You know you’ve come a long way in the fight for equality when the people you come across at the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco are these guys.
On the right is Mitch Mayne, one of the driving forces behind reconciling Mormons with the LGBT community post Prop 8. Aside from being a really nice guy, he also showed a good sense of humor when we ran into him this morning as everyone was gearing up for a historic parade celebrating the demise of Prop 8 and DOMA:
“Don’t worry, it’ll be more than just the two of us joining the parade.”
Indeed, he was not lying, as just a couple of hours later about 150 Mormons marched down Market Street to celebrate LOVE in all shapes and forms along with tens of thousands of San Franciscans.
We’ve come a long way. While there’s still work to be done in the struggle for equality, today was a day to celebrate the truly remarkable progress that has been made in the last few years, culminating in this week’s Supreme Court rulings.
Speaking of for the Supreme Court: “Put a ring on it!”
Follow me for a photo journey through a marvelous day in San Francisco…
Gay Pride Parade, June 30, 2013, San Francisco
My sweetie Deb and I decided to head downtown early, to get some behind-the-scenes shots before the big crowds arrived. Aside from the Mormons and the Supremes, the Safeway guys were loading up their shopping carts…
and creating one of my favorite rainbow flags of the day…
Spotted a couple of adorable gnomes…
and dykes on bikes getting ready…
looking colorful…
powerful…
badass…
and just plain wonderful…
and despite the all-encompassing good-lovingness I think a little bit of in-your-face gloating was absolutely in order (check out the super-sized blingy ring the lady on the right is wearing)…
It was diversity within diversity. We found ourselves a spot at Market and Beale where the different groups were gathering to line up in the right spot…
before launching themselves…
into the parade…
As usual, the parade was attended by a who’s who of politicians and dignitaries, but this year the confluence of politics and activism was probably even more meaningful.
Gavin Newsom, who started it all when as newly-elected San Francisco Mayor he issued a directive to the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004, getting some beads on his son Hunter before turning onto Market Street.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris, whose refusal to defend the abominable Proposition 8 laid the foundation for SCOTUS’ punt last Wednesday, was looking royally marvelous…
It was nice to see solidarity with the people who got their equal rights curbed by the same SCOTUS this week..
and quite a few reminders of the controversy over whether Bradley Manning should be embraced by the gay comunity.
Tying together marriage equality, freedom of speech, and immigrant rights is really not a stretch…
But in the end, today was really about Wham, Blap, Biff, and Biff!
It was about celebrating new love…
and reaffirming long-term commitment…
whether it was delivered Americana-style…
or Euro super-Smart…
It really was about family values…
and as if guided by divine intervention, that’s when the aforementioned Mormon contingent that Mitch Mayne had promised started to show up in full force…
What better measure of faith in a higher power than to be loving and tolerant of love…
God was smiling today…
After we saw the last group off onto Market Street, Deb and I decided to skip the big rally at Civic Center and move back to quieter pastures. While we felt like we got a really good soaking in this truly historic and uplifting happening, the party had really just begun…
Back in our Mission neighborhood, we caught this beautiful display in a shop window that I think sums up this entire week.
Happy Equality! Happy Love! Happy Victory!
gorgeous! Thanks for the photos!
Thanks Lissanne, glad you enjoyed. It was a great party!
This is a beautiful photo summary. Thank you.
Wonderful photos and commentary. I couldn’t see the parade that well over the many heads in front of me, so thank you for letting me see it through your lens!
You’re welcome, Elizabeth. The key to getting the nice close-ups we found is to hang out at the very beginning as they all get ready.
Great photos! San Francisco clearly enjoys a party!