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Oakland Pride Celebrates 15 Years With Parade, Festival and a Call for Visibility

Organizers cast the later-season celebration as a show of resilience in a tense political climate.

Ballroom performers take the Main Stage at the Oakland Pride Festival. (Eloise Rollins-Fife)
James Johnson of the Oakland Fire Department tosses beads to spectators during the Oakland Pride Parade. 
The Arnold Reed family of El Cerrito cheers on the San Francisco Pride Band during the Oakland Pride Parade along Broadway. