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San Francisco Chronicle
28-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Is S.F. Pride having an identity crisis in the age of Trump?
For many in the LGBTQ community, it's a complicated year to celebrate Pride. More than five decades after the first San Francisco parades, the direction of the annual celebration feels suddenly uncertain and queer identity itself is more political than ever during President Donald Trump's second term. With corporate sponsorships declining, rainbow Pride flags being banned in some cities and anti-transgender legislation and Supreme Court rulings steadily accumulating, there are calls to reevaluate the role Pride festivities should play amid what seems to be the deliberate destruction of established civil rights. 'This is not a normal time,' said LGBTQ activist Cleve Jones, 'and for people to just continue to act as we have, year after year, without acknowledging the gravity of the situation is mind-boggling.' Recent decades have seen Pride Month become a season of commemorating queer history and advancing equality. In San Francisco, the parade and Civic Center celebrations are among the oldest Pride events in the world. But in the face of rising hostility from the Trump administration and other conservative voices, as well as a retreat by corporate backers, San Francisco's LGBTQ community is reexamining the event. Jones, the onetime protégé of San Francisco's pioneering gay politician Harvey Milk, first attended the Gay Freedom Day Parade (as S.F. Pride was formerly known) in 1973. Competing visions of what became the annual celebration, he said, have existed for years. 'On one hand, you've got the crowd that says, 'Stonewall was a riot. We don't want cops, we don't want corporate sponsorships, let's make it more of a march and keep it political,'' he said, referring to the seminal 1969 confrontation between gay rights activists and police at the Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village. 'And then on the other side, you've got people that really would like to see Beyoncé perform, and want the stage and the sound system to go with it.' As the 2025 edition approached, the discussion took on more urgency as six sponsors — including Google, Anheuser-Busch, Comcast and Nissan — dropped their support, while others gave money quietly and asked not to be named, said San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford. In one notable case, S.F. Pride officials chose to sever ties with Meta as a sponsor due to the social media company's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and its loosening of content moderation. In the midst of the Trump administration's war on DEI, the corporate withdrawals from S.F. Pride aren't surprising, and its funding situation is not unique. Pride events in cities including Sacramento, Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis are reporting budget shortfalls due to dropped sponsorships and grants, while New York's Heritage of Pride is fundraising to narrow a $750,000 budget gap. 'We're much better off than New York Pride,' Ford said of the East Coast organization that reportedly lost 25% of its corporate funding. But she acknowledges that even with S.F. Pride bringing in additional donors this year — 10% of sponsors are new, including the San Francisco Foundation and San Francisco International Airport — the decline in corporate sponsorships has impacted its budget. The organization is short $180,000 from its $2.3 million fundraising target. 'If we, somehow, in these next 10 days, can find another $175,000, and people show up on Pride Sunday, and our beverage program does well and our donations increase at the gate, we might get through this difficult period,' Ford said. D'Arcy Drollinger, the city's first drag laureate, noted that since the 1990s, corporate sponsorship has been more prominent at Pride events across the world. That money provided for both bigger production values in the parade and on stages. In San Francisco, those sponsorships helped keep the event free. 'Even before the term 'woke' existed, it was seen as good street cred for a brand to be part of Pride,' said Drollinger, who in 2024 hosted and programmed a stage in Civic Center through his nonprofit Oasis Arts. But financial support from companies spanning tech, banking, medicine and other industries has long had a mixed response. Drollinger said the community can contradict itself at times on the issue. 'Last year we saw some people say, 'F— these corporations trying to pinkwash! '' Drollinger said, referring to a term for pandering to LGBTQ consumers while not supporting them in more significant ways. 'And then this year, 'Where are all the corporations? No one's supporting us.'' That tension between needing resources and questioning their sources is something Devlin Shand believes the community must confront more directly. The co-founder of LGBTQ gallery Queer Arts Featured sees Pride's current crossroads as an opportunity for deeper reflection. 'If you get in bed with big money, with the people that are destroying our planet, if you can dissociate from that understanding, then you get your big VIP Pride experience,' Shand said. 'This could be a wake-up call.' As the fight to preserve LGBTQ rights intensifies, some question whether the current Pride model is still right for this moment. Is celebrating appropriate while transgender protections are under attack, marriage equality is once again under debate and LGBTQ immigrants face renewed threats? S.F. Pride's theme this year, 'Queer Joy Is Resistance,' tries to bridge the protest vs. party conflict. But for Jones, the words ring hollow. 'That slogan would make a little more sense if the website would include even two words about what exactly are we resisting,' said Jones, who also believes that the community needs to reevaluate what constitutes political action. In his view, resistance in 2025 'requires us to do more than party on as usual.' 