SAN FRANCISCO — At the Pride 2008 parade, there was one word on everyone’s lips: marriage. Brides of all genders donned wedding dresses ranging in style from fashionably regal to delightfully wacky. Besuited but bare-chested grooms strutted alongside scantily clad dancers. Beaming couples marched with children in tow, holding signs that declared, “Just Married.”

This year marked the 38th LGBT pride celebration for the city, and it came on the heels of a landmark decision by the California Supreme Court to allow gay couples to marry. However, the decision may be short-lived as opponents have introduced legislation to ban gay marriage through a constitutional amendment, which voters will consider in November.

But the optimism in the air was palpable as the festivities got underway. I joined the hundreds of thousands of onlookers who lined the streets to cheer as politicians, advocacy groups, celebrities and drag queens—a lot of drag queens—made their way down Market St. With more than 200 floats, the parade stretched over three hours.

One of the first contingents I saw was a creative balloon design company sporting these colorful balloon backpacks to create an underwater theme.



Many floats embraced marriage as a theme, though each added its own bit of flair, like drag queens as bridesmaids and go-go dancers as groomsmen.



As I quickly learned, the celebration also serves as an avenue for some to show off their kinkier side.



One of the contingents that drew the loudest cheer to my delight was Google, which is where I am interning this summer. The Gayglers—gay Google employees—marched with Google-themed balloons tied around their waists or rode atop our six-person conference bicycles. Waves of adoration flowed forth from crowds, as well as screams of “Search me!” and “I’m feeling lucky!”

 

One of the most interesting parts of the parade was watching advertisers cater to the predominantly gay audience. Like this float for the upcoming movie “Mamma Mia!” Something tells me this is not the typical advertisement that one would see on Fox or TBS.



All in all, the day’s events were fun, entertaining and certainly eye-opening. While much of the parade was family-oriented, certain floats did whip it out when they could. With marriage now a possibility for same-sex partners, any Tom, Dick or Harry can say “I do.”



—Jamison A. Hill '10, a Crimson news editor, is a history and literature concentrator in Leverett House.