OAKLAND, CA – Oakland Pride! This week features a series of events celebrating Oakland’s LGBTQ Community, including the Sunday September 8th Pride Parade and Festival. On Tuesday (September 3rd), a group kicked off Pride Celebrations by raising the rainbow pride flag over Oakland City Hall. (See attached photos of flag raising, on the roof of Oakland City Hall).
The Oakland Pride Parade kicks off this Sunday, September 8th, at 11:00AM from 14th and Broadway in downtown Oakland. The Parade ends at the entrance to the Festival, at 20th and Broadway. (Parade viewing is free, there is a charge to enter the Festival). Please visit the Oakland Pride website for more information about these events and more.
From the website: “In 2008, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan and others led efforts to re-organize an LGBT Roundtable in the City of Oakland. Since then, members of the Roundtable and the LGBT community representing all walks of life decided that it was time to resuscitate Oakland Pride for the long term and advocate for LGBT rights and interests, including the development of the first LGBTQ community center in Oakland for everyone.”
Kaplan is Oakland’s first openly-LGBT elected official, and was unanimously elected Council President by her colleagues in January.
On the occasion of the flag raising and honoring Pride week activities, President Kaplan stated: “In these times, it is important that we continue to work together to build a world of justice and inclusion for all, and reject all forms of prejudice and hate. I am pleased to honor and thank all of the community and volunteers who have helped build this in Oakland, including our Pride Parade, Festival, and related events and community efforts. Oakland has one of the largest and most diverse LGBT communities in the nation.”
Photos attached are from the flag raising on September 3rd at City Hall.