Morning, everybody. An experience standing here with my felto Community Leaders and kicking off pride 2023, as the first drag laureate of San Francisco and the world. [laughter]. So. It is such an honor. San francisco, you have made a choice to put a spotlight on the lbgtq community as a crucial at a crucial time making me an ambassador to the world of drag art. Yes, law makers are attacking the rights of lbgtq individuals all overnight country. Here in San Francisco, the pride flag is proudly flown, and a drag laureate appointed to elevate and honor accomplishments of our community now, as a San Francisco nay than i means the world to me. I watched San Francisco change and change again, one thing remained, San Francisco celebrates individualities. It applauds people marching to the beat of their own drum i would be hard pressed to find another city or country or anywhere in the globe where the lbgtq community has big a voice as we do here in San Francisco. [applause] at this the 53rd sf pride a month in the largest garthing of lbgtq people and alis in the nation. I want to take a moment and appreciate the flag we all associate with gay pride, designed by gilbert. Baker a request from the assistant district attorneys first openly gay supervisor in 1978. Thats a big deal [applause]. The theme of pride this month is looking back and moving forward. Essential that we acknowledge the past pidmeers iconic class of our upon history that made it possible for me to stand here before you today. And to continue to break new ground, drag is many things. Drag is art. Drag is activism, drag is joy. Drag is instrumental to bringing people together. Drag is fabulous. [applause]. I say this over and over but it is worth reminding ourselves every day. If we can live a more authentic life, if we can walk through the world just a little more fabulous we inspire other people to be more fabulous. If everyone in the world was a little more fabulous, there would be that much less room in their heart and mind for anger, hostility, prejudice and violence. Right . Here is the deal. You live a more fabulous limp every day and you have power for social change every day by being more fabulous that is everyones job here today [applause] as your drag laureate im dedicated to continuing my lifes mission to uplift my fellow members of the lbgtq Community Spread joy throughout and maintain a deeper knowing to the rich legacy of the lbgtq trail blazers that made it possible for all of this to be happening. I will continue to celebrate and elevate the art of drag. That is capitol a. R. T. Through my night club oasis. Oasis art, as well as my partnership with the city of San Francisco. San francisco Film Commission to create access and resources for my community. Im excited work with the city and the drag community to create a drag festival. Yes. We are anything to work on creating one. Would you love to see your supervisors in a drag contest . [laughter] and the mayor, too. Give each a drag parent. Would you pay for that . I want this festival to be fabulous entertainment. Include the drag story hour, bring all of it together and have an educational component to it. It is very important. I would also like to work with the city and find some of our empty retail space and create opportunity for lbgtq as well as drug entrepreneurs to have an opportunity to bring back some brick and morltar with sparkle. Right . And fabulousness. And make it not only viable for the community but sense of excitement for tourism to come, see your drag stores. Right . I got lots im working on there. Well, i gotta wrap this up. I am thrilled have the opportunity to participate in shaping the role of the drag laureate for myself and for generations to come and hopeful low this can be inspiration for folks around country and the globe. And to really appreciate what drag simple somebody asks, why is drag important . I said why is theatre, pip and fine art important . Drag is art. Elevate, celebrate your drag artists and San Francisco has done that upon at the forefront of anywhere in the united states. I am so proud to be part of this community, please allow me to introduce another upon San Francisco native, supporter of San Francisco art and culture and vulnerable communities and someone clearly recognizes the power of fabulous. Give it up for mayor london breed. [applause]. Thank you, darcy. And the Job Description as many of you know for our drag laureate is to be absolutely fabulous and that is what darcies i want to appreciate the work i know you will continue to do to uplift the community as you serve in this capacity. And also look amazing in the process of doing it. So thank you all so much and i want to acknowledge the official ban of the city and county of San Francisco. The lesbian gay freedom ban thank you very much. I wanted to say if feels good to be here today. I realize there are so many people that want to participate in the flag raising ceremony is growing. We will have to grow in another space after today. So that we can ensure there is room for everyone who wants to celebrate and