San Francisco, CA —Today San Francisco celebrated Mayor London N. Breed’s annual LGBTQ Pride Month Kickoff and Flag Raising at City Hall in honor of the City’s ongoing leadership and commitment to LGBTQ rights and equality. The in-person and streaming event included honoring this year’s Pride grand marshals, remarks by LGBTQ elected officials and community leaders, and featured special performances by the Gay and Lesbian Freedom Band – the official band of San Francisco—and renowned opera singer Breanna Sinclairé.
Mayor Breed raised the Pride flag on the Mayor’s Balcony with Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, and Fred Lopez and Carolyn Wysinger from SF Pride.
“After a long year for our City, we are honored to commemorate the 51st Pride Month celebration in San Francisco, which embodies the strength of the LGBTQ community and our City’s commitment to LGBTQ rights and equality,” said Mayor London Breed. “The day also marks the first day that we are opening the doors to City Hall to public services that had been offered remotely during the pandemic. This is a great day to celebrate both our pride for our City and for the LGBTQ community.”
Although, Pride Month looks different this year due to the pandemic, communities are still coming together safely to celebrate LGBTQ history and the community through a series of in-person and virtual events. Check out additional events here and visit San Francisco Pride for additional information here.
“I'm thrilled to kickoff Pride this year in a time of optimism and positivity, as our communities start to reopen and move past the darkness of the pandemic,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “I am excited to celebrate Pride in person and virtually, and to be with our diverse and wonderful LGBTQ community here in San Francisco.”
“After more than a year of isolation, gathering together to mark the beginning of a month of Pride is more meaningful than ever,” said Treasurer José Cisneros. “As we raise the flag today, let us remember all those we lost from AIDS, from COVID-19, from racism and from transphobia.”
“San Francisco is ready for Pride 2021! Our City’s data-driven, science-based response to COVID-19 saved lives and has allowed us to reopen just in time to welcome Pride to the ballpark, Frameline to the Castro Theater and customers back into queer-owned small businesses,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “With the Mayor’s announcement of historic investments in our LGBTQ community - including the world’s first trans basic income program, mental health support services for LGBTQ seniors and a home for the worlds’ first LGBT museum right here in San Francisco - this year’s Pride is a season to celebrate indeed!”
“Today, we come together to reopen our City and celebrate our LGBTQ community in San Francisco and around the world as we raise the Pride flag—a continued symbol of our hope and resiliency during Pride Month and beyond,” said Clair Farley, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives. “We are grateful for Mayor Breed’s quick action during the pandemic and her ongoing support for the LGBTQ community, both through her words and actions including investing resources and services for those most impacted by the pandemic specifically our LGBT seniors, Black and Latinx Transgender women, small businesses and artists.”
The City of San Francisco celebrates Pride month by recognizing the strength and resilience of its LGBTQ leaders, and by making real investments into the community. Last week, Mayor Breed announced her proposed citywide budget that includes several new critical LGBTQ community investments including:
- First of its kind Guaranteed Income Project for the Trans Community, prioritizing San Francisco residents most impacted by the pandemic and those disconnected from other benefits. The proposed program provide monthly direct payments and wrap around financial coaching for up to 150 community members per year. The proposed budget includes $2 million for the program over the next two years.
- LGBTQ Senior Tele-mental health program and expanded digital access services. The new investment will increase services for up to 500 LGBTQ seniors while adding much need mental health resources to community members who have experienced increased isolation, depression and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot project would be funded at $900,000 over the next year.
- Support for small businesses and arts and cultural programs including $12 million for the acquisition of a site to house the country’s first full scale LGBTQ Museum.
- Addressing homelessness and housing instability for the transgender community and LGBTQ youth through continued investments. This includes an annual investment of $1.8 Million for the Our Trans Home SF initiative that provides housing navigation services, transition housing, and rental subsidies for low income trans community members.
- Continuing to enact policies and initiatives that aim to break the cycle of violence and discrimination against our LGBTQ communities, especially against Black trans women that experience disproportionate levels of violence. That is why as part of Mayor Breed’s reinvestment effort, the Dream Keeper Initiative, is investing $2.2 Million for Black transgender equity programming over the next two years.
For more information about the services offered by the SF Office of Transgender Initiatives, please visit here. And to learn more about the Vaccine Pride campaign, visit here.