Close to 100,000 people gathered along Market Street Sunday morning to celebrate the 2019 San Francisco Pride Parade.
Rich in families and full of colors, the theme of this year’s parade was “Generations of Resistance,” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which are often cited as launching the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
At 10:30 a.m., the roar of the motorcycles of the Dykes on Bikes collective was followed by more than 300 contingents of dancers, paraders, cable cars and corporate floats, all waiting for their turn in the streets between Steuart and Beale.
Participants of all ages marched down Market Street to the beats of pop classics and reggaeton, along with politicians including Sen. Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mayor London Breed.
One of thousands of families in attendance, Davis’ Julia Luckenbill and DD Levine marched with their 6-year-old daughter Sarah and the Family Coalition collective. The couple, who have been coming to the parade since they were teenagers, said they like to bring their daughter to a space with many families just like theirs.
“Compared to other prides, this one has so many participants,” Levine said. “In other parades it is like a few people marching and many more just observing them.”
Many came from far away precisely because of the need to send their message loud and clear, including allies who were giving away “mama bear hugs,” and others saying “I’m here for you.”
Such is the message of the Church Ladies for Gay Rights from the First Congregational Church of Sonoma. The group of 15, dressed in their Sunday finest, blew kisses to the public, performed some dance routines and even posed with some barely dressed male dancers.
The parade had to be resuscitated after a 50 minute halt due to an anti-police protest breaking out close to Market and 6th Street. Unable to hear the message of the protesters, the public grew impatient, and many paraders just sat down to wait. The energy, however, was not hard to recapture once things got going again.
