San Francisco celebrated its 53rd annual Pride parade Sunday, the highlight event of the city's Pride celebrations. Organizers told NBC Bay Area that around 250,000 people attended the parade and festival.
The theme of this year's celebration was about “looking back and moving forward.” The San Francisco Pride parade traveled down Market Street from Embarcadero to the celebration at Civic Center.
In addition to San Francisco, parades in New York and Chicago are among events that roughly 400 Pride organizations across the U.S. are holding this year, with many focused specifically on the rights of transgender people.
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San Francisco's Pride parade, one of the largest and best-known LGBTQ+ celebrations in the United States, drew spectators from around California and around the country on Sunday.
The event, kicked off by the group Dykes on Bikes, featured dozens of colorful floats, some carrying strong messages against the wave of anti-transgender legislation in statehouses across the country.
Organizers told the San Francisco Chronicle that this year’s theme emphasized activism. The parade included the nation’s first drag laureate, D’Arcy Drollinger.
“When we walk through the world more authentic and more fabulous, we inspire everyone,” Drollinger said at a breakfast before the parade.
Along Market Street, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank were spotted riding together. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and California Attorney General Rob Bonta also attended the parade Sunday.
One couple came all the way from Orlando, Florida for the parade Sunday.
"Florida is a sad place right now," said John Seigel of Orlando. Seigel said celebrating Pride in San Francisco felt safe and joyful at a time when gay and trans rights are under attack, in Florida, and in other states.
“Why would you hate on somebody that loves somebody?”Seigel said.
Other parade attendees said this year's Pride parade was meaningful because there are fewer safe spaces to be out and proud these days.
“The way things are now, people attacking drag queens and trans people, let drag queens be drag queens,” said Los Angeles resident Alexandra Hampton. “Literally just being able to see them be their true authentic selves in the parade, it's just so nice to see without worrying about anyone bashing them. We're all community here.”
Thousands of Pride revelers stuck around at Civic Center after the parade to enjoy the concerts, food, and community. Sunday's concert lineup at Civic Center was headlined by artist Hayley Kiyoko.
Tavia Richardson of Sacramento said this was her first time at San Francisco Pride.
Richardson said she was a big fan of the concerts and booths for local businesses.
“I loved it. I am so surprised it is free," Richardson said.
To keep San Francisco Pride events free, this year volunteers have been collecting donations on the spot during events.
San Francisco Pride executive director Suzanne Ford told NBC Bay Area Sunday night that the cost to put on the parade and celebration this year was around $3.3 Million. Organizers are still tallying how many donations they received during the festivities.
"Pride 53 was a huge success for the community with a positive economic impact on the city," Ford said in a statement.
On the lawn at San Francisco's Civic Center, Korey Labracio of Santa Rosa sat with his friends enjoying the nearby concert.
"It’s actually my first San Francisco Pride and it's actually my first out-trans pride," said Labracio.
He noted that the U.S. is, "a scary place to be trans right now, but it's moments like this when I can look around and see all these incredible people, all these rainbows all these flags and it feels like, it's safe."
The Associated Press contributed to the report.
