Pride parade in SF and Budapest

 Thousands upon thousands marched in Budapest celebrating Gay Pride after the defeat of Trump's dictator pal Orban. Our parade is today. I watched many of these parades in person when I worked at the Big Box Borders store downtown, so today I will stick to television. After many days of fog we have sunshine already this morning and it is indeed a great day to honor our LGBTQ friends.

cards and candy

 A low key holiday but still nice to be remembered by friends. Hard to believe that it has been 20 years since then Mayor Gavin Newsom told folks at City Hall to issue same-sex marriage licenses. That took courage and today it is the law of the land. And as it should be...

love is love is love

I heard on the radio that the small town of Visalia is celebrating Pride
weekend for the first time ever. It seems like SF has been doing this
forever and I have fond memories of spending my lunch hour at the
parade when I worked at Borders. We love this rainbow-themed
holiday and wish our LGBT friends a great celebration.

we love Eddie

This was actually a book promotion event last night at the Nourse
Theater and it was packed. With each ticket we got a book and then
two hours of the unbelievable Eddie Izzard. Such a smart way to
sell books ~ $50 included everything. I went with Terri who knew
and loved Eddie when we worked at Borders, I had never heard of
him, but I quickly became a HUGE fan too. He is so quick and
funny and just a delight. It was a great evening in SF and right
before the transgender Friday night event ~ will he stay?

lots of Pride

I met Dancing Jen down in Chinatown yesterday.  I got off BART
at Montgomery and Market and stopped for a few minutes to appreciate
all the color and energy of the Pride Parade. It was a glorious, sunny
day and everyone looked happy and free. Jen and I enjoyed our lunch
at the Golden Star and then stopped for coffee at Starbucks ~ one
fine Sunday for this blogger.

gay pride weekend

yesterday

today

Especially meaningful after the Orlando hate/terrorist murders. This is the
first year we have been able to see the pink triangle on Mount Sutro. Of
course you remember that the HUGE tree was removed last fall. Much as
we love trees and green, it is a joy to have this view. See how it changes
from day to day?

courage and pride

Sometimes we progressives wonder if we aren't taking three steps back
for every step forward.  But yesterday was a huge leap ahead when the
Supreme Court said "Yes!" to marriage for gays and lesbians. Imagine,
it all started here in SF in 2004 when Mayor Gavin Newsom started
marrying same sex couples. Somehow I knew then that one day it
would all work out, but I thought it would take a few more decades.
Today we celebrate for our many gay, lesbian and transgender friends!

it all started here

San Francisco City Hall celebrates the Scotus decision

Nine years ago the first same sex marriages in the United States occurred
here under the bold leadership of Mayor Gavin Newsom.  Yesterday the
Supreme Court said "Yes!" to equality and justice for all. It was a great
day indeed and much celebration all over the world.

I also want to give a "YOU GO GIRL!" to the filibustering Sen. Wendy Davis
who stood and talked on the legislature floor for 11 solid hours in (of all
places) Texas to keep that draconian anti-woman bill from passing last
Tuesday night. There will be more fights ahead, but Wendy and her
supporters are certainly prepared.

Today I am filled with hope and yes, pride. Sometimes progress seems so
slow, then we go backward, then onward. I guess it's always been that way...

it's just MARRIAGE now (soon)

Rainbow colored Empire State Building

In a few years we will all wonder what the fuss was about. How
come same-sex couples were denied the freedom to marry in
our country? The New York victory last Friday night was exactly
what was needed to make this a non-issue, and not soon enough,
as far as we are concerned. At this point I do need to tip my hat
to Gavin Newsom who, though not a great mayor, was the first
to take the courageous stand years ago by legalizing same-sex
marriage here in the city. California will get on the band wagon
soon, and then the midwest states will follow. All the right wing
religious rhetoric makes me crazy as soon as I hear the phrase,
"the sanctity of marriage" I want to scream. I like the folks who
say, "OK, let's not allow divorce anymore if marriage is so
damn sacred."