Early 1900's
The Dash was San Francisco's earliest know gay bar located at 574 Pacific Street. It was closed by city authorities in 1908.

Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas both grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. They met in Paris in 1907 and became one of LGBT history's most well-known lesbian couples.

1930s
Gay bars emerged after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 including Finocchio's, Mona's (first lesbian bar), Black Cat Café, The Old Crow, The Sailor Boy Tavern and The White Horse.

1941-1945  
World War II was the first time the US military actively sought out and dishonorably discharged homosexuals. Many who were discharged and processed out in San Francisco decided to stay.

1950-1951
Harry Hay, Chuck Rowland and others founded the Mattachine Society in Los Angeles, the first gay political organization (termed "homophile organization" during the 1950s). The San Francisco branch was established in 1953 and the Mattachine Review began publication in 1954.

1954
 "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was written by a gay couple, Douglass Cross and his partner George Cory. Tony Bennett's recording in 1962 made the song famous.

1955
 Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin along with three other lesbian couples founded the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first lesbian organization. "The Ladder," the monthly magazine of DOB was published in October 1956. The 1st National Lesbian Conference was held in San Francisco in May 1960.

1955-1956
Beat generation poet Alan Ginsberg wrote "Howl," which contained gay sexual imagery. Lawrence Ferlinghetti, owner of City Lights bookstore in San Francisco was prosecuted on obscenity charges for publishing "Howl". Ferlinghetti was acquitted -- the ruling determined that material that has redeeming social importance is protected by the First and Fourteenth Ammendments to the U.S. Constitution.

1958
KPFA-FM in Berkeley broadcasts "The Homosexual in Our Society" featuring Blanche Baker, an advice columnist for a homophile newsletter and Karl Bowman, former head of Langley-Porter Clinic.

1961
"The Rejected" aired on San Francisco's KQED TV 9, breaking the "conspiracy of silence" by discussing homosexuality. The program featured Margaret Mead, Dr. Evelyn Hooker, Carl Bowman, religious representatives, lawyers, and members of the Mattachine Society.

The League for Civil Education (LCE), organized by Guy Strait, distributed first gay tabloid in SF, "Citizen News."

José Sarria, waiter and drag performer at Black Cat Café who was notorious for satirizing local anti-gay politics, received 5,600 votes in his bid for San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

The first San Francisco leather bar was called "Why Not?" Another leather bar opened soon after called the "Tool Box."

Largest vice raid in San Francisco history took place at the Tay-Bush Inn, an after-hours club that served a mixed crowd. 81 men and 14 women were arrested- mostly gay, working-class and people of color.

1962
Tavern Guild, the first gay business association is formed by bar owners to fight discrimination by the liquor board and defend the rights of gay clientele.

1964
"Life" magazine runs a full-photo feature naming San Francisco the nation's "Gay Capital."

The Society for Individual Rights (SIR) organized and distributed the monthly magazine "Vector."

The Big Glass on Fillmore opens -- first black-owned and African-American-oriented gay bar in SF.

1964-1965
In SF, the DOB and Mattachine supported Ted McIlvenna, a social worker at Glide Memorial Methodist Church, to organize The Council on Religion and the Homosexual (CRH). At the benefit costume New Year's Ball police showed up to harass guests by photographing them as they entered the ball and arrested CRH lawyers attempting to prevent police entrance without a search warrant. The ACLU took the case, the charges were dismissed and this incident became a turning point for the SF LGBT community's ability to get legal support against police harassment.

1966
The SIR Center (Society for Individual Rights) opens in San Francisco, the first gay community center in North America.

A "Rally to Protest Exclusion of Homosexuals from the Armed Forces" occurred at the Federal Building in San Francisco.

 At Compton Cafeteria, an all-night haunt in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, transgender prostitutes fought back against police harassment. The Compton Cafeteria riot was the first instance of queer resistance in the United States and is documented in the film Screaming Queens: The Origins of Transgender Activism in the U.S. (directed by Victor Silverman & Susan Stryker)

First national convention of gay and lesbian groups gather in San Francisco (originally called The National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations) subsequently forming the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations (NACHO).

