Bay Area LGBTQ+ communities kicking Pride Month with celebrations and call to action
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One flag at a time, communities across the Bay Area are kicking off Pride Month from Sonoma County to Oakland, and San Francisco, where this year's parade grand marshals ushered in the celebration.
"It's about just being your authentic self and just being you and not thinking about anything else," said grand marshal, Nicole Adler.
"It's embracing the fact that we can shine and also be a beacon of light, even in the darkest time," added grand marshal, Tory Teasley.
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"The theme this year is 'Beacon of Love.' And, I think that that's what it means to me this year," said Suzanne Ford, Executive Director, San Francisco Pride, noting in this election year the stakes are higher than ever.
"Here in San Francisco, we're going to stand up for the right things and trans rights, LGBTQ rights, our human rights. And we're going to do that work."
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The ACLU is currently tracking more than 500 bills taking aim at the LGBGTQ+ community, many of them focused on transgender youth.
"I mean, you're really seeing so many people under attack in many parts of the country and even right here at home," said Rebecca Rolfe, Executive Director, SF LGBT Center. "We still have a fight ahead of us, but we have prevailed and we will continue to prevail."
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And while the battle continues, so too will the party.
"We want millions of people out on the street. We want to do the right thing. We want to fight that hate," said Ford. "And, we also want to have a jubilant time."