uplift this extraordinary community. I appreciate i know you will hear from the elected officials today. I want to appreciate them for being here. Starting with lieutenant govern. And i will ask you to save your applause because i gotta go down all the list of everyone. Our state controller cohen. Supervisor mandelman. Supervisor matt dorse. Supervisor steph neechl supervisor melgar. And our assessor recorder Joaquin Torres and the members of the sheriffs departmentful thank you very much for being here. And we have our treasurer jose cisneros. Senator scott wiener and other elected leaders. City councilmember of elcertito carmen chu. And a Company Others which i dont know everyones name and there are a bunch on this list for the sake of getting this Program Going some will speak in a moment. Thank you to the pride board and folks joining us in this celebration. Celebrities in the house. Tom horn for your support. Everyone is here. If i didnt say your name raise your hand. We have Department Heads. Commissioners. We have people from all parts of San Francisco and all parts of the bay area. Because San Francisco is the place to be for celebration. It is time that instead of being down on San Francisco purke back on San Francisco and talking mess about San Francisco it is time to celebrate why San Francisco is special and better than every other city. Because some of those same cities are debating about whether or not they should raise the pride flag. Same cities debating whether or not they should introduce proclamation to declare lbgtq pride month in any city. Some cities debate over 500 new laws antilbgtq . They want to talk mess about San Francisco because here we are doing it. We are like nike. We are just doing it. Not talking about t. Not debating or having conversation. We are investing nenldzing transhomelessness. Investing in aids planning and investing in doing all the work necessary to support, uplift and advance this community. People are talk bug not only we v. 12 Million Dollars to build a new lbgtq museum, supervisor mandelman, Supervisor Scott Wiener pitch in the 5. 5 Million Dollars to make the dream a reality. [applause]. When someone says, something about San Francisco you ask them. What are they doing to mo promote and change the world for the lbgtq communities like San Francisco. There is no comparison. This month. During pride month this it is a celebration. Yes , there are problems and challenges. Yes there are always things that we need to fight for. But it is time after a global pandemic. After all the issues we have been facing. It is time to start to feel good again temperature time to celebrate hour we have come. Time to celebrate the work and investment and everything this we are doing in San Francisco differently than we did before. It does not mean we dont fight tomorrow. But today we celebrate. We have joy, love in hearts. We have preeshz, the next generation, they are watching San Francisco. They know this is the accomplice to come to get help, hope and spchlt thats what pride represents for everyone around world. As we are out there in the parade, upon events, brunches and the other things and of course, looking fabulous in the process, let us remember what and be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of what San Francisco represents because we are very fortunate to do all the great work we are doing here and to put and shine a spotlight on what we are doing so others know what is possible and helps to fight against the bigotry and hate and the things that try to take us down. We are San Francisco. We are like nike, we just do it. Thank you. With that i want to introduce to say a few words lieutenant governor. [applause]. Thank you, madam mayor. I like to start by recognizing the worlds first drag laureate, darcy, congratulations [applause] thank you for your leadership and your absolutely beautiful words. I think we can all agree there is no more no greater fabulous leader for the mayor for the city of San Francisco than our mayor, london breed. Thank you. Madam mayor for your fabulousness and leadership every single day. So, i think some of you know i made San Francisco my home for more than 20 years. I represent the entire state of california. And across our state this month there will be parades. Celebrations, there will be incredible out pourings of culture and leadership uplifting the lbgtq community of the state of california. But i think we can agree that there is no place in the state no place in the country. No place in the world that did it earlier or does it better in celebrating pride month. Than San Francisco, california. And so, as we are out there celebrating and marching together. Let us not forget what we know which is every generation must fight the fight again special we know in the country there are elements to our trying to roll back the rights of californians we will fight back and keep our rights for you our people in the state. I would like to recognize scott wiener in sacramento. Incredible and every level. But most importantly, in leading the fight to put on the