Maud's Study, a lesbian bar opened by Rikki Streicher in the Haight. "Last Call at Maud's" is a documentary by Paris Poirer about the bar's history that is filmed on the closing night in 1989.

1967
The "Circle of Loving Companions" is created and begins publishing a monthly called Vanguard.

1969
The CA Sodomy Repeal Bill (Consenting Adults Bill) was influenced by Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry and introduced to the California legislature starting in 1969 by Assemblyman Willie Brown, and every year afterwards until its passage in 1975.

1970
The first San Francisco Gay Pride Parade was on June 28, 1970 and was called "Gay In." The name and date for the event combined two significant events: the Stonewall Rebellion and the Human Be-In.

The gay equivalent to the Human Be-in, a Gathering of Tribes which took place in 1967 in Golden Gate Park to bring together various factions of SF-based counter culture. 30,000 people showed up to collectively search for social change and hear Timothy Leary speak the '60s mantra "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out."

Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco was founded in 1970 by Rev. Howard Wells.

1971
Statewide rally in Sacramento to support Willie Brown's consenting adults bill to decriminalize private sex between consenting adults.

"Bay Area Reporter" (B.A.R.), SF gay weekly newspaper is founded by Bob Ross.

1972
Christopher Street West -- crowd estimate: 54,000.

First Politician to appear in parade, Richard Hongisto. Mayor Alioto refused to make a mayor proclamation.

City College of San Francisco offers first Gay Literature course.

1973
Gay Freedom Day Parade --  crowd estimate: 42,000.
A rival party, the Festival of Gay Liberation, prompted the formation of the non-profit Pride Foundation to coordinate events.

The Pacific Center for Human Growth is founded. It was organized to provide services to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning communities in the Bay Area.

1974
Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 60,000.
This parade was criticized for not being politically focused.

First Castro Street Fair initiated by Harvey Milk took place this year.

Society of Janus was founded by Cynthia Slater and her partner Larry Olsen in San Francisco. Janus is the second oldest BDSM (Bondage/Dominance/Sadism/Masochism) group in the US, TES in New York City (founded in 1971) being the oldest.

1975
Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 82,000.
The parade was the nation's largest gay pride parade to date. A significant number of women were in the parade for the first time.

CA sodomy law repealed. Democratic state Senate Majority Leader, George Moscone -- running for Mayor of San Francisco -- was influential in repealing the state's sodomy law. The Senate deadlocked on a 20-20 vote, Moscone locked the chamber doors until Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally could fly back from Denver and cast the tie-breaking vote. It was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

The first county to prohibit job discrimination against gays and lesbians was Santa Cruz County.

Randy Burns and Barbara Cameron founded Gay American Indians in San Francisco.

1976
Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 120,000.

Mayor George Moscone issued the first mayoral proclamation.

First installment of "Tales of the City" by Armistead Maupin appeared in "San Francisco Chronicle."

1977
Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 250,000.

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician to be elected to SF Board of Supervisors.

Gay Film Festival of Super-8 showcased experimental films and initiated Frameline's San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

Sha'ar Zahav, a progressive Reform Jewish synagogue founded in SF for people of all sexual identities.

Gay Asian Information Network (GAIN) founded in Sunnyvale by Randy Kikuchi.

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) founded to secure legal protections and recognition for lesbian mothers.

Joani Blank, sex therapist and educator, opens "Good Vibrations," to provide women with a "friendly, clean well-lighted alternative to conventional 'adult' book stores" where they could obtain accurate information about sex and good quality sex toys.

