SAN FRANCISCO – It’s the last weekend of Pride Month and ahead of Sunday’s Pride Parade, people were partying in the streets.
The Great Northern hosted a Pink Saturday Block Party filled with music and art. It gives people like Andrey Frazao a place to express themselves.
“People here can be free without feeling judged,” Frazao said.
The Pink Saturday Block Party has provided a safe and supportive space for the LGBTQ+ community for decades.
Frazao used to live in San Francisco; he now lives in LA but still comes back for the block party and Pride weekend.
“I think events like this show how strong the San Francisco community is, especially the LGBTQ+ community,” Frazao said.
Frazao said that when he looks around this community, all the love and support he sees gives him hope.
“The fact that you can just be on the street, sometimes half-naked, sometimes dressed completely crazy, shows how the world is developing and changing for the better,” Frazao said.
Frazao isn’t the only person who traveled to celebrate and dance in the streets of San Francisco; Alexander Monsanto visits the city from Berlin.
He said he appreciates how LGBTQ+ culture is celebrated in San Francisco.
“It’s very different from Berlin and Europe,” Monsanto said. “It seems very organized, which is nice. And it seems like people put a lot of effort into organizing the party, the decorations, the outfits.”
That effort is something organizer Lyja Stadlen-Brown said she is committed to making this event possible for the queer community.
“I think it’s really important that people who don’t always have the same opportunities as other people or are treated differently for whatever reason are treated differently,” Stadlen-Brown said. “We need to uplift those around us and I’m so happy to be a part of celebrating this beautiful community.”
Frazao said that despite moving from San Francisco, he still withdraws from the Pride celebration because of the community.
“I think you’re safe if you can go out, no matter how you dress, no matter how you feel, without fear of being judged,” Frazao said.
