2013 marks the 42nd anniversary of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade. The theme is “Embrace, Encourage, Empower” and the event will be held this weekend: June 29 and 30, 2013. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and more than twenty community-run stages and venues, the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest gathering of LGBT people and allies in the nation.
The two-day celebration takes place in Civic Center Plaza in downtown San Francisco the last full weekend of June each year. The Parade, which takes place the Sunday morning of the event, kicks off from Beale Street along Market and ends at Market and 8th Street in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The Main Stage is the largest stage at the SF Pride Celebration and is located in Civic Center Plaza next to City Hall. SF Pride Main Stage has been host to Karmin, Sandra Bernhard, Kerli, The Backstreet Boys, Lady Gaga, BoA, Fey, The Cliks, Kat Deluna, Inaya Day, Crystal Waters, Me’shell Ndegeocello, leaders from the frontlines of the same-sex marriage fight, and many others.
This year’s line up includes Shann Carr, Jason Brock, Roger Ross Williams, Marriage Chorus, Peaches & Herb, Kate Kendell, Kimberly Caldwell, BAAITS, Cheer SF, Liam Mayclem, Lovesick Radio, Raquel Rodriquez and others.
Photo credit: blogs.mercurynews.com (from last year’s event).
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.