San Francisco Pride

A guide to Pride events and celebrations in the city.

For the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community, June is busy with events; and all of it leads up to the last weekend when the San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration takes place. This year marks its 38th.

Along with the parade on Market St. and celebration at the Civic Center, the LGBT community also has festivals, conferences, exhibitions, and other events to possibly attend. Among them, the month-long National Queer Arts Festival and San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival.

1. 38th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration
2. National Queer Arts Festival
3. San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, Frameline32
4. In Summary, Mark These Dates Too...

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Event:
38th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration

Where:
Parade on Market Street; celebration at the Civic Center

When:
June 28-29, 2008 / Parade on Sunday, 10:30 a.m.; celebration on Saturday noon-6 p.m. and Sunday noon-7 p.m.

Cost:
Free

In Brief:
Presented by the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, the parade and celebration which culminates Pride Week is recognized as the largest in the world and annually draws more than 500,000 people. Overall, LGBT Pride events bring approximately one million people to the city of San Francisco.

The Celebration: Enjoy music, food, and fun. For free. The theme this year is "United by Pride, Bound by Equality". On Saturday, Main Stage performances will include the San Francisco Opera and Meshell Ndegeocello. On Sunday, look for performances by Charo, Cyndi Lauper (also Celebrity Marshall), Crystal Waters, and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus presentation of The Three Tenors.

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Event:
National Queer Arts Festival

Where:
LGBT Community Center, SomArts Cultural Center, and other city venues

When:
The entire month of June.

Cost:
Free to $15

In Brief:
Presented by the Queer Cultural Center, the NQAF showcases groundbreaking music, dance, visual art, spoken word, theater, film, and video, and features over 50 events and hundreds of performers. This year marks the start of its second decade.

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Event:
San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, Frameline32

Where:
Castro Theatre, Roxie Film Center, S.F. Design Center, Victoria Theatre, Swedish American Hall, and Parkway Theater (Oakland)

When:
June 19-29, 2008

Cost:
For regular screenings, ticket prices are $9 for members and $10 for non-members. For matinees, $7-$8, and for special events, cost varies. To see the closing night film, the price is $15/$20. Passes are available as well.

In Brief:
In 11 days, Frameline32 will offer "the best queer cinema from home and abroad. Cinematic stories of love, lust, friends, family, good deeds, and bad behavior," spanning countries and communities to reveal common bonds and diversity.

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In Summary:
Mark These Dates Too...

A summary of Pride Week dates.

Plus:

Related Article: "A Guide to Gay Travel in San Francisco" by About.com's Guide to Gay Travel Andrew Collins. This comprehensive look at the city of San Francisco covers it all.

LGBT Resources: Look to this detailed list of articles, blogs, and other information helpful to planning a trip to San Francisco Pride Week. Local San Francisco Guide Ingrid Taylar has collected all the resources. Thanks, Ingrid and Andrew!

Event Listings: The San Francisco Chronicle breaks down the week's events, from book readings to the theater, forum discussions to parties.

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