"It's just fabulous. I've done this for so many years and it was a big loss that we couldn't do it," said Lynne Shepherd, who marched alongside her partner and two daughters.
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"It's inspirational, it makes me feel great and I love seeing all the different people, the diversity all of it," said her partner, Michelle Contini.
Watch ABC7's exclusive live SF Pride coverage on TV and streaming online now as the parade kicks off with Reggie Aqui, Drew Tuma, Liz Kreutz, Jobina Fortson, Julian Glover, and the rest of the ABC7 team.
"Oh my God, it's amazing it's an amazing feeling," said Ana Lazo, ahead of the march at Dolores Park, there with her wife of 15 years.
The crowd made its way from Dolores and 18th streets winding to the Castro.
"You know it's so great to see so many coming out here for pride. We're seeing a great, great turnout," said Dave Karraker, co-president of the Castro Merchants Association. "People want to get out of the house. They really want to get out on the streets. They want to celebrate. So they are down here with their families celebrating Pride."
ALLIES IN ACTION: Embracing LGBTQ+ Families
Allies in Action roundtable discussion: Embracing LGBTQ+ Families
The mood, while celebratory, was also somber in wake of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.
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"Yesterday we had a really sad day with what happened with the Supreme Court and we're going to have to fight like hell," said Lazo, noting concerns over what the Supreme Court's ruling could signal for LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage.
"It's coming. It's coming," she said. "They're coming for us. Because they don't believe we should have the same rights as everyone else and I think it's just a matter of time for them to come for us."
In the meantime, they march with allies alongside, including daughters. "It matters to me because I want my mom to be happy," said Lynne Shepherd's daughter, Jordan Jaeger. "Seeing her happy makes me happy because she's my mom."
"We need everyone right now in this time," said Shepherd. "Especially the Roe versus Wade thing, it's huge, so we need everyone on board and standing with us."
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