What's Happening in San Francisco

For ideas for your next trip, please see our full LGBT event calendar.

38th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration's 2008 theme is "United by Pride, Bound for Equality." This theme reflects both the historical role of San Francisco Pride within the LGBT civil rights movement and the importance of asserting a political stance in favor of full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and 19 stages and venues, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest LGBT gathering in the nation. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and 19 stages and venues, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest LGBT gathering in the nation. Among the celebrity grand marshals are Cyndi Lauper and Charo, who performs at Herbst Theatre on the night of June 29.

Important Information: There will be a festive parade from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center on Sunday at 10:30am along Market Street. Time: Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm, Sunday 10:30am and 12:00pm-7:00pm

The full schedule of activities will be posted as announced at http://www.sfpride.org/.
Tickets for grandstand seating are available.

To help visitors plan their Pride pilgrimages, the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) recently launched a new trip-planning portal for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender traveler on its Web site, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com.

The "Gay Travel"; micro-site www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/gaytravel is designed to become the LGBT community's one-stop shop for planning a personalized San Francisco vacation. Visitors can research the best in gay-friendly hotels, restaurants, tours and attractions; find out about special promotions from SFCVB members specifically for the LGBT community; sign-up for an LGBT visitor email newsletter; read-up on LGBT events in the City; and book flights, hotels, rental cars, activities and dining. Twenty-six SFCVB member companies have signed on as program sponsors, and major campaign sponsors include Kimpton Hotels, Hotel Nikko San Francisco, Renoir Hotel San Francisco, Le Meridien San Francisco, Parc Fifty Five Hotel, The Heritage House (Little River, CA) and Amtrak.

Although the last weekend in June is traditionally the date for San Francisco's LGBT Pride Celebration, the days leading up to and following the celebration are also filled with a number of notable LGBT events. Among them are:

The National Queer Arts Festival kicks off a month-long series of art shows, readings, performances and panels from June 1st thru June 30th. The festival, now in its eleventh year, is based at the Queer Cultural Center with performances held at more than a dozen venues. For a festival catalog, contact http://www.queerculturalcenter.org

Frameline, the world's premier showcase for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema, takes place June 19 thru June 29, 2008 with more than 250 feature and short films at the historic Castro Theater and other venues. Documentaries will once again be front and center at the 32nd annual event. For the list of films, show times and ticket information, visit http://www.frameline.org.

The Dyke March will mark its 16th anniversary on Saturday, June 28, 2008. Starting at 3 pm from 18th and Dolores streets, the rally is followed by the 7 pm march and motorcycle ride. Details are available at www.dykemarch.com. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are the organizers of the traditional Pink Party, a.k.a. Pink Saturday, following this event on Saturday evening; information is available at www.thesisters.org.

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The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau continues its LGBT tourism efforts in concert with the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA), the country's first LGBT Chamber of Commerce. 

Travel packages (including hotel stays) for summer activities can be booked through the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.onlyInsanfrancisco.com or by calling 800-637-5196. A link from the home page takes visitors to the gay travel section.