1978
Gay Freedom Day Parade --  crowd estimate: 240,000.
It was the first year the parade was funded by the city and Harvey Milk rode in parade as the first openly gay elected official. A main political issue was protesting the Briggs Initiative which piggybacked on Anita Bryant's "Save Our Children" campaign by proposing that gay people should not be employed as teachers and teachers supporting gay rights would be at risk for losing their jobs. The anti-gay initiative was defeated in the November election but on November 27, 1978 Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were murdered by Ex-Supervisor Dan White.

The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band & Twirling Corps (now known as the San Francisco Lesbian / Gay Freedom Band) made it's debut in the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade. Founded by Jon R. Sims, they were the first openly gay-identified musical organization anywhere in the world.

Rabbi Allen Bennet allows himself to be outed in the San Francisco Examiner, making him the first openly gay rabbi.

This year included the first appearance of Rainbow Flag designed by Gilbert Baker. The 8 colors represent: HOT PINK = sex, RED = life, ORANGE = healing, YELLOW = sun, GREEN = serenity with nature, TURQUOISE = art, INDIGO = harmony, VIOLET = spirit.

1979
Gay Freedom Day Parade --  crowd estimate: 200,000.

10th anniversary of Stonewall -- mourning Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone -- Dan White's Twinkie Defense, White Night riots were one month earlier.

Mayor proclamation by Dianne Feinstein.

First appearance of Dykes on Bikes and rainbow flags lining Market St.

"Bay Times" (originally called "Coming Up!") was published.

"White Night" riots erupted when the verdict came out, ruling that Dan White receive two counts of voluntary manslaughter rather than first-degree murder for killing Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone.

1980
Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 250,000.
Political aspects of parade discouraged -- carnival rides in Civic Center.

San Francisco's KQED TV 9 produces and airs a documentary on BDSM (Bondage/Dominance/Sadism/Masochism) by Phil Bronstein called "One Foot Out of the Closet."

1981
Gay Freedom Day Parade name change to International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 250,000.
Largest gay and lesbian gathering recorded in the world.

Association of Lesbian/Gay Asians formed.

The first diagnosis of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in San Francisco occurs.

Bobbi Campbell "AIDS Poster Boy" publicaly discloses his illness in the "San Francisco Sentinel" and puts flyers describing "Gay Cancer" in Castro pharmacy window.
Bobbi was also Sister Florence Nightmare,R.N. in the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and he was the first Person With AIDS to go public by appearing on the cover of Newsweek magazine with his partner.

1982
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade --  crowd estimate: 200,000.

Gay Games 1 (originally named Gay Olympic Games) August 28-September 5 in Kezar Stadium. Dr. Tom Waddell conceptualized that a Gay Olympics would confront gay and lesbian stereotypes and bridge the divisions existing within the LGBT community. He said, "The most important thing about the Games is the destruction of 'isms' like ageism, sexism, and racism." San Francisco Arts and Athletics (SFAA) had been created to put on the event. Three weeks before the opening, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) obtained an injunction in federal court prohibiting the use of the word "Olympic." SFAA appealed the Federal Court's injunction and a legal battle ensued. It was finally settled by the United States Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in favor of the USOC in March, 1987.

Dykes on Bikes name is changed to SF Women's Motorcycle Contingent to be inclusive to all women who ride motorcycles and want to participate in the LGBT parade.

Canyon Sam is the first Asian to emcee the Gay Pride Celebration.

Only death at International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Darryl Kevin Anderson was run over by a float.

Bobbi Campbell and Dan Turner organize People With AIDS San Francisco, the first organization of, for, and by people with AIDS (and ARC).

1983
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 200,000.
AIDS primary focus of parade -- AIDS contingent leads parade.

The first Candlelight March on AIDS is organized in San Francisco by Bobby Reynolds, Gary Walsh and Bobbi Campbell. This march was the first time PWAs marched behind a banner proclaiming what was to become the motto of the PWA self-empowerment movement: "FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES."

BiPOL, the first and oldest bisexual political organization, forms in San Francisco. Founded on progressive feminist principles, BiPOL "educates, advocates, and agitates for bisexual rights, visibility and inclusion."

