History of Pride

In the early hours of the morning of June 28, 1969, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village sparked the Stonewall riots, one of the first well-known instances of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rebellion against government-sponsored oppression of LGBT people. One year later, on the one-year anniversary of Stonewall on June 28, 1970, the first Pride marches were held in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

2013 marks the 43rd anniversary of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade -- forty-three years of fighting for LGBT visibility, dignity, and equality.

Here you will find information about all past San Francisco Pride events, from Stonewall and our early days as a Gay-In in 1970 to our most recent events.

2011
- Theme:
  In Pride We Trust
- Milestone:
  30 Years of HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- LGBT Rights:
  'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal,
  New York Marriage Equality
2010
- Theme:
  40 & Fabulous
- On Stage:
  Backstreet Boys
- Major Events:
  House Speaker Pelosi Video Message
2009
- Theme:
  "In Order to Form a
  More Perfect Union..."
- On Stage:
  BoA, Solange Knowles
- LGBT Rights:
  Question 1 passes in Maine
2008
- Theme:
  United by Pride,
  Bound for Equality
- On Stage:
  Lady Gaga
- LGBT Rights:
  CA Supreme Court strikes down same-sex marriage ban,
  Proposition 8 passes

2007
- Theme:
  Pride, Not Prejudice
- In the Parade:
  Cyndi Lauper
  Iraq War Veteran Eric Alva
- Major Events:
2006
- Theme:
  Commemorate, Educate, Liberate - Celebrate!
- Celebrity Grand Marshals:
  Jennifer Beals
2005
- Theme:
  Stand Up, Stand Out,
  Stand Proud
- On Stage:
  En Vogue
- Major Events:
2004
- Theme:
  Out 4 Justice
- On Stage:
  Chaka Khan
- Major Events:
  Newlyweds in Pride Parade

2003
- Theme:
  You've Gotta Give Them Hope
- On Stage:
  Jennifer Holliday
- Major Events:
2002
- Theme:
  Be Yourself, Change the World
- Celebrity Grand Marshals:
  Sharon Gless
  Sir Ian McKellen
- Major Events:
2001
- Theme:
  Queerific
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
2000
- Theme:
  It's About Freedom
- Grand Marshals:
  Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
  Supervisor Tom Ammiano
- Major Events:

1999
- Theme:
  Proud Heritage, Powerful Future
- Major Events:
  Official reception at City Hall during event
1998
- Theme:
  Shakin' It Up
- Major Events:
  President Clinton signs Pride statement for first time
- LGBT Rights:
  Hawai'i's Amendment 2 creates constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
1997
- Theme:
  One Community, Many Faces
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1996
- Theme:
  Equality & Justice for All
- On Stage:
- Major Events:

1995
- Theme:
  A World Without Borders
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1994
- Theme:
  San Francisco to Stonewall:
  Pride & Protest
- Major Events:
  1st year event name changed to Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
1993
- Theme:
  Year of the Queer
- LGBT Rights:
  Hawai'i State Supreme Court ruling in Baehr v. Lewin
1992
- Theme:
  A Simple Matter of Justice
- On Stage:
- Major Events:

1991
- Theme:
  Hand in Hand Together
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1990
- Theme:
  The Future is Ours!
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1989
- Theme:
  Stonewall 20:
  A Generation of Pride
- Milestone:
  20th Anniversary of Stonewall
1988
- Theme:
  Rightfully Proud
- On Stage:
- Major Events:

1987
- Theme:
  Proud, Strong, United
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1986
- Theme:
  Forward Together,
  No Turning Back
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1985
- Theme:
  Honor Our Past,
  Secure Our Future
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1984
- Theme:
  Unity & More in '84
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
  15th Anniversary of Stonewall

1983
- Theme:
  Strengthen the Ties,
  Break the Chains
- Major Events:
1982
- Theme:
  Out of Many ... One
- Major Events:
  Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is defined by the CDC in September
1981
- Theme:
  Front Line of Freedom
- Major Events:
  Rare medical cases among a handful of young gay men in New York and California mark the beginning of the AIDS epidemic
1980
- Theme:
  Liberty and Justice for All
- On Stage:
- Major Events:

1979
- Theme:
  Our Time Has Come
- Milestone:
  10th anniversary of Stonewall
- Major Events:
  Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone assassinated
1978
- Theme:
  Come Out with Joy,
  Speak Out for Justice
- In the Parade:
  Supervisor Harvey Milk
- Major Event:
  First-ever rainbow flag debuts in the Parade
1977
- Theme:
  Gay Frontiers:
  Past, Present, Future
- LGBT Rights:
  Anita Bryant 'Save the Children' Campaign
1976
- Theme:
  United for Freedom,
  Diversity is Our Strength
- On Stage:
- Major Events:

1975
- Theme:
  Join Us: The More Visible We Are, the Stronger We Become
- Major Events:
1974
- Theme:
  Gay Freedom by '76
- In the Parade:
  Harvey Milk
- LGBT Rights:
1973
- Theme:
  A Celebration of the
  Gay Experience
- On Stage:
- Major Events:
1972
- Theme:
  Gay Pride
- Major Events: