SF Pride Parade^®

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Theme: Embrace, Encourage, Empower

The Parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 30 at Market & Beale and ends at Market & 8th Street in downtown San Francisco [MAP]

Parade Information

Theme
The 2013 San Francisco Pride theme is, "Embrace, Encourage, Empower" and was selected by Pride's membership at their Annual General Planning Meeting in September.

What is a Parade Contingent?
A Parade contingent is fundamentally about representing a cause, message, or belief in front of a diverse audience of Parade-goers. Parade contingents generally organize their contingent’s look around some central theme: celebrating self, celebrating diversity, standing against LGBT discrimination, speaking out for one’s ideals, honoring LGBT history, recognizing friends and allies, or standing for a loved one lost. The possibilities are many.

Multiple Contingents/Partnering Requests
New for the 2013 Parade are some changes in registration for multiple group contingents. Now, you’ll be selecting the Partnering Request option on the application form, allowing you to specify up to THREE nonprofits or not-for-profit organizations you would like to march alongside. A $25 fee will be assessed for each partnering request (i.e., per organization requested). Each year, 10 partnering requests will be guaranteed, pending all of the named organizations are registered and fully paid prior to the May 6, 2013, Parade application deadline. You will be asked to supply the names of the organizations, and fulfillment will be determined by the latest date of full payment from all partners. An additional 10 Partnering Requests, totaling 20 per anum, will be considered but not guaranteed, and will not be refundable.

Parade Application

All Parade applications are processed online. Click the button below to begin your application through our online registration system.

Early Registration
Early registration for those contingents that (a) have participated in the previous two consecutive Parades, (b) apply and pay their fees before the April deadline, and (c) are in good standing with SF Pride will be eligible to have the basic application fee and up to ONE vehicle fee waived. All contingents, regardless of application date and payment, will need to cover the environmental fee and fees for any additional vehicles.

FREE Float Building Workshop

Date and time for the workshop will be announced in April. Our free Float Building Workshop usually takes place in mid-May.

San Francisco Pride will hold a nuts and bolts session about the planning and execution of parade floats. RSVP with the names and emails of your attending representatives.

Contingent Monitor Requirements

Each contingent will need to recruit volunteers willing to walk the parade route with your contingent and act as a contingent monitor for your contingent. All vehicles also require contingent monitors to serve as wheel monitors. Here is how you figure out how many Contingent Monitors you need for your group:

2-25 persons marching = 2 Contingent Monitors
26 to 50 persons marching = 4 Contingent Monitors
51 to 75 persons marching = 6 Contingent Monitors
76 to 100 persons marching = 8 Contingent Monitors
100+ = Add another 2 Contingent Monitors per 25 persons

Vehicles
An additional 2 Contingent Monitors are required per axle (e.g. a car with 2 axles wo9uld require and additional 4 Wheel Monitors)

** All contingent monitors are REQUIRED to attend a training, even if they attended a training last year. A schedule of trainings will be provided in your confirmation packet. The trainings take place in the East Bay, on the Peninsula, and in San Francisco. Click here for a current schedule of monitor trainings.

General Parade Information

Close the Gap!
Gaps in the Parade can disrupt the steady flow of the procession. This year we will be continuing to implement a plan to minimize gaps and to improve the flow of the Parade. The success of this plan depends on the cooperation of all contingents.

Stationed along the Parade route on the MUNI islands will be stationed a number of Gap Monitors who may provide instructions to your contingent to slow down or resume a safe pace. Your group's trained Contignent Monitors will be responsible for helping to get your contingent to comply with the Gap Monitors directions. At no point should you be asked to assume a pace than is faster than what is safe for your contingent's participants or for other participants in the Parade.

Parade Route
Subject to Permit, Parade will begin on Market and Beale and proceed west on Market to Eighth Street. The Parade will kickoff promptly at 10:30 a.m. Trolleys that use the "F" Market tracks on Market Street will not be permitted on the Parade Route. Click here to see a map of the Parade route.

Mylar
The use of Mylar for either decor or construction of parade entries is prohibited.

Animal Units
"Animals" here refers to horses, elephants and other large animals, not cats, dogs, or other household pets. Those planning to have animals within their contingent must make prior arrangements with the SFSPCA and the SF Department of Public Works. In accordance with city ordinances you are responsible for cleaning up after your animals in the Parade assembly area and along the Parade route.

Line-up
A number of factors determine your placement in the Parade. We attempt to accommodate as many contingents' wishes as possible.