1984
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 300,000.
First nationwide parade theme.

SF Department of Public Health orders closing of gay bathhouses.

KS Foundation becomes the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

National March for Lesbian & Gay Rights took place the day before the Democratic Convention in San Francisco. A major focus was protesting the lack of federal action to deal with AIDS.

BiPOL sponsors the first Bisexual Rights Rally outside the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.

Pacific Friends founded as a social organization advocating friendship and cross-cultural understanding amongst gay Asians/Pacific Islanders, their partners and their friends.

First Folsom Street Fair -- A group of community organizers and housing activists organized the fair to make a political statement that there was a viable neighborhood South of Market and attempted to bring together all the diverse types of people living there. The dominance of the Leather community in the area turned the fair into an annual celebration of the SF S/M and fetish scene.

1985
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 350,000.

ARC/AIDS Vigil on UN Plaza at Civic Center. Focus was on connections between homelessness, poverty and HIV.

The San Francisco Bay Area Gay and Lesbian Historical Society was founded to archive local LGBT history. The name was later changed to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society of Northern California.

1986
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 100,000.
First US Senator to speak at a gay celebration: Sen. Alan Cranston.

BiPOL's Autumn Courtney is elected co-chair of San Francisco's Lesbian Gay Freedom Day Pride Parade Committee.

Proposition 64 defeated- Lyndon LaRouche sponsored Prop 64 to quarantine people with AIDS.

Trikone (Sanskrit for triangle) started in Palo Alto is the world's oldest support group for queer people of South Asian heritage. [trikone.org]

San Francisco's KQED TV 9 airs The AIDS Show: Artists Involved with Death and Survival, directed by Robert Epstein and Peter Adair. The film won the 1986 San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary.

1987
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- crowd estimate: 275,000.

First International Signs in 17 different foreign languages.

Supreme Court Rules 5-4 against using name Gay Olympics.
In 1982 the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) obtained an injunction in federal court prohibiting the use of the word "Olympic." The motivation behind the injunction appeared suspiciously homophobic since the USOC had not sued the Police Olympics, the Special Olympics and other events utilizing the word "Olympics" in the title. SFAA appealed the Federal Court's injunction and a legal battle ensued. It was finally settled by the United States Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in favor of the USOC in March 1987. Dr. Tom Waddell, the founder of the Gay Games died of AIDS in July 1987.

More than 6,000 walkers participate in the first AIDS Walk San Francisco, providing funds for eight benefiting organizations.

1988
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: Rightfully Proud
The first time a mayor is in the parade -- Mayor Art Agnos.
The parade started in the Castro.

Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) began as a men’s support group at the Pacific Center. It was first Asian/Pacific Islander-only gay men’s group in the Bay Area and begins publishing its newsletter "Lavender Dragon." [gapa.org]

Asian Pacific Sisters (APS) forms and organizes the first Asian/Pacific Islander lesbian contingent in the Gay Pride Parade with a banner “For the Love of Women” written in English, Chinese, Tagalog, Hawaiian and Vietnamese.

Tony Kushner's Pulitzer prize-winning two-part play "Angels in America" was commissioned by the Eureka Theatre.

Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center (LYRIC) founded to address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (lgbtq) youth. [lyric.org]

1989
 International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: Stonewall 20: A Generation of Pride

The Living Well Project incorporated in 1989 as the GAPA Community HIV Project (GCHP), was the first gay-identified Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS program in the United States.

1990
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: The Future Is Ours

November -- Domestic Partner registry established in SF.

BiPOL sponsors the first National Bisexual Conference in San Francisco. More than 450 people attend from 20 states and 5 countries. The North American Bisexual Network (NABN) is formalized as the North American Multicultural Bisexual Network (NAMBN) at this first meeting of its members.

1991
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: Hand In Hand Together

Valentine's Day -- Over 275 gay and lesbian couples registered as domestic partners at SF City Hall when the domestic partner referendum went into effect.

