Remembering Orlando with Pride

June 27, 2016 Gloss Magazine

REMEMBERING ORLANDO WITH PRIDE

By Sean Sullivan

When Orlando happened everything changed. Whether we describe ourselves as political people or not, many gays checked out of any thought of continued activism exactly a year ago when the Supreme Court acknowledged marriage equality as a right in all 50 states. It was like Hooray! …and we’re done. Our struggle has never been about marriage equality but instead to live freely and equally as LGBT people.

What Orlando demonstrates is that we are still not yet free or safe.

We are not free to be ourselves in clubs meant for us anymore than we were free in 1997 when an explosive went off in an Atlanta gay club, or anymore free than in 1973 when arsonists set fire to a gay club in New Orleans. Those crimes against us weren’t perpetrated by guns, but many, myself included, are hoping that this moment can be one where our country passes sensible gun legislation to ensure that crimes of this magnitude can not happen again so simply.

United in our identity, we are still each unique and are all dealing with this tragedy in our own unique way. The political answers are never easy nor is moving through the emotional morass this tragedy forces us through.

What I hope we can all draw from this is to be more vigilant in our lives as LGBT people. Tens of thousands of people have already stepped forward to hold vigils across the world. You don’t have to be an activist but we all can be more active in looking out for each other on the streets, in bars, clubs and wherever we find community.

Lastly, I hope we can find ways to commemorate our fallen. Whether you know any of those murdered or not, please read their name out loud and see if you are the same as when you started.

Stanley Almodovar III, Amanda Alvear, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, Antonio Davon Brown, Darryl Roman Burt II, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Juan Chevez-Martinez, Luis Daniel Conde, Cory James Connell, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Leroy Valentin Fernandez, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Paul Terrell Henry, Frank Hernandez, Miguel Angel Honorato, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, Christopher Andrew Leinonen, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, Gilberto Ramon, Silva Menendez, Kimberly Morris, Akyra Monet Murray, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jean Carlos, Mendez Perez, Enrique L. Rios, Jr., Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Shane Evan Tomlinson, Martin Benitez Torres, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Luis S. Vielma, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, Luis Daniel, Wilson-Leon, & Jerald Arthur Wright.

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(This Pride month) …we need to celebrate more than ever, sending a message, loud and clear, we will NOT be silenced nor intimidated. Don’t be afraid or paranoid when going to clubs and bars. -SF Gay Filmmaker Amir Jaffer

SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 25 | Saturday LGBT Pride Festival, 12-6pm, San Francisco Civic Center

Bring your friends and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment in San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. There will be over a dozen Community Produced Stages and Venues for you to enjoy.

On the Main Stage: Jessica Sutta, AB Soto, JES, Shaun J. Wright, Sister Roma, Dai Burger, Alexx Mack, Spice Queers, CHEER San Francisco, Siobhan Aluvalot, DJ Miss Pop, Kat C.H.R., Infinite & Pocket featuring Babii Cris, & Kara Zordel.

Sunday, June 26 | 46th Annual SF LGBT Pride Parade, 10:30am, Market Street, SF

The 46th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade kicks off at 10:30am down Market Street in San Francisco, with over 200 contingents. The theme for the 2016 parade is “For Racial and Economic Justice.” Click here for the latest information on our Grand Marshals.

Celebrity Grand Marshals: The Ladies of TRANSCENDENT.

Community Grand Marshals: Larry Yang, Mia “Tu Mutch” Sayta, Fresh! White, & Janetta Johnson.

Organizational Grand Marshal: Black Lives Matter.

Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Mike Shriver.

Sunday, June 26 | Sunday LGBT Pride Festival, 11am-6pm, San Francisco Civic Center

After the parade, come down to Civic Center and spend the afternoon at one of the largest gatherings of the LGBT community and allies in the nation. The celebration site doubles in size to 20 Stages and Venues, plus our Main Stage, so there’s something for everyone, including a Youth Space, 60+ Space, Family Garden, Deaf/Hard-of-hearing, accessibility services, and more!

On the Main Stage: Peaches, Psychic TV, Hector Fonseca, BETTY, BeBe Sweetbriar, Duserock and Friends, CHEER San Francisco, Bluebird, BAAITS, Liam Mayclem, Carnie Asada, Z LaLa, Mix’d Ingrdnts, Breathless, HipHop4Change, San Francisco Dykes on Bikes, Clair Farley, & Bishop Yvette Flunder.

Community Stages and Venues – Main Stage: Cheer San Francisco, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gathering Space, Faerie Freedom Village, Global Village Stage, Club 21/Club BNB International Stage, Queer Youth Space, Soberfest 2016, ESTRELLA TV Latin Stage Powered by Club Papi & Steamworks, LGBT Family Garden, Sonic Reducer Stage, Indie Oasis Stage, Homo Hip Hop Stage, LEFT Magazine Dance Music Celebration Stage, Sundance Country-Western Dance Corral, Women’s Stage, Tantra Trance, Soul of Pride African Diaspora Stage and Village, Leather Alley, Asian & Pacific Islander Community Pride Stage & Pavilion, & Gray Pride: 60+ Space.

Sunday, June 26 | Official San Francisco Pride VIP Party, 2pm, San Francisco City Hall

Come to our VIP Party and enjoy delicious appetizers, hosted drinks, and three fabulous rooms of entertainment in the historic City Hall Rotunda:

Under The Rotunda: We R All Bowie, Mix’d Ingrdnts Does Prince, & Fashion Show by Bianca Starr: The Essence of Vogue.

Purple Stardust Discotheque: Jason Brock, DJ Lamont, Sexitude, & The First Church of The Sacred Siversexual.

Dirty Mind Cabaret: Vivvyanne Forevermore!, Honey Mahogany, Sue Casa, Kitty Von Quim, Dulce De Leche, & Lol McFiercen.

SAN DIEGO PRIDE

Friday & Saturday, July 15-16

San Diego Pride, More @sdpride.org

In light of the tragic events in Orlando, we again invite all attendees to take part in this annual tradition that this year will demonstrate our resolve, our solidarity, and our love. Bring your friends, family, and signs of support. Let’s make this the biggest and best Pride San Diego has ever seen. #OrlandoStrong