ballot again once and for all the changing of the california constitution to enshrine the right to marry who you want. And that is coming. [applause] because of senator wiener. Im honored to be a cosponsor of that legislation we will get it done. More than anything else, which humility and pride and honest or myself to stands under this dome with all of you as we begin pride month t. Is a tremendous honor to be part of this community which will always go forward and always lead in the state and in the world. Happy pride; everyone. And with that the fabulous senator scott wiener. [applause]. Thank you. Thank you, lieutenant governor. So, you know i think pride feels a bit different this year. You know for a very long time, pride has become increaseingly a celebration, which is great. Celebrate, parties and festive parades. Everyone wanted to be a part. This. More corporations getting involved. Everyone wanted to be a part of pride that is great. The last few years we understand that we have to get back to pride roots. Which is to fight for our upon communitys survival. Thats what pride is about. [applause]. And when we look that is happening now, we are like, target removing a lot of the pride paraphernalia or the back of the store because of bullying from right wing extremists or bush pulling an add february including a transwoman. We see corporations who have been alis to us when the pressure goes on, they fold like a cheap tent. We need to say that participating in provide is not being in a parade or having a party or putting on the rain bows it is being an alli to our community not when it is easy but when it is hard. When it is hard. [applause]. And even when it is dangerous. You know what . It is dangerous for us 365 days a year when you look at what is happening to our people, our lbgtq youth around the counts real. You are pushed to suicide. Who are attacked. Being told they cant go to the bathroom or play sports. You look at the two young transwomen who with drew from the state track and field championship because that had been so harassed imagine that out of the 1400 girls participating in the state track and Field Championships 2 were trans, that was 2, too many to the haters and the women got bullied out of competing that is happen happening in the country but in the state of california. And means we need to renew our commitment and get back to the roots of pride we are fighting for our communitys survival and fighting to make sure we thrive. They want us to go away but we are not going anywhere. We are here to stay and our kids are here to stay. [applause] so on on monday, we are going to have fun in sacramento. Thats our lbgtq caucus we have our pride celebration in the capital and each get to pick each member of the caucus picks an honoree. I nominated sister roma. And [applause] you may have seen that caused controversy. There are some folks in the Catholic Church special republican colleagues not happy about honoring a sister of perpetual indulgence but it is going to happen. We will emsends our San Francisco spirit up to the capitol and proclaim to the world what are this city is about which is love and acceptance. Happy pride, everyone. Now to say a few words the president of the board for sf pride. Come on up. Thank you. And greetings mayor, breed. Laureate and guests. Im nguyen fam, he and his pronouns and honored address you as president of San Francisco pride. Of the citys largest event upon sf pride is regarded as one of the Worlds Largest and most iconic annual celebrations of lbgtq culture and heritage. What might be lesser known is that our small team of 12 volunteer Board Members and 5 full time paid staff works year round to ensurety success of this parade and celebration every june in the greatest city in the world. [applause] we are proudly also the few remaining pride events in the world kept absolutely free and open to the partial ensuring all who wish to share in love of sf pride can do so free of charge and you can imagine how expensive it is to put on the largest free events. Donations are totally welcome. And we than our Market Street and our festival at civic center serve as beakons of hope to those that see them the hope is important and necessary especially in the context of the attempts to oppress and erase our community. These are vicious. Authoring bills that target our art forms, books, history and our health care. As san franciscans we ever fortunate to live, work and play in a city that largely protects and loudly celebrates our community. Yet we are not a city without discord. It is not uncommon for some in our queer xunt community to be at odds with Civic Leaders with decisions we might disagree example with banko brown may he rest in power what we can unify around our debates must empower our movement to liberate queer people here and every where. So today, sf pride invites you to join us as coconspirators toward this positive liberating change. Provide love to one another and ourselves and alis. Because our love for ourselves and for each other is our resistance. Our resistance is our