Tens of thousands of people took part in the San Francisco Pride Celebration this past Sunday, where over 200 contingents took the two-mile walk down Market Street. This was the 55th San Francisco Pride Parade.
Once named “International Lesbian and Gay Freedom Day,” the annual event has always been both a celebration and a protest—and there was plenty to protest about this year. In just the past six months, state legislators across the U.S. have introduced over 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with most targeting trans youth.
The San Francisco Pride Parade is now one of the world’s largest and normally brings many international visitors to the city, but not this year. U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel restrictions kept people away.
This year’s theme was “Queer Joy Is Resistance,” and the joyful spirit was evident among the participants—even as the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. is confronted with political strategies aiming to harm them. Basic human rights are being threatened by the president and his agents. But as one parade watcher said, “Their worst fear is a joyous queer!”
