The core of SF Pride is a street festival at Civic Center and a Dykes-on-Bikes-led march during the last weekend in June. Together they’re considered the largest LGBT gathering in the U.S., and you’ll find details in our guide to the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade. But that weekend and the rest of June, San Francisco hosts many other activities bursting with LGBT pride. Here are some of the offerings in 2011.
Fresh Meat Festival
June 16-19
This transgender and queer performance festival presents four nights of shows plus receptions afterward with a DJ and drinks. Performers include Vogue Evolution (of America’s Best Dance Crew), in its first Bay Area appearance, ballroom world champs Robbie Tristan and Willem DeVries, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Men’s Chorus, all-male hula troupe Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu and Sean Dorsey Dance.
At Z Space @ Theater Artaud, 450 Florida St. Tickets $15-20 sliding scale.
Frameline35
June 16-26
The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival screens 230 films at the Castro and other theaters. Includes musicals, animation, a vampire comedy spoof and films about asexual people, tennis star Renee Richards, crusader Del Martin, comedian Margaret Cho, Chaz Bono (a grand marshal in this year’s SF Pride Parade), and gays in the Middle East, South Africa and Belarus. Christopher and His Kind, about Christopher Isherwood’s tales of 1930s Berlin, is the closing film.
At various movie theaters. Tickets for single screenings $8-15.
Hootenanny!
June 17, 18
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sings good ol’ country tunes (think Oklahoma, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette) to get you whooping and clapping. Also features the Whoa Nellies Band and Barbary Coast Cloggers.
At Morgan Auditorium, Academy of Art University, 491 Post St. Tickets $15-40.
GGBA's Pride Business Expo
June 23, at 5-8 pm
The Golden Gate Business Association’s trade show brings together consumers and LGBT-owned or –related businesses.
At Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market St. Tickets $5.
A Truly Fabulous NightLife
June 23, at 6-10 pm
Cal Academy’s after-hours series presents a drag show of Trannyshack stars and a Tranimal Costume Contest (a “tranimal” is a morph of an animal and human of any gender you wish, or an animalistic, post-modern version of a drag queen). Also films from the Frameline Film Festival and music by Miss Juanita MORE! and others.
At the California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park. Ages 21+. Tickets: Academy members $10; general public $12.
Eden: All Women, All Weekend
June 23-26
An all-women’s weekend featuring a party each night (three, in fact, on Friday), comedy and stars from The Real L Word.
At various venues. Ticket prices vary. Info: info@movementinthebay.com or (510) 842-6315.
Trans March
June 24, at 3:30 pm
The premier transgender event of SF Pride. See and be seen from 3:30 pm on; begin marching at 6:30 pm.
At Dolores Park. Free.
Tales of the City Hosted by Olympia Dukakis
June 24, at 8 pm
Dukakis, who played Mrs. Madrigal in the TV mini-series version of Tales of the City, sees for the first time American Conservatory Theater’s musical production of Tales. Two optional add-ons, a post-performance party and a pre-show dinner at Fleur de Lys, offer the opportunity to meet Dukakis, who is a grand marshal in Sunday’s SF Pride parade. Proceeds benefit A.C.T. and Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation.
At A.C.T. , 415 Geary St. Tickets $55-1,500.
Annual Pride Concert
June 24, at 8 pm
Five LGBT choral or instrumental ensembles perform on one night, with emcee Trauma Flintstone.
At Everett Auditorium, 450 Church St. Tickets: $15-30.
Mamas & Papas Pride Potluck Brunch
June 25, at 11 am-1 pm
All families welcome. Bring a dish, play and help decorate posters for Sunday’s pride parade.
At Civic Center Playground (Larkin and Grove streets). Free. Info: julia@ourfamily.org or (415) 865-5649.
Gay Pride Freedom Ride and LGBTQ History Bike Tour
June 25, at 2-5 pm
An eight-mile bike ride on Market Street and through North Beach, Polk Gulch, Civic Center, the Tenderloin, SOMA, the Mission, Valencia and the Castro hits important sites in LGBTQ history. Led by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
Meet at Cupid's Arrow artwork at the Embarcadero and Folsom street. Free for SFBC members; suggested but voluntary $5 for non-members.
Dyke March
June 25, at 3 pm
This year’s theme is “Better Together.” Rally in the park at 3-7 pm; march through the Mission and Castro at 7 pm.
At Dolores Park. Suggested donation $5-10.
Closing Party
June 26, at 7 pm
Grammy-nominee Taylor Dayne belts out songs. DJ Leonardo Glovibes spins tunes and winners of Ru Paul's Drag Race perform.
At the Regency Ballroom, 1300 Sutter St. Tickets $65.
