Yesterday, June 25, is known as Pink Saturday in San Francisco and parks, streets and bars transform the city into a day and evening long celebration. Colors become vibrant, voices become animated and singing and dancing are the order of the day. I went to run a food errand yesterday and couldn’t make it far before I hit a p0lice block on Valencia Street and the traffic had already started to build up, slowing me and many other cars to grinding halt.
Today, the 41st annual Pride Parade made its way through downtown San Francisco this morning to celebrate the gay community of the Bay Area and worldwide. It started on Market and Beale streets and ended at Market and Eighth streets, participants celebrating to this year’s parade theme: “In Pride We Trust.” How many people show up for this you ask? Did I mention that the city is transformed?
One million parade-goers which doesn’t include those who show up for the after festivities in the bars, parks, cafes and restaurants throughout the city.
The “Pink Saturday” celebrations, which is organized by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, gets a little wild at times and security adds caution by performing extra bag searches for weapons, alcohol and anything else that could turn a joyous celebration into an ugly one.
Photo credits: peace-oneearth
Above photo credit: OldSkool
In New York, there’s even more to celebrate today with the recent announcement of same sex marriages getting passes and couples and singles alike most certainly are…..in New York, they’re on their 42nd year and they had close to 2 million spectators, their theme being: “Proud and Powerful.”
Above photo credit: Reuters
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.
