CA Pride season is over....

...and WOW, what a Pride season!! I made it to San Jose, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, and of course San Francisco. My team also hit Long Beach, and we are looking to Palm Springs.

SF was absolutely amazing this year!! There was SO much positive energy, and families, and just general happyness--more so than in years past. I am tired and sore, but it was a fantastic month!!

I was also lucky enough to meet some fellow OHers at the events--if I didn't meet you, please come say hi if you see Cheer SF performing. We will be in Corte Madera for the 4th of July parade, and we always do the Italian Heritage Parade in SF, How Berkeley can you Be parade, and the Castro Street Fair. Might be at Folsom, that is still TBD.

Hugs to everyone that attended..HAPPY PRIDE!

Hi Denise, I've been hearing a lot about "Pride" parades and all from my daughter. She works at Starbucks and has some good buddies there that are taking her to some of these events. I am so glad that the world is shifting somewhat in this area. My little brother (and best friend) was gay. He died of AIDS in 1990 and the hardest part of the whole experience was the negative prejudice that I felt toward him as well as toward myself as his supporter. I'm so impressed by your Cheer SF performances. Hugs back at you! Julia

there a whole season? how long does it last? do they coordinate event throughout the state so the events don't overlap too much ?

I think that all the local events coordinate. Sometimes they will be on the same weekend, but one on Sat and one on a Sunday. For the *most* part, Pride celebrations are in the late May through late June timeframe. Palm Springs is usually later or else it would 200 degrees :)

Here is our video from Sacramento: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEnYhd5hIa8

(still waiting for someone to post our main stage show from SF)

We have tryouts next month if anyone is interested :) I get goose bumps when I watch the shows and can't believe I get to be a part of it. I am straight, but it doesn't matter. We raised over $40k for breast cancer last year, this year we are helping PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support). We all have real jobs and don't get paid for performing. Ages are 18 to 49 (and aging!), and we only practice 1 day a week. I can't stress enough how fun it is. Sorry, I am babbling on :) We just wrapped up our year so I am all emotional about it.

I volunteered for Long Beach Pride several years in a row, but it has been about 20 years now. I'm happy to hear that more families are joining the ranks. I went to the PS one with friend a few years back, and it was pretty wild.  Thanks for working on such a worthy cause! Ta, Rachel P.S. I hope I didn't miss any typos...I'm the queen of online typos :-)...loved your blog on it!