Sacramento’s Pride Festival for 2013 was kicked off by a colorful parade down N Street. In addition to the local contingent of LGBTQI support and commercial services participating in the parade, Sacramento’s religious organizations were well represented. If it hadn’t been for the prominent display of rainbow balloons and flags surrounding the various churches and temples in the parade, I would have thought I was in the Bible Belt.
Did God walk in the Sacramento Pride Parade?
Jewish Pride at the Sacramento Pride Parade.
From my estimation, fully one third of the Pride Parade walkers were affiliated with spiritual groups or an organized denomination. You had your Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Independent Catholics, Quakers, Jewish B’nai Israel, Buddhist, Congregationalists, Unitarian Universalists and a couple faith based equality groups mixed in with the local gay bars in the parade. It doesn’t get much more diverse than that.
Big business, big marketing
While the local utilities like PG&E and SMUD have regularly attended the Pride Parade, there seemed to be a few more commercial participants with large entries. The chain restaurant Chipotle had a bucking burrito float, Wells Fargo brought their stage coach and Safeway rolled out color Pride baskets. It’s cool that nationally recognized and local businesses like Stephen’s Auto Haus enter the parade and make it more fun for everyone. However, there is a slight feeling that the parade is turning into one long advertisement for various businesses and corporations.
Giant rainbow flag above the festival
Festival of delights
The Pride Festival itself was well attended with lots of food and entertainment. You’ll notice that most of my recordings are of the elite cheer leading squads that were performing. That’s probably just me being envious of the acrobatic and athletic prowess these young men and women must have to execute their routines.
Have fun looking at the pictures and watching the short recordings. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. If you want the full size version of any of the photos (most of these are only 20% of the original), drop me an e-mail and I’ll send it to you.
Tim Knox Amador City Mayor, Amador, CA
Wells Fargo pulling a stage coach full of pride.
Wells Fargo LGBT Youth Support
Unitarian Universalists of Davis
UC Davis Health GLEE
The Bolt
Support hotel workers, LGBT plus Union = equality
Stonewall Democratic Club
Steve Hansen City Council
Stephen’s Auto Haus
Southern Bell Gem
Solidarity = Victory
SMUD
Sierra Stampede and Rodeo
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Safeway Pride on Parade
Safeway Pride Baskets
Safeway Pride
Sacramento Valley Veterans
Sacramento Valley Gay and Lesbian Softball League
Sacramento Valley Bears
Sacramento Sharks Softball
Sacramento Rainbow Chamber
Sacramento Gay Dads on Parade
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
Sacramento Gay Mens Chorus
Sacramento Gay Dads
Sacramento Friends Meeting, Quakers.
Rooted and Reaching and out. St. Marks United Methodist Church.
Roger Dickinson represented, but not present.
River City Gems on Parade
River City Gems
Rainbow tutu and socks at the pride festival.
Classic Rainbow Rambler
Rainbow dress walking the mall.
Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Drill Team
Rainbow balloon backpack
Floating Rainbow Balloon Arch.
The Princess Cupcake
Sacramento Pride Festival, having fun.
Boys on da hood.
Stand with Planned Parenthood, Stand for Equality.
PGE walking with pride.
Pera Dice Boys, Steve and Jim
Peace and Freedom Party
Patrick Kennedy, Sac School Board
A man and his dog at the Sacramento Pride Festival
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Sacramento
Love is Love Sac Center
Sleep with the right people
Let’s all stay together.
God is Gay, The center for spiritual awareness
Gender Health Center of Sacramento
First Congregational Church of Stockton
Faith Pride go hand in hand
Equality flag at the Sacramento Pride Festival
El Dorado Federated Church
Davis Community Church
Dancing boys in the parade having fun to the music.
Congregation B’nai Israel
Closets are for clothes not for people. St. Marks Lutheran
Chipotle Pride in Sacramento
Child pride in the parade
Catholics for marriage equality
CARES of Sacramento
California Faith for Equality
Buddies hanging out at the Sacramento Pride Festival
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Big Blond…Hedwig
Badlands…born this way…OK!
Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
