Sponsored link
Monday, September 15, 2025

Sponsored link

PHOTOS: Pride season launches with original Rainbow Flag, AIDS Quilt, more

Photographer Gooch captured a full week of events that marked history and celebrated LGBTQ love.

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.)

Photographer Gooch was on the scenes for us:

PRIDE FLAG-RAISING AT CITY HALL

The Gay/Lesbian Freedom Marching Band kicked off the Pride flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. Photo by Gooch
Pride Executive Director Carolyn Wysinger with city officials. Photo by Gooch.
Breanna Sinclairé sings as the Rainbow Flag is raised. Photo by Gooch.
Officials spoke beneath the flag. Photo by Gooch.
Beautiful people with trans flags at the ceremony. Photo by Gooch.
Another group of lovelies outside City Hall. Photo by Gooch.
OK cute. Photo by Gooch.
The GL Freedom Band took it away. Photo by Gooch.

PINK TRIANGLE ILLUMINATION CEREMONY ON TWIN PEAKS

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.
Marke B.
Marke B.
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.

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

Sponsored link

Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Latest

We will probably know Tuesday evening if Sup. Joel Engardio keeps his seat

Early results could tell the tale—and if the D4 supe is out, what will Lurie do?

After 51 years of welcoming visitors in, Open Studios is gazing outwards

Executive director Shamsher Virk continues to be 'incredibly impressed' by artists in a boom-and-bust creative city.

Scrub your face with Peaches Christ

Horror drag icon's new Madame Peaches soaps may not wash away your sins, but you'll still feel fresh as Rosemary's baby.

Strange (and maybe inappropriate) actions at the Planning Commission …

... plus an attack on preservation in North Beach, and has the privatized zoo improved enough to get another $3 million? That's The Agenda for Sept. 14 to 21

You might also likeRELATED