San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed joined LGBTQ elected and community leaders including State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Matt Dorsey, Treasurer José Cisneros, and Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger to kick off San Francisco’s 53rd annual Pride Month celebration. They were joined by City and State leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and State Controller Malia Cohen.   

The annual flag raising at City Hall marks the beginning of Pride Month, during which people from all over the world come to San Francisco to participate in many events dedicated to celebrating the City’s diversity and commitment to the LGBTQ community throughout the month of June. The festivities will culminate in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25.   

This year’s Pride will bring a renewed level of excitement for San Francisco, as the community will officially welcome San Francisco’s new Drag Laureate, D’Arcy Drollinger. Mayor Breed announced her selection for the City’s -- and nation’s-- first-ever Drag Laureate last month.  

“While in in other parts of the country the rights of LGBTQ individuals are under attack, in San Francisco we embrace and elevate the amazing people who through their advocacy and activism continue to fight for change not just here but across the world,” said Mayor Breed. “I am proud to invest in programs that send a message to the nation and the world that dignity must be afforded to everyone. This is a celebration of the both the progress we have made and the work that remains ahead.”  

“Pride is a time to celebrate who we are unconditionally, which is at the core of what it means to be a San Franciscan,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “I wish everyone a happy Pride and look forward to seeing as many people as possible at Pride events throughout the city ths month.”  

“As some states around the country attack the rights and basic dignity of LGBTQ+ people, San Francisco shines as a beacon of hope, progress and inclusion for the queer community,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “The Mayor’s flag raising ceremony at City Hall symbolizes the City’s pride in our queer history and commitment to a brighter future for LGBTQ+ people in San Francisco and beyond.”  

“San Francisco has always been a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community, and raising the Pride Flag each year is a reminder of the progress we’ve made as a City towards equality and acceptance,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “It’s also a reminder of how much work has yet to be done – we must continue to lift up and empower our queer youth and remain steadfast to protect our most vulnerable black and trans siblings. As one of the three gay members on the Board of Supervisors, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to ensure that San Francisco never stops fighting this fight.”  

“The pride flag gives hope to LGBTQ people everywhere that they are deserving of safe and joyful lives,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio. “It’s also a call to action to establish and defend the rights of every LGBTQ person. Raising this flag in San Francisco is a symbol of our city celebrating the value of LGBTQ people.”  

The City and County of San Francisco celebrates Pride month by recognizing the strength and resilience of its LGBTQ leaders and residents, and continued investments to support this community. Mayor Breed’s new budget avoids any cuts to HIV services and previously launched LGBTQ initiatives despite a massive budget deficit. This includes HIV education, prevention and treatment programs, as well as initiatives to provide economic relief for trans people as the City works to end trans homelessness. Recent investments also include the creation of the Drag Laureate position to elevate and support drag artists.  

“It is with great honor that I participate in the annual San Francisco Pride flag raising as newly appointed Drag Laureate,” said D’Arcy Drollinger. “This great city has made a choice to put a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community at a crucial juncture by making me an ambassador from world of drag arts and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to shape this role for future generations while celebrating today.”  

“San Francisco Pride is delighted to launch Pride Month alongside Mayor Breed and the City and County of San Francisco. Now in our 53rd year, we're also beyond thrilled to be producing one of the world's largest and most iconic annual celebrations of LGBTQ+ culture and liberation at the end of this month,” said Pham Nguyen, Board President for SF Pride. “Our 2023 theme is ‘Looking Back and Moving Forward,’ so we'll be spotlighting the voices and stories of our illustrious queer elders as we champion the next generation of emerging queer luminaries. We couldn't be more excited to continue to honor and uplift the world's greatest community and allies here in the world's greatest city.”  

“This year’s SF Pride is more important than ever!  Our theme this year is Looking Back and Moving Forward.  Make no mistake, that moving forward will be quite difficult. We face emboldened, organized, and concentrated hatred, aimed especially at trans people, “says Suzanne Ford, Executive Director for SF Pride. “What can we do about it?  Show up and make a statement with SF Pride that we will not be diminished or erased.  We will continue the fight that our LGBTQ elders began over 50 years ago!”  

The livestream for Mayor Breed’s 53rd Annual Pride Month Celebration kick off may be viewed here.

Original source can be found here.