July -- SF City and County offered domestic partner benefits to employees

California Governor Pete Wilson vetoed gay rights bill AB101 -- a law banning employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

San Francisco's KQED was the first station in the country to air Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied, a film that looks at the lives of black gay men to and examines the homophobia and racism affecting gay African-Americans. KQED also airs Stop the Church, a controversial documentary produced by Robert Hilferty about the planning and demonstration in December 1989 at St. Patrick's Cathedral held by ACT-UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. [current.org]

The Bay Area Bisexual Network begins publishing the first and only national bisexual quarterly magazine, Anything That Moves: Beyond The Myths of Bisexuality.

1992
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: A Simple Matter Of Justice

Two lesbians were elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1992, Roberta Achtenberg and Carole Migden.

Transgender Nation was organized in 1992 by Anne Ogborn. TN focused on transphobia inherent in the gay and lesbian community and demonstrated at the 1993 meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA) at the Moscone Center to protest the labeling of transexuality as pathological.

The Deaf & Gay Lesbian Center (DGLC) was established in March 1992, by Deaf Counseling, Advocacy, and Referral Agency (DCARA) and the United Way of San Francisco, to serve the needs of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.

Digital Queers was founded by Tom Rielly and Karen Wickre to bring the gay rights movement into the digital age by applying the powerful tools of high-technology to regional, state, and national grassroots organizations. PlanetOut, the online LGBT community, evolved out of Digital Queers in 1995.

1993
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: Year Of The Queer -- crowd estimate: 400,000 - 500,000.

The SF chapter of the Lesbian Avengers sponsors the first annual Dyke March -- slogan "We're not waiting for the Rapture, We are the Apocalypse." [dykemarch.org]

BiPOL (San Francisco) mobilizes a successful nationwide lobbying campaign for visible bisexual inclusion in the March on Washington. As a result, for the first time bisexuals are included in the title of the March and are represented on the stage by bisexual activist and author Lani Ka'ahumanu.

The Center for Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Art & Culture is organized with a vision to create a repository for works of art by LGBT artists and provide a place to incubate ideas relating to gay culture.

1994
International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade -- Parade Theme: San Francisco to Stonewall: Pride & Protest

Armistead Maupin's 6-hour "Tales of the City" was one of the most-watched series of the '90s on San Francisco's KQED TV 9.

The Harvey Milk Institute, a non-profit community-based institution is founded to provide education about the LGBTQ culture and community.

Tom Ammiano, "The Mother of Gay Comedy," is elected to SF Board of Supervisors -- 1990 elected to San Francisco Board of Education -- where he served terms as president and vice president, he was the main architect of San Francisco Domestic Partners Ordinance (1997) which provides equal benefits for employees of companies that contract with the City and County of San Francisco, he ran for mayor of SF against Willie Brown in 1999, came in second, and in 2002 is the President of the SF Board of Supervisors.

1995
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: A World Without Borders
First year International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade name changed to LGBT.

January -- SF passed ordinance prohibiting discrimination against transgendered individuals.

Founder of the Deaf Queer Resource Center, an online information and resource Web site, Director of Deaf Gay & Lesbian Center (DGLC) from 1992 to 1995, Dragonsani "Drago" Renteria, becames the first deaf person to be Grand Marshal of a major pride parade.

1996
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Equality & Justice For All

March -- Mayor Willie Brown presided over mass gay wedding ceremony.

SF Examiner publishes seven-part series Gay In America: 1996.

The James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center at the San Francisco Public Library is founded to promote and provide access to the documentation of lesbian and gay history and culture.

1997
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: One Community Many Faces

San Francisco's domestic partnership law went into effect and required companies holding contracts with the city of San Francisco to offer the same benefits to unmarried domestic partners that are offered to the spouses of married employees.

1998
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Shakin' It Up
Celebration at the Civic Center.

"The Castro" documentary airs on San Francisco's KQED TV 9 during LGBT Pride Month.

1999
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Proud Heritage, Powerful Future -- crowd estimate: 700,000.

California Governor Gray Davis signs three civil rights bills supporting the LGBT Community:
AB 26, CA Domestic Partner law,  authored by Assemblywoman Carole Migden. California became the second state in the union to legally recognize same sex relationships -- providing hospital visitation rights, health insurance coverage for public employees, and a registry in the Secretary of State's office.
AB 537, prohibits discrimination and harassment of public school students who are perceived to be gay or lesbian.
AB 1001, sexual orientation is added to the Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.

San Francisco's KQED airs "It's Elementary - Talking About Gay Issues in School," created by Academy Award-winning director Debra Chasnoff and producer Helen S. Cohen. The film discusses what really happens when educators address gay issues with their students in age-appropriate ways.

2000
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: It's About Freedom -- crowd estimate: 750,000.
Mayor proclamation -- Mayor Willie Brown.

The "Limit On Marriage Initiative," known as the Knight Initiative, passed on March 7, and amended California law to require the state to discriminate against gay people's lawful marriages while nevertheless recognizing all other out-of-state marriages.

2001
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Queerific -- crowd estimate: 1,000,000.
First-ever queer Moslem contingent (Al-Fathia Foundation) in any Pride Parade anywhere in the world. The event was profitable, a record $110k granted back to more than 30 community organizations. The B-52's, Dana International and Ultra Nate performed at the celebration. The first women's stage - Nectar -- highlighted this event.

City of SF grants insurance coverage to city and county employees who are transgendered for sex reassignment procedures.

California Governor Gray Davis signed the Domestic Partner Benefits Expansion Act (AB 25) drafted by Assemblywoman Carole Migden into law. This act extended protections for domestic partners in California. Some additions to the original 1999 bill include the right to recover wrongful death/emotional distress damages (Sharon Smith/Diane Whipple case) and adopt a partner’s child using the step parent adoption process.

San Francisco's KQED Honors Local LGBT Heroes 2001:
• Betty and Tom McCall -- Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Barbara McCullough-Jones -- Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center
• Sal Rosselli, President -- Health Care Workers Union, SEIU Local 250
• Kevin Schaub -- Harvey Milk Institute
• Hal Seip -- New Leaf Outreach to Elders
• Susan Stryker -- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

2002
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Be Yourself, Change the World

San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center opens to provide a centralized space for the LGBT community.

SF AIDS Candlelight Vigil -- continuing the tradition of the first AIDS Candlelight March which took place on May 2, 1983. The orignal banner motto "Fighting For Our Lives" with the word "Still" tacked on was carried from the Castro to the Civic Center.

San Francisco's KQED Public Broadcasting became the first public broadcasting organization to receive GLAAD's Pioneer Award. This award is granted to an individual or organization that has contributed significantly to raising the visibility of the LGBT communities.

San Francisco's KQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Randy Burns -- Gay American Indians
• Happy Hyder -- Lesbians in the Visual Arts
• Jaron Kanegson -- Youth Gender Project
• Robert Nakatani -- ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project
• Penny Nixon -- Metropolitan Community Church / SF
• Dragonsani "Drago" Renteria -- Deaf Queer Resource Center

Hope Along the Wind: The Life of Harry Hay directed by Eric Slade and co-produced by San Francisco's KQED airs on KQED TV 9.

2003
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: You've Gotta Give Them Hope
"You Gotta Give Them Hope" is a quote from Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay official when he was asked why he was an activist.
The 2003 Grand Marshals: Marga Gomez and Armistead Maupin
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal: Reverand Cecil Williams

San Francisco" KQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Brian Cheu -- S.F. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center
• Gene Dermody -- Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee, Golden Gate Wrestling Club, Federation of Gay Games
• Terry Person Harris -- Community United Against Violence
• Shana Naomi Krochmal -- STOP AIDS Project

2004
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Out 4 Justice
"Out 4 Justice -- Pride 2004" will keep the political and legal struggles of our civil rights movement at the forefront of our attention throughout the year.
Lifetime achievement grand marshal: Troy Perry
Individual grand marshal: Calvin Gipson
Organization grand marshal: Immigration Equality
Pink Brick: General John Ashcroft

History was made at 11:06am February 12, 2004 at San Francisco City Hall when Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon took their wedding vows, becoming the first same-sex couple to be officially married in the United States.

