In honor of our 2009 event theme, "In Order to Form a More Perfect Union...," SF Pride is keeping tabs on the state of LGBT rights and community issues in each of the states and territories in the Union.  Below are the second set in the series.  Tell us what issues are affecting the LGBT community in your state.

Alaska - Gov. Palin's pick for Attorney General has called gays "degenerates."
Idaho - two trans women cry foul over jail treatment.
Iowa - Supreme Court votes to legalize same-sex marriage in Varnum v. Brien.
Louisiana - federal judge orders two dads listed on adopted son's birth certificate.
New York - lesbian moms get birth certificate rights.
North Carolina - majority opposes constitutional same-sex marriage ban.

Joie de Vivre is the largest collection of boutique hotels in California spanning the whole state from the quaint town of Glen Ellen in the Sonoma wine country to the surf and sand of the original Surf City, Huntington Beach.   With more than 32 unique hotels in our collection, we have a California getaway to suit your life and style.

	Harvey Milk pushes his camera store float in the 1974 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade Photo Credit: Guy Corry

Pride is a reflection of the struggles, hopes, and realities of the LGBT community.  Forty years after the Stonewall Uprising gave way to the modern LGBT rights movement, that history is still with us and continues to be a cornerstone of our annual Celebration & Parade.

	A view of the Renoir Hotel along the Pride Parade route

Renoir Hotel
45 McAllister Street
(at Market)

Call 1.800.576.3388 for booking information or email emmanuel@renoirhotel.com.

Special Pride Rate from $169 per night, June 26-28, 2009
Single/double occupancy, +15.5% Tax & SF TID assessment, 3-night minimum and prepayment required for stays including Saturday and Sunday night. Additional nights: $129-$159. Additional person: $15. Superior rooms $219 (limited availability).

The Handlery Union Square Hotel is offering 2 great Pride Packages.  Enjoy deluxe accommodations, complimentary valet parking for one car, 2 hats, and 2 boas starting at $149 for the Historic Section and $169 in the Club Section. Include 2 Grandstand Tickets for just $20 more.

For Reservations call 415-781-7800 and mention promo code PRIDE09.

	Photo Credit: Jane Cleland

Avoid late fees and ensure your position in the 2009 San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade line-up, by submitting your application before April 3, 2009.  

Please use our online registration service to sign up today!  Visit sfpride.org or follow this link:

http://register.sfpride.org

If you have any questions about the application and the fees involved, or about the Parade itself, please feel free to contact the Parade Manager, Marsha H. Levine: parade [at] sfpride.org 

San Francisco Marriott  
55 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA  94103-3199
(415) 896-1600
(800) 228-9290 Reservations

Book your reservation at the San Francisco Marriott, your passport to the 2009 Pride Parade and Celebration.  Step outside our front door to the annual events of the weekend. Savor a night cap in the View Lounge on the 39^th Floor with the spectacular view of the City’s skyline and end the night in slumber in our comfortable guest rooms featuring Marriott’s Revive Bedding.

	Photo credit: David Yu

It’s that time of year again!

San Francisco Pride is in need of fun-loving folks to help put on this year’s event. We have many Pride 2009 opportunities, so even if you live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area we can still use your support.

There are openings for the Celebration (Info Booth, Volunteer Assistant and more!), the Parade (Registration, Gap and Assembly Monitors) as well as Safety and Medical volunteers.  For more information on how you can participate in this year’s Pride event, check out our volunteer info page at www.sfpride.org and make sure to sign up online! 

Accessibility has been a critical part of San Francisco Pride's commitment to fostering a welcoming and affirming environment for the community at the annual event.

Accessibility at our event takes many forms.  To find out more, check out the Accessibility section of our website.

As your partner in transit, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates Muni, is proud to sponsor the 2009 LGBT Pride Celebration. The SFMTA celebrates the diversity of our community and recognizes the importance of equality for all people. Our goal is to provide residents and visitors of San Francisco with safe, timely, convenient and environmentally sustainable transportation options. At the SFMTA, we connect San Francisco with Pride!

Think global, share local. Join City CarShare and get hourly access to hundreds of fuel-efficient cars without the costs of ownership. You will also be investing in your community by joining the only local nonprofit, car share organization. Since you’re a part of the Pride celebration, City CarShare is giving you $30 in driving when you use to promo code Pride09 to sign at www.citycarshare.org. (Valid for ShareLocal or SharePlus until July 15, 2009)

	Your donation at the gates not only helps keep SF Pride free but also goes to support over 70 non-profit organizations. (Photo credit: Bill Wilson)

San Francisco Pride is a free community event. Economic accessibility is an important part of staying true to our commitment to the community.

So to keep SF Pride free, we ask for your donation at the gate.  Your donation not only supports Pride but goes on to support more than 70 non-profit organizations.  Donating the requested minimum at the gate also earns you a donor sticker and discounts at Pride's beverage booths.

All of our Donations Gates are staffed by non-profit organizations in the Bay Area working on issues related to the LGBT community, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS.  These organizations are our Community Partners and also help to run our beverage booths.

Since 1997, SF Pride has given over $1.4 million back to the community through our Community Partners Program.

For more information about our Community Partners Program, go here.