'I feel very heavily what's happening — how we're trying not to be erased, how our rights are being stripped away,' he said. Still, he added 'finding our joy is part of the fight.' Others think the theme strikes the right balance, reflecting both the spirit of celebration and the deeper work happening during Pride weekend to support organizations and causes important to the LGBTQ community. Juanita More, a longtime fundraiser in San Francisco's queer scene, will once again host her annual party on Pride Sunday at 620 Jones, this year benefiting the Transgender Law Center. Since 2004, the drag performer has raised more than $1 million for LGBTQ community groups, with much of that support coming from small businesses and private donors. She believes offering a space for release — especially amid political grief and fatigue — is as crucial as creating opportunities for action. 'I'm glad they used the word joy,' More said. 'We have to find joy to keep moving forward.' While More's Pride party has become a tradition, she's also helped launch an event that's now seen as a symbol of the community's return to grassroots activism. In 2020, More and activist Alex U. Inn created the People's March, which traces the original Gay Freedom Day route down Polk Street to City Hall. The event was a response to the racial reckoning the country faced after the murder of George Floyd, but also an opportunity for people to come together in a year when the Pride Parade was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In past years, the People's March was scheduled on Pride Sunday, portraying itself as a non-corporate sponsored alternative. Tina Aguirre, director of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, is a supporter of the People's March and said that event, as well as the Trans March on Pride Friday and Dyke March on Pride Saturday, 'are all strong indicators that not only do we still need to come together and celebrate, we also need to march because our rights keep getting taken away.' This year, the People's March was on June 19 and had an estimated 1,200 participants. Now, for the first time, it will also have its own contingent in the Pride Parade. 'I totally support S.F. Pride,' More said. 'We have the same goals, but we've gone about it in different ways. Now it's a mutual feeling about what's happening across the country, that we all need to work together.' For her part, Honey Mahogany, a local Democratic activist and drag performer, will host a stage at the Civic Center party this year with Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Mahogany called San Francisco a historic incubator for the queer movement and as such, 'we're used to having all of these factions that don't really coordinate or talk to each other. But it's my hope that we will start doing more coordinating and coalition building, and less exclusion and finger pointing.' That spirit of collaboration extends beyond Pride Weekend. Rebecca Rolfe, outgoing executive director of the SF LGBT Center, said she plans to march with her nonprofit's contingent in the parade. While she has noticed an increased demand for services at the center dealing with issues such as immigration status and proper gender on government IDs as well as 'a generalized increase in anxiety,' she's also seen an upswing in people interested in volunteering. But she believes queer organizations have their work cut out for them as San Francisco continues to try and live up to its reputation as a sanctuary city for transgender and nonnbinary people. As for the future of S.F. Pride, Ford just signed a two-year contract to remain in her role leading Pride, and she said she hopes to hire a development director to help find new sources of funding. She's confident, with help from Mayor Daniel Lurie, Pride Week can again become a destination for the city. 'It's even more important than ever that San Francisco accept that we are the capital of the queer world,' said Ford, citing the importance of investing in the festivities' infrastructure. 'We shouldn't be running away from it, we should be running into it.'
Daily Mirror
28-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Inside the evolution of the Pride flag and what it looks like today
As we celebrate Pride and shine a light on the ongoing activism and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community, we take a look at the evolution and history of the Pride flag With June marking Pride Month globally, the UK has events and marches occurring across the length and breadth of the country all month long. Pride Month honours the legacy of the Stonewall uprising while also shining a light on the ongoing activism and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) community. Evoking a sense of belonging, representation, and community, the Pride flag is a symbol of unity and empowerment. In fact, Google Trends found that ' Flag ' search interest spikes every June in the UK. ' progress pride flag ' is a breakout search and the top trending flag this June. But what exactly are the origins of this world-renowned flag? Here's a brief breakdown of the history of the Pride flag and its evolution over the decades. Pride flag: A brief history The 8-stripe flag was first designed by an activist from San Francisco called Gilbert Baker, whose aim was to represent the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community through the flag. Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected official, commissioned Gilbert to create a visual of pride for the gay community. With flags often being recognised as key pillars of self-identity, Gilbert's design was then printed onto a flag. The first iteration of the Pride flag was revealed during the Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco in 1978. Due to colour shortages however, the turquoise and pink stripes had to be removed from the flag, and the blue stripe was changed to a different shade. This is the version of the Pride flag which is world-renowned and has since served as an iconic representation and symbol of unity, freedom, and equality for the community. The Gilbert Baker Design Inspired by the lyrics of Judy Garland's Over the Rainbow and the visual language of other civil rights movements from the 1960s by black civil rights groups, Gilbert Baker designed the Rainbow Flag. Hand-dyed and hand-sewn by him, the flag was first flown at San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day in June 1978. Each coloured stripe of Gilbert's flag represents a different aspect of the LGBTQIA+ community, namely: Hot Pink for Sex, Red for Life, Orange for Healing, Yellow for Sunlight, Green for Nature and Serenity, Turquoise for Art, Indigo for Harmony, and Violet for Spirit. Pride Flag History from 1978 to 1999 After Harvey Milk's assassination in 1978, several individuals and organisations chose to adopt the Pride flag introduced to the community upon his insistence. The flag was flown across San Francisco and was ordered for mass production by Gilbert, the original designer of the flag, with the help of local business Paramount Flag Co, in an effort to commemorate Harvey's accomplishments and continue the community's fight for equality and diversity. Demand for the rainbow-striped flag rose so high, it became impossible for the 8-stripe design to be produced in such large quantities. Gilbert and Paramount both struggled with sourcing the hot pink fabric, and so a 7-stripe version of the flag was borne and manufactured. The Traditional Gay Pride Flag 1979 once again saw the Pride flag's design amended — this time to a six-stripe version — after several complications arose over the odd number of stripes featured on the flag, as well as the conundrum of people wanting to split the flag in order to decorate Pride parades. The indigo and turquoise stripes of the flag were combined to create a vivid royal blue stripe instead, and it was agreed that the flag would typically be flown horizontally, with the red stripe at the top, forming a natural rainbow. Finally landing upon a six colour version, this is the iteration of the flag the world is most familiar with. This version of the Pride flag's design became extremely popular globally, making it the focal point of landmark decisions like John Stout fighting for his right to fly Pride flag from his apartment's balcony in 1989. The 2017 Philadelphia Design In 2017, the city of Philadelphia recognised that people of colour often face discrimination within the LGBTQIA+ community itself, and thus added an additional 2 stripes — black and brown — to the Pride flag, in an effort to represent the regular prejudices and struggles faced by queer people of colour. While some organisations and activists criticised the new design citing unnecessary division and boundary creation within the community, Pride festivals world-over, including in Manchester, UK, decided to adopt the design in a bid to promote inclusion, especially within the community. This came especially after a 2018 study's finding showed that 51 per cent of BAME LGBTQIA+ individuals have faced racism within the queer community. The Progress Pride Flag June 2018 saw Daniel Quasar, an activist and designer, release another version of the Pride flag, which combined the new elements of the Philadelphia design with the Transgender flag in an effort to promote further progress and inclusion. This new iteration of the flag saw a chevron added to the hoist of the traditional 6-stripe flag. The chevron represented those living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been lost, trans and non-binary persons, as well as marginalised LGBTQIA+ communities of colour. The new design went viral and was fervently adopted by pride parades and people all over the globe. The chevron's arrow purposefully points to the right in a means to represent forward movement and progress. Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag In 2021, the Pride flag was once again reinvented, with Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK adapting the previous Pride Progress flag to now incorporate the intersex flag as well, thus creating the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag of 2021. Purple and yellow are colours used by the intersex community as an intentional counterpoint against the gender defining blue and pink that have traditionally been used for years around the world. The circle further represents the idea of being whole and unbroken, denoting the right of Intersex people to make independent decisions with regards to their own bodies. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
One of S.F.'s oldest gay bars saved by new owner
The last remaining gay bar on Polk Street has found a new owner just in time for LGBTQ Pride month. Scott Taylor, the beverage director at nearby Harris' Restaurant, is taking over the bar, according to a Tuesday announcement; Taylor has spent the past 23 years working in the industry managing various restaurants, bars and nightclubs throughout San Francisco. 'There will be minimal changes to the bar's look. I want to hold onto its history,' Taylor said. That history is rich. The Cinch was founded in 1974, and is one of the oldest gay bars in the city. During that decade, it was part of a vibrant gay scene in Polk Gulch that competed with the Castro as an epicenter of queer life in the city. At its height, there were more than 60 gay bars, peepshows, bathhouses and other gay establishments in the area. The first Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco (now San Francisco Pride) was held on Polk Street in June 1970. Before news of the sale, rumors had flown that the Cinch's days could be numbered. Taylor assumes ownership from Robby Morgenstein, who ran the bar with business partner Bob Thornton. Thornton died in May 2023. The building's famed western facade is the last from the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. LGBTQ community leader Juanita More noted that when she first moved to Nob Hill in 1982, 'I often adventured down to the bars on Polk Street, with which I had been familiar since high school. And the Cinch is where I felt comfortable and began making many new friends (sometimes at the urinal).' More said she will lend her support to Taylor and 'will be by his side to ensure it succeeds and lives on for a hundred years.' On June 22, More and drag king and activist Alex U. Inn will lead the 'People's March & Rally — Unite to Fight!' for the sixth year. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. the intersection of Washington St. and Polk St., near the Cinch. The event is inspired by the first Gay Liberation protest in the neighborhood, and will progress down Polk to Civic Center for an afternoon celebration with DJs, performers and artists' booths from 12:30-4 p.m.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rainbow flag meaning: A brief history lesson on how the Pride flag came to be
Since its creation in 1978, the pride flag has become a universal symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. It represents visibility and hope and reflects the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. While the flag is easily recognized, its history may not be as well-known to everyone. Did you know the current rainbow flag is an updated design of the original? Here is a history lesson on how the pride rainbow flag came to be and the meaning behind its colors. Each of the pride flag's six rainbow colors has a unique meaning: Red: Life Orange: Healing Yellow: Sunlight Green: Nature Blue: Serenity Purple: Spirit Trans flag colors: Learn what the blue, white and pink mean to the community In the 1970s, Harvey Milk – the first openly gay elected official in California – tasked activist Gilbert Baker to design a symbol of hope for the gay community. "Harvey Milk was a friend of mine, an important gay leader in San Francisco in the '70s, and he carried a really important message about how important it was to be visible," Baker said in an interview with the Museum of Modern Art in 2015. "A flag really fit that mission, because that's a way of proclaiming your visibility, or saying, 'This is who I am!'" The original Pride flag had eight stripes, each symbolizing: Hot pink: Sex Red: Life Orange: Healing Yellow: Sunlight Green: Nature Turquoise: Magic Indigo: Serenity Purple: Spirit Prior to the rainbow flag, the pink triangle was used as a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community, according to Baker. In Nazi Germany, people were forced to wear pink triangles. While the symbol was reclaimed, the community wanted a new symbol. "We needed something beautiful, something from us," Baker said in the MoMA interview. "The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, all of those things." The original pride flag was flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade celebration on June 25, 1978, the History Channel reports. What are the colors of the lesbian flag? Get to know variations of the Pride flag The original flag was made by hand, but as they started to be mass-produced, the hot pink stripe was removed due to manufacturing difficulties, the New York Times reports. Parade organizers also wanted the rainbow to have an even number of stripes so to split and line the street along parade routes. Baker then removed the turquoise stripe, replacing it for blue, the History Channel reports. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pride flag colors, explained: What's behind the rainbow symbol?
USA Today
23-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Rainbow flag meaning: A brief history lesson on how the Pride flag came to be
Rainbow flag meaning: A brief history lesson on how the Pride flag came to be Show Caption Hide Caption Pride flag colors, explained: Meanings behind the rainbow colors The rainbow Pride flag has become a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. Here's how the flag came to be and what its colors represent. Since its creation in 1978, the pride flag has become a universal symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. It represents visibility and hope and reflects the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. While the flag is easily recognized, its history may not be as well-known to everyone. Did you know the current rainbow flag is an updated design of the original? Here is a history lesson on how the pride rainbow flag came to be and the meaning behind its colors. What do the colors of the Pride flag mean? Each of the pride flag's six rainbow colors has a unique meaning: Red: Life Orange: Healing Yellow: Sunlight Green: Nature Blue: Serenity Purple: Spirit Trans flag colors: Learn what the blue, white and pink mean to the community The history of the Gilbert Baker pride flag In the 1970s, Harvey Milk – the first openly gay elected official in California – tasked activist Gilbert Baker to design a symbol of hope for the gay community. "Harvey Milk was a friend of mine, an important gay leader in San Francisco in the '70s, and he carried a really important message about how important it was to be visible," Baker said in an interview with the Museum of Modern Art in 2015. "A flag really fit that mission, because that's a way of proclaiming your visibility, or saying, 'This is who I am!'" The original Pride flag had eight stripes, each symbolizing: Hot pink: Sex Red: Life Orange: Healing Yellow: Sunlight Green: Nature Turquoise: Magic Indigo: Serenity Purple: Spirit Prior to the rainbow flag, the pink triangle was used as a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community, according to Baker. In Nazi Germany, people were forced to wear pink triangles. While the symbol was reclaimed, the community wanted a new symbol. "We needed something beautiful, something from us," Baker said in the MoMA interview. "The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, all of those things." The original pride flag was flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade celebration on June 25, 1978, the History Channel reports. What are the colors of the lesbian flag? Get to know variations of the Pride flag How did the Pride flag come to be? The original flag was made by hand, but as they started to be mass-produced, the hot pink stripe was removed due to manufacturing difficulties, the New York Times reports. Parade organizers also wanted the rainbow to have an even number of stripes so to split and line the street along parade routes. Baker then removed the turquoise stripe, replacing it for blue, the History Channel reports.