June 16 -- KQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Larry Brinkin & Cynthia Goldstein -- San Francisco Human Rights Commission, LGBT and HIV Unit
• Stephen Kellogg -- Gay Men's Buddhist Sangha
• Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin -- Lesbian Activists
• Willie Walker -- GLBT Historical Society

The California Supreme Court ruled that Mayor Gavin Newsom defied state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The ruling also declared that the 3,955 couples who got married were never legally married and are not entitled to rights of spouses. The next step for advocates of same-sex marriage is to challenge the constitutionality of the state's marriage law.

2005
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Stand Up, Stand Out, Stand Proud
Celebrity Grand Marshals:
Ilene Chaiken
Alec Mapa
Community Grand Marshals:
Randy Burns
James Hormel
Peggy Moore
Juanita More
Donna Sachet
Organizational Grand Marshal:
PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support)
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal:
José Saria
Pink Brick:
Sen. Diane Feinstein

Richard Kramer rules California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. 

San Franciscos's KQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Dr. Jack Collins -- City College of San Francisco
• Madeleine Lim -- Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
• Camille Maran -- San Francisco LGBT Community Center
• Pat Norman -- The Institute for Community Health Outreach

Four-fifths of delegates to the United Church of Christ national conference voted to recognize same-sex marriage; it was the first major Christian denomination to do so.

The California Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the state's domestic partnership law, which in January gave registered same-sex couples many of the rights of married couples.

The California Supreme Court ruled that businesses must treat registered domestic partners like married couples.

The California Supreme Court ruled in three cases that gays and lesbians who are nonbiological parents have the same custody and child-support rights as nonbiological heterosexuals.

The CA State Assembly approved a landmark bill allowing same-sex marriage in CA..

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decides to veto historic same-sex marriage bill.

2006
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Commemorate, Educate, Liberate
Celebrity Grand Marshal:
Jennifer Beals
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal:
Sgt. Elliot Blackstone
Community Grand Marshals:
Marion Abdullah
Robert Bernardo
Cecilia Chung
Dr. Kathleen McGuire
Sal Rosselli
Lancy Woo and Cristy Chung
Organizational Grand Marshal:
The Billy deFrank LGBT Center of San Jose
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal:
José Saria
Pink Brick:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

San Francisco's KQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Cecilia Chung -- Transgender Law Center
• Jim Foster -- Positive Images
• Miko Thomas -- Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits
• Youth Empowerment Team -- The San Francisco LGBT Community Center

2007
San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trangender Pride Celebration -- Parade Theme: Pride, Not Prejudice
Celebrity Grand Marshals:
The Cast of Noah's Ark: Darryl Stephens ("Noah"), Wilson Cruz("Junito"), Doug Spearman ("Chance"), Patrik-Ian Polk (Series Creator)
Eric Alva
Jan Wahl
Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal:
Pat Norman
Community Grand Marshals:
Dolores Caruthers & Laura Espinosa
John Newsome
Page Hodel
Robert Haaland
Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis
Organizational Grand Marshal:
Rainbow World Fund
Pink Brick:
George W. Bush

San Francisco'sKQED's Celebration of LGBT Pride Month -- Honoring Local LGBT Heroes
Heroes honored:
• Jack Bird and John Darby -- San Francisco Towers, San Francisco, CA
• Julie Lienert -- Ally Action, Concord, CA
• Mark Misrok -- Positive Resource Center, San Francisco, CA

Gays and lesbians allowed conjugal visits in California prisons.