sen. Mark Leno tried twice to get a former governor to sign a marriage equality bill
State Sen. Mark Leno tried twice to get a former governor to sign a marriage equality bill

State Sen. Mark Leno recalled how he twice got a marriage-equality bill through the state Legislature — and twice former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it (although “we later learned that he didn’t seem to understand his own marriage vows”). He reminded the crowd that “in more than  30 states, you can still be fired for putting a picture of your spouse on your desk.”

A large festive crowd celebrated marriage equality
A large festive crowd celebrated marriage equality

A few blocks away, the Trans March was concluding with speakers and music and a packed Dolores Park. I caught City College Board President Rafael Mandelman and State Assemblymember David Chiu on stage together:

Mandelman and Chiu address the Trans March
Mandelman and Chiu address the Trans March

Chiu was, as usual, pretty mild, but Mandelman talked of the need to recognize that, for all the excitement about the Supreme Court decision, there are a lot of huge issues that still need to be addressed.

A large crowd at Dolores Park for the Trans March
A large crowd at Dolores Park for the Trans March
The Trans march takes Dolores St., with as many as 20,000 people, a record and a huge statement
The Trans march takes Dolores St, with as many as 20,000 people, a record and a profound statement

So a great day of Pride, but also a day to remember: Many others over the generations worked for years to make this happen. And we are still a long ways away from a society where LBGT people — particularly Trans people — have anything resembling equal rights, equal protection under the law in all states, and economic equality.

So much to celebrate, so much more to do.

 

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.

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