Everything You Need To Know About This Weekend’s Pride Celebration In SF
The world-famous parade and celebration will be back in high spirits on June 25 and 26.
San Francisco Pride has officially returned for 2022, with the theme “Love Will Keep Us Together.” This celebration on June 25 and 26 is sure to be an epic comeback! After all, SF Pride is known to be the nation’s largest gathering of the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
The Pride celebration and rally will happen on Saturday 6/25 from 12-6pm and Sunday 6/26 from 11am-6pm, with home base at Civic Center Plaza. The parade/march will take place on Sunday, 6/26 in downtown SF beginning at 10:30am.
External Pride-themed events include the Trans March on Friday 6/24 and the Dyke March on Saturday 6/25.
You can keep an eye on things by downloading the official SF Pride mobile app.
Saturday events (12pm-6pm 6/25)
- Designated areas include “Leather Alley,” a Black Empowerment Stage, a Sundance Country-Western Dance Corral, a Trans Stage, a Sober Drag Show, Cheer SF, “Homo Hip Hop,” and the Kaiser Permanente Main Stage at the Civic Center.
- Saturday’s headliner for the Kaiser Permanente Main Stage is two-time Grammy nominee Martha Wash, who is known for “It’s Raining Men” as half of The Weather Girls duo and for singing back-up vocals for disco singer Sylvester.
- Events will be hosted by drag queens and activists Per Sia and Yves Saint Croissant.
Sunday events (11am-6pm 6/26)
- Designated areas include Saturday’s “Leather Alley,” the Sundance Country-Western Dance Corral, Cheer SF, and the Kaiser Permanente Main Stage at the Civic Center. The other stages will be replaced with an API Pavilion, a Don Julio Latin Stage, a Women’s Stage, and “Soul of Pride.”
- Events will be hosted by Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma.
SF Pride Parade (Starting at 10:30am Sunday 6/26)
The parade will begin at 10:30am from Market and Beale streets near the Embarcadero, ending at Market and Eighth right near the Civic Center. You can expect hundreds of colorful contingents, dancers, floats, and performers!
The best way to get to the event is via public transportation. The Civic Center, Powell, and Montgomery stations are all along the parade route, and SFMTA will reroute many transport lines – you can learn more about that here.
Be advised that prohibited actions/items include smoking, alcohol, fireworks, weapons, coolers, radios, speakers, bags over 18×18 inches, and pepper spray.
The 2022 Grand Marshals are the following:
- Sherry Cola (Celebrity Grand Marshal)
- Amy Schneider (Celebrity Grand Marshal)
- African American Art & Culture Complex (Public Poll Choice)
- Melanie DeMore (Member’s Choice)
- Vinny Eng (Public Poll Choice)
- Amber Gray (Board Choice)
- Andrea Horne, Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal (Board Choice)
- Socorro “Cori” Moreland (Member’s Choice)
- Mellanique Robicheaux AKA Black (Board Choice)
The SF Pride parade usually includes a contingent of SF police officers, but the group has been banned for their refusal to appear out of uniform. “SF Pride requested that those participating from law enforcement agencies do so out of uniform and in an alternative attire that still represents their organization,” wrote SF Pride on their website. “We acknowledge and appreciate the steps that have been taken to heal decades of distrust between law enforcement agencies and the LGBTQ+ communities.” As a result of the ban, Mayor London Breed and openly gay District Six Supervisor Matt Dorsey have said they will also boycott the parade. Uniformed officers will still be present in any case as part of the event’s security.
The event also comes amid some leadership changes for the organization. Ahead of the 2022 celebrations, Suzanne Ford has taken over as interim SF Pride Executive Director in place of Fred Lopez, who headed the board in 2020 and 2021. Ford is a transgender woman who previously served as SF Pride’s Treasurer, and her appointment means that SF Pride will be led by women on both the board and staff levels for the first time in many years.
“It is truly a landmark year for the organization,” said Carolyn Wysinger, President of the Board. “Women have always played such an important role in our LGBTQ community. It is only fitting that the organization returns to Market Street with a leadership team that truly reflects our diverse community.”
“I am honored and humbled to help SF Pride at this important moment,” said Suzanne Ford. “This organization is very dear to my heart, and I know how badly our LGBTQ+ family wants a Pride celebration in the streets after so long apart. Our team is already hard at work to present a Pride in 2022 that is familiar and we want to bring some new fresh perspectives as well.”
Be safe and have fun at SF’s epic Pride celebration this weekend!
Featured image: Photo by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock