The 2020 San Francisco Pride celebration has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizers say “that the risks to public health of a large-scale gathering such as Pride preclude this year’s production of the annual event.”
“This was not a decision we arrived at lightly,” Executive Director Fred Lopez said in a news release. “Far from it: Our staff has been in frequent talks with our Board, our production team, our partners at many departments of City Hall, officials at other Pride organizations worldwide — and most of all, our LGBTQ communities. We have heard from people who urged us to cancel, and from those who implored us not to.
“Since the coronavirus first emerged, we have held out hope that the situation would shift and we would be able to gather later this year,” Lopez added. “Well before the first shelter-in-place order, our team began to balance our excitement for Pride 50 and evaluate possible alternatives. With heavy hearts, we have decided not to go forward with the Parade and Celebration in 2020.”
Board President Carolyn Wysinger knows that many will be saddened by this news, given what Pride symbolizes both to the City of San Francisco and to LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
“We know our decision means disappointment, canceled plans, and one less thing for us all to look forward to,” Wysinger said. “We also know that protecting the safety of all our communities is the most important. We look forward to gathering with all of you, our friends and our families and our allies. In the meantime, SF Pride will offer new and creative ways to commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride.”
Since its start in 1970, the San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration have brought thousands of people to celebrate Pride in downtown San Francisco. This year’s Pride, originally set for June 27-28, was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the event. More than 275 contigents were set to take place in the parade.
“Pride is one of my favorite times of the year in San Francisco, and no one wants to celebrate with the entire community more than I do,” Mayor London N. Breed said. “However, we are in an unprecedented public-health emergency with an uncertain future, and we must do everything we can to protect our entire community and put public health first. The City will continue to work with SF Pride to celebrate everything Pride stands for in the weeks and months to come, and San Francisco will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.”
San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose district includes the Castro neighborhood, says that the Pride organization has made the right decision given the circumstances.
“While I am of course disappointed that we can’t celebrate in person this year, I’m excited to see the virtual alternatives that our LGBTQ communities come up with,” Mandelman says. “We know how many people Pride brings to San Francisco, and we hope to welcome everyone back soon.”
Senator Scott Wiener concurs.
“First and foremost, I want to thank SF Pride for making the right — albeit very tough — decision to cancel in-person pride events this year,” Wiener says. “I have no doubt that SF Pride will put together a terrific slate of virtual events for this year’s celebration.
“Pride is my favorite part of every year, and though it’s disappointing that we can’t be together in person, we will find creative ways to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQ community.”
SF Pride plans to join with other Pride organizations in the “Virtual Global Pride” celebration on Saturday, June 27.
For more information, visit www.sfpride.org.
I have tears in my eyes after reading my appreciation piece for #johnprine. So, maybe, I did what I needed to do here. @JohnPrineMusic https://t.co/Fs42KpjnkO
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) April 8, 2020
I sure hope he’s wrong.
Health expert says concerts, sporting events probably won’t return until the fall …. of 2021. @mercnews @eastbaytimes https://t.co/geezADicCn
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) April 13, 2020
#outsidelands lineup leaked?
I predicted back in February that @lizzo and #thestrokes would headline @sfoutsidelands .. And it now appears I was right, according to leaked lineup https://t.co/qX1hOaGh7B
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) April 10, 2020
