It was a very full week of pre-Pride activities—and almost felt as if Pride in its original form was happening after all. (It’s a bit smaller this year, but still out there.) The raising of the Rainbow Flag at City Hall is always festive and kicks off Pride season—and the unveiling of the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks (now digitally illuminated) turns our little burg into a bright queer beacon. Mmmm, queer beacon….
Two other special events also took place this week. A moving ceremony marked the 40th anniversary of the first reported AIDS diagnoses—talk about a pandemic for which there is no vaccine yet—with a display of 40 blocks of the AIDS Quilt. And The GLBT History Museum unveiled the first known iteration of the Rainbow Flag, created 43 years ago by artist Gilbert Baker, who passed in 2017. (Tomorrow, Sat/12, at 2pm in the Castro there will be a commemoration of the Pulse Nightclub massacre five years on.)
Atop Twin Peaks, Nancy Pelosi addresses a shivering crowd. Photo by Gooch.Mayor London Breed speaks to the fog-shrouded crowd. Photo by Gooch.The Pink Torch that will “illuminate” the Pink Triangle arrives. Photo by Gooch.Pink Triangle founder Patrick Carney, left, with Donna Sachet and other luminaries. Photo by Gooch.
The Pink Triangle glows like a gay UFO. Photo by Gooch.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AIDS DIAGNOSIS IN THE AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
The Gay Mens Chorus sings at the AIDS Memorial Grove for the 49th anniversary of the first Photo by Gooch.
AIDS Quilt founder Cleve Jones. Photo by Gooch.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks. Photo by Gooch.
A block of the Quilt. Photo by Gooch.
40 blocks of the Quilt were laid out. Photo by Gooch.Rep. Barbara Lee speaks. Photo by Gooch.
Performers sing before the Quilt. Photo by Gooch.
Quilt panels displayed in the grove. Photo by Gooch.
At the end of the ceremony, a block is folded for storage by the Handmaidens of the Quilt. by Photo by Gooch.
ORIGINAL RAINBOW FLAG DISPLAYED AT THE GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM
GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives boardmembers Maria Powers and Tina Valentin Aguirre speak outside the museum. Photo by Gooch.
GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives Executive Director Terry Beswick shows city officials the flag. Photo by Gooch.
The original Rainbow Flag, flanked by Beswick and community activists Susan Stryker and Gerard Koskovich. Photo by Gooch.
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Marke Bieschke is the publisher and arts and culture editor of 48 Hills. He co-owns the Stud bar in SoMa. Reach him at marke (at) 48hills.org, follow @supermarke on Twitter.
Plus: The immigrant rights march, Fielder's ceremonial swearing in, what the billionaires fear—and why is all the new housing in SF so ugly? That's The Agenda for Jan. 19-26
