A crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the City Hall office of Mayor Ed Lee yesterday for the raising of the Pride Flag. The attendees applauded as the Mayor and Gary Virginia, President of the Pride Board, stood on the balcony outside of the Mayor's office window. As the Rainbow colors flew atop City Hall, the mayor said that this year's celebration would be the greatest Pride ever.
Local dignitaries in attendance included Donna Sachet, Sister Roma and Philip Grant, Consul General of Ireland. Ireland recently made international headlines when the traditionally conservative Republic approved same sex marriage by popular vote.
"It was a transformative moment," Grant told Hoodline, pointing out that the vote took place on Harvey Milk's birthday. "It sent a very positive signal about Irish society and who we are."
After the flag raising, attendees gathered in the City Hall rotunda for a catered buffet breakfast. Mayor Lee addressed the crowd with Pride Grand Marshals Belo Cipriani, Tita Aida, Brian Basinger and Felicia Elizondo standing behind him.
The mayor addressed affordable housing issues and the need to support the transgender community, which continues to be plagued by job and housing discrimination. The Mayor also acknowledged the "big decision" everyone was waiting before – the US Supreme Court's final ruling on marriage equality.
The mood was upbeat as people acknowledged the incredible gains in LGBTQ rights they had seen during their lifetimes while addressing the work that still needed to be done.
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence icon Sister Roma was beaming. "Seeing our mayor raise the Pride flag reaffirms my devotion to San Francisco and the city's devotion to me and my community," Roma said.
The Pride flag will fly at City Hall throughout June, which is Pride month.
SF Pride flag has been raised at SF City Hall. pic.twitter.com/QWD4UeW0zP
— ElissaABC7 (@ElissaABC7) June 9, 2015
