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The voices of San Francisco Pride

This past weekend, San Francisco’s streets were filled with pride. Thousands of people participated in the 42nd annual event, celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and culture. The youth producers of OutLoud radio were there, talking to participants about what Pride means to them. They bring us this audio postcard.  

Angel: Hello, my name is Angel and I am here with OutLoud Radio and we are at Delores Park. And I am here with…

Jose the Gay: …Jose the Gay. I am 24 years old.

Angel: And he is from…

Jose: …San Francisco, California. I think Pride pretty much lost itself within the LGBT Community because you see a lot of allies and straight-folks who don’t identify as queer or lesbian or gay, so I feel like its more of a party for folks to get drunk and smoke and yeah.

Angel: And I am here with…

Tom Harper: … Tom Harper.

Angel: And, Tom Harper, how old are you?

Harper: Twenty-three. It is really important to remember the history and to honor the legacy and think of how far we’ve come, and realize that this is less just a parade for having fun, and more a march for rights. But at the same time, we can’t really have fun or cut lose in our day to day lives because of the oppression that there still is, so having a place where you can just cut lose and have fun and forget about how hard it is is also a positive thing. It just really depends on the individual and the circumstances.

Shay: My name is Shay. I come here every year because only in San Francisco can you experience the diversity within the diversity of the diversity. So this is as diverse as it gets and it’s a very good show of solidarity and everyone can be whoever they want to be at all times and it’s all accepting.

Dennis Jones: I am Dennis Jones. I am from San Francisco. I am 19 years old and I’m gay. I see Budlight advertisements, I see Exfinity, what used to be Comcast, and I see like, just a lot of other places. It doesn’t really seem helpful, or beneficial to the community at all. Nothing is really empowering about a lot of these advertisements.

Scout de Vartolo: I love it, it’s just a day…We were just saying there’s just a few classic gay pride outfits and it’s definitely gold lame bootie shorts, the rainbow boa. I think it’s a great time to feel comfortable with who you are and if not today then when else. Just be proud and happy, and do whatever you want to do and it may be ridiculous and it may be over the top to some people but it’s fun. My names is Scott de Vartolo, I am 30 years old, and I live in San Jose, California.

Angel: And I am here with…

Juanita: Juanita.

Angel: What does the word trans mean to you?

Juanita: A bunch of people not afraid to show who they are.

Alise: Hi, my name is Alise and I live here in San Francisco. I am currently 25 years old.

Reporter : Is this your kissing booth?

Alise: It is my kissing booth! I just love that word pride, I think it’s so much about being who you are and loving who you want to love, and I mean, historically, it’s huge, just starting in San Francisco with people being able to be open about who they love and why, but I think it’s blossomed into so much more. It really is just a festival of people loving  each other, it’s totally about love.

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San FranciscoCrosscurrents