liberation. And our liberation is long over due. [applause]. It has been an honor to address you today. Thank you and happy pride month [applause]. And it is now my pleasure to introduce tout first person i hired at sf pride my redheaded renegade, sf prides executive director, suzanne ford. [applause]. Thank you, nguyen. Mayor, lieutenant governor, supervisors, Department Heads to employees and guests; and first i like to say i see you my transsiblings. And i want to acknowledge my privilege as a white transwoman to stands up here and im standing here because of people like ms. Major, jell neta and billie cooper. Thank you. [applause] and everyone here knows and foals that this pride is more important than ever. You heard it from everyone up here. Our theme this year is looking back and moving forward. And make no make that moving forward will be quite difficult. We are facing things we have not faced in 2030 years especially the transcommunity. We are under attack, our community, city and our way of living are under attack. It is especially painful for me to see this persecution aimed at transchildren, families and adults all over red states and here in other parts of california that are not liberal cities. I was one of those transkids in the 70s. Grew up in kentucky. I did not disclose my identity because i was afraid. There are millions of those people now in red states looking at us with fear. They wonder is San Francisco the place you can come and be who you are. Im here to say we are that city. So upon given circumstances, San Francisco pride invites you to join us on pride weekend. Help us draw a visible line, a line in the sand that says you are either for human rights or everyone. Or for fear, hate and bigotry. There is no middle of the road. There is no moderate position on human rights. [applause]. If you march down Market Street with us this year, you are telling the world that here in San Francisco you can be your whole self. You can love who you love in the most fabulous of ways. Really everyone, we need all of you, i need money, mayor im looking for cash. So this im going to i have the honor introducing a supervisor to you and i can tell you he has been most gracious with a new executive director has been in his office many times looking for cash. So, come out supervisor mandelman. [applause]. I will come out any day. You know i have a baptist same sentiment the mayor had. You get to an event like this and look out in the crowd and there is too many amazing people out there. Here, there. And executive directors nonprofits doing amazing work. Queer city staff and Department Heads we are proud of and thank you, madam mayor for your queer appointments. Tom horn, thank you again for doing this yearly for us. Were grateful. And yea, drag is fun. And fabulous and amazingly important in this year. And darcy, im so excited follow your drag laureate seat. There are you know our senator who like with a smile and grace deals at a level of hate directed against him. Sometimes scare and he violent and threats. Doing the great work in sacramento. And dealing with the whackdoodles terrified of sister roma. You terrified of darcy. If you were terrified you should be they will overwhelm your hate. They will blow it out of the water. They are going to win, they will lead us to a better day and that is why it is so wonderful that our mayor decided well have a drag laureate and the last thing i will do, which i try to do every year at this thing is say nice things about the mayor at them event. I do. I do. Because this is a mayor who has been committed to our Queer Community from before she was the mayor. But as mayor, consistently. She released her budget when you look at the budget you see new investments, yes in queer culture and arts and in our vulnerable populations in elders, upon had beeneds of new units for queerelderly folks. And we will get that building one of these years we hope. Money that is property bout and thank you, mayor, for doing that. And invest nothing so many other services for vulnerable queer folks and did it again this year. We talked about the hate that has been directed at our state senator. Hate directed at kids, toochlt and other queer organizations. And laura from lyric thank you for the work you do for our kids. [applause] there are bomb threats manage to queer organizations and the mayor put in the budget in addition to ending transhomelessness and invest nothing queer eldand vulnerable queer populations she put in money to keep the organizations safer and deal with Public Safety needs. Thank you and happy pride, everybody. [applause]. Thank you. Supervisor, mandelman i appreciate that and i said you went through the budget that fast . I also want to acknowledge that supervisor walton and supervisor ronen were here earlier for the flag raising and had to leave and at this time i want to ask supervisor dorsey to say a few words. [applause]. Thank you, mayor. Thanks, everybody. You know it is really important that pride theme be looking back and moving forward. Im reminded it was 21 years ago i worked in the City