Parade Safety

Your contingent must listen to and comply with all directions given by SF Pride Safety Monitors. In particular, all contingents and their participants must:

• (1) not throw items from a Parade contingent into the crowd
• (2) not board or dismount a moving vehicle
• (3) not be under the influence of mind-altering substances while participating in the Parade

A warning will be given to your contingent should you be found to be in violation of items #1 and #2 above, and a penalty of $500 for each infraction may be levied without prejudice to further recourse. Participants found to be in violation of item #3 above will be asked to leave the Parade route, and SF Pride reserves the right to remove your contingent without a refund in the event of multiple or egregious violations of any of the above-listed prohibitions and/or if in our reasonable estimation continued participation of your contingent in the Parade constitutes a safety hazard to you, to your contingent participants, to our volunteers, staff, and other personnel, and/or to event attendees. If infractions continue after the warning has been given your contingent may be removed from the route.

GUIDELINES FOR CONTINGENT PARTICIPATION

National Businesses, Franchises, and Third-Party Sponsorship

National corporations or franchises must obtain express written permission from the Pride Committee in order to participate in the Parade. Your contingent cannot be sponsored by or display logos or trademarks from, third-party businesses or organizations without the express written permission of the Pride Committee. Such permission, if granted, may include additional fees and conditions. Please contact us for more information.

Vehicle Contingents

Motorcycles
If you wish to ride with the Dykes on Bikes, do not fill out this application. Please fill out a separate Dykes on Bikes application through the Dykes on Bikes website. All other Motorcycle drivers should apply either individually or in clubs, using the Parade application. Please contact the SF Pride office for details about motorcycle participation in the Parade.

Driver and Vehicle information
All drivers must possess a valid driver's license. All vehicles must be insured and registered for the day of the Parade. Vehicles must be in good physical as well as operating condition.

Vehicle/Float Dimensions
Below are the maximum dimensions of floats that can be displayed on Market Street. Please contact us if your float will be larger than these dimensions as we might be able to creatively accommodate floats that are larger.

• Height: 12 feet (to clear MUNI wires)
• Length: 40 feet
• Width: 100 inches (including rails)
• Street Clearance: 12 inches above ground (to clear MUNI islands)

Performance Maneuvers

Maneuvers
Please attach a description of all maneuvers, formations, or other exhibitions that have the potential to slow or stop the pace of the Parade in your online Parade application. Your description should include an approximate length of time and, if applicable, location for each maneuver. Failure to submit an accurate description of planned maneuvers or any attempt to insert a non-disclosed maneuver on Parade day can result in removal and/or denial of future participation in SF Pride's sole discretion.

Elected Officials and Political Statements

Participation of Elected Officials and Candidates
San Francisco Pride has a long history of empowering the LGBT Community and providing a venue for freedom of expression. This tradition is and has always been subject to the regulations which we must observe in relation to political activity in order to preserve the 501(c)3 charitable status for the event and to comply with our agreement with the City and County of San Francisco for funding from the Grants for the Arts/Hotel Tax Fund. Our articles of incorporation preclude the participation in the Parade of any candidate for elected office. Similarly our contract with Grants for the Arts precludes candidates from being in the Parade.

Copies of the relevant sections of SFLGBTPCC’s articles and Grants for the Arts contractual requirements are available upon request. An important distinction is that an incumbent may participate in the Parade in their capacity as an officeholder. Anyone may participate in a personal capacity as long as they do not campaign for elective office or advocate for the election or defeat of a candidate for office.

When filling out the application you cannot for example fill out the form phrased "XYZ for Supervisor," however, "Supervisor XYZ," or "XYZ Community Activist" would be permissible. Please keep in mind that signage displayed on the Parade route such as, "Re-elect XYZ for Supervisor" is not possible either. Office holders take part in the Parade representing their office and must refrain from campaigning.

Officeholders participate in the Parade in protocol order. Elected officials are not grouped together as a single section of the Parade but will, within the overall line-up, still observe protocol order. Where two or more elected official ride together in the Parade, they assume the protocol ranking of the most junior.

Political Statements
Our Grants for the Arts grant contract specifies that funds that we receive from them cannot go to the support or sponsorship of political banners, placards or other signage that endorses, or discourages endorsement of, legislation or a political candidate.

The rules in relation to this area are complex and the Pride Committee can offer advice and guidance as how to achieve your objective without falling afoul of the rules. Any political statements or endorsements made by participants in the Parade are not necessarily the opinions expressed by the SFLGBTPCC; nor does the SFLGBTPCC contribute financially to the signage or display of these opinions.

Questions & Contact Information
Have a question? No problem! Email us.