Work remained on tackling such problems as suicide and job discrimination, but it appeared that the mind set of many had shifted. The issues were violence, decriminalization.”īut now, he said, the parade has become a citywide celebration, with even major corporations participating. Marriage, he said, “wasn’t even on our radar. At the time, he said, being gay was criminalized, with special vice units in a number of cities targeting gays. Jones, 58, first attended the parade 41 years ago.
“The energy is remarkable.”Ĭleve Jones, a longtime gay rights activist, marveled at the evolution that had taken place, and how evident it was in Sunday’s parade. “The city is on fire,” said Schindler, 39, who is straight. “It feels like a breakthrough,” Lee, sporting a red T-shirt and a Giants cap, said before walking the route.Īdam Schindler arrived in a cowboy hat and a black tank top that said “Bike curious.” A member of the Bay Area Riders Forum, he would be riding in the parade for the second time. Political figures - Harris and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee among them - were also there to take part. The clerk’s office is open again Sunday, according to the mayor’s office.Īt Sunday’s parade, dozens of motorcycles were lined up at the start of the route, many of them part of the organization Dykes on Bikes. On Friday and Saturday, 327 marriage licenses were issued to gay couples in San Francisco.