Attorneys Office one of the 2 queer executive Staff Members along with then assistant City AttorneyTerry Stewart now a justice of the appellate court. First case we had in 2003, we won final case that was challenging. Our Domestic Partnership equal benefits ordinance. We could not have known a year later then mayor newsome will issue major licenses to same sex couples and we did not know it would lead to a legal Battle Strike brown major law in california and could not have known later that would be over turned by prop b. We could not have known the legal battle from that would 4 years after that strike down prop b. And 2 years after that achiefed major equality across the nation. [applause]. Here is when we do know. When leadership happens on the cause of lbgtq equality and protecting our communities and advancing important things like a drag laureate and ending transhomelessnessch what we know is that leadership will always come from the city and county of San Francisco. We can be proud of that and happy pride, everybody it is great and honor to be here. [applause] thank you. And i want to at this time acknowledge patrick carbon and he work that he is doing with the pink triangle. [applause] the celebration is on the 17th of june at what time . 11 oclock, darcy du have Something Else . 11 oclock. Hopefully you will join with the pride brunch and so many other great events and activities. I want to just acknowledge we have an amazing Host Committee and Protocol Office and new chief of protocol mayorium and her team more an and listen along with support from tom horn, they are the ones who help to put this celebration together. I want to thank our Council Generals from mexico and peru for joining us today. And wonderful partners. [applause] and norway. Japan. Norway. We have a bunch of our counsel generals joining us will take a celebration like this and share this with places where they come from throughout the country and the world. And im looking forward to as i said celebrating pride uplifting the community. We have our state and local leaders. Department heads. Commissioners. And our community advocates, ambassadors. If you are not here i dont know where you are. But the fact is i said throughout the challenge senator wiener talked about, there has to be celebration, too and a moment to take a lot of prior in everything that so many of you have fought for in some case like donna ford generations. We are glad to have leaders in the communities here. And we are glad to officially now as we raise the flag as we celebrate to officially declare it lbgtq pride mont in the city of San Francisco [applause]. And before we close out this wonderful ceremony and we have champagne and cookies. I dont know if you notice the flag with the decorations when you walk in. That was our arts commissioner ricardo. Who is fabulous. And he wanted do something special. Well open up to International Room for all of you to enjoy one anothers company and take a moment to appreciate that. And before i move on i want to ask because she did an amazing job cohosting equity california event. Ask our controller cohen to step and up say a few words. [applause] good afternoon, everyone. I commends you for sitting through so many speeches. My remarks will be brief. I say raise a glass, celebrate and remember those who showed us we stand on and happy pride. [applause]. All right, San Francisco lets turn this city out thank you all so much for being here [applause] happy pride. Everyone. [applause] [crowd noise]. [music] amazing. Incredible for the city. For the citizens. For our visitors and the Fire Department and our Public Safety partners to come together today and to celebrate pride weekend. I came because this is my first, year of pride and i wanted to experience with my mom. Im most excited for everything i will see. Celebrities just surrounded by so many fun people. My besties. Well have a great time. Im most excited about the expression of freedom and things which have to be this way well is no other way to do it. Everybody is wrong and we should all be like the pride people and proud to be who we are we are here to celebrate pride San Francisco pride. It is my first one experiencing the new atmosphere and learning. My first one, too. So close we could not pass it up. It is San Francisco it is the biggest ones can you pass it up. [crowd noise] [music] [crowd noise] it means everything that we have a common goal a Common Operating Picture and a common mission. It is great to be together and walk together and show that. [crowd noise] [sirens]. The message is the lbgtq community is reflect in the our Police Department in San Francisco. It sends a message that there are members of the department the Police Department, sheriffs department, Fire Department that are just like the people that we encounter in San Francisco. And i think it sends a message of hope the more we honor the lbgtq community now, the stronger we can be in standing up against those that dont want our representation. [crowd noise] [music] [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish]