A Chance Experience, Pride Festival, San Francisco

    With so many pride-centric events and marches happening this weekend, I wanted to share some photos and words from my chance opportunity last summer to experience the San Francisco GLBT pride festival.

    I was tagging along with my wife on a business trip last June on the west coast and just happened to arrive in downtown San Francisco in the middle of the massive pride festival that took over the San Fran civic complex for a day.

    With a large chunk of afternoon to myself that day; I strapped on my walking shoes and my Cannon Eos and set out on foot to check out this pride event that I'd heard so much about in the news.

    The bay area weather and crazy hills of downtown San Francisco make it a pleasure to walk. I probably walked over 5 miles when exploring the festival and taking snapshots of the huge crowds and beautiful cityscape that is San Fran.

    Some of our favorite places to eat and relax back home in Dallas are prominently gay neighborhoods like the West Village and Uptown. Those neighborhoods are usually cleaner, more relaxed, and much more upscale than typical Dallas. San Fran certainly doesn't disappoint in this area. It is a great town to visit, regardless of orientation. The people, places, foods, and deeply diverse culture of SF makes it a true pleasure to visit.

    What I noticed the most about the people in attendance at the pride parade/festival was the calm and accepting vibe. Even I, the straight Texas, tourist, with a camera was accepted and respected just as much as any other person. People gladly posed for photos and asked who I was reportng for.  It was a memorable and eye opening experience for me. I was truly impressed by the number of people who gladly turned out to show their support.

    There was extensive media coverage and mainstream support present at the festival. The sheer number of people who showed their support for the gay community at this and other festivals around the world, shows that the pride movement is a growing and powerful voice in our media and in our neighborhoods. The gay community is no longer allowing the ignorants and conservatives of the world marginalize their proud lifestyles. Shows of support like this are monumental and important in empowering the pride movement. Freedom, choice, and respect for all lifestyles -sounds like progress to me. Great festival, absolutely Fabulous.