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Since its founding in 2004, the vibrant, outspoken, and inspirational San Francisco Trans March has kicked off Pride Month by making it abundantly clear that it’s an event for the people, not politicians.
It wasn’t until 2016 that organizers made the latter half an explicit, hardline rule—after which several SF politicians either claimed ignorance of or straight-up ignored having been banned from the event, leading to them being chased out of Dolores Park to live with their shame.
Corporation-coddling congressional candidate Scott Wiener (known for weaponizing his own queerness whilst erasing SF’s queer history) tried to invade the space this summer. Attendees ran him off with his tail between his legs, and his presence was condemned by Trans March organizers.
Later, the SFPD attacked Trans Marchers as if they were getting prizes for doing so. It was yet another chapter in the never-ending story of SFPD’s attack on the city’s queer community.
But in the midst of this gloom, emerges a silver lining. The conflict proved that the Trans March places as much importance as standing by its principles as bringing the community together.
Despite all its pink-washing and cheap rainbow flags, Pride began as a riot. In 2022, when Mayor London Breed was informed that SFPD wasn’t invited to the SF Pride parade after the murder of George Floyd, she and the corporate sponsors threatened to pull out. Pride organizers immediately caved.
That’s why the Trans March is so important: it serves as a reminder that even in San Francisco, there’s still a long way to go. It’s not just an event where gorgeous people gather under the sun to dance together, support local vendors, show off art, and live as their true selves before hoofing it down the streets of San Francisco (though it’s that, too).
No, the Trans March exists to prove 1) the fight isn’t over, and 2) it’s a fight trans folk can win.
Support the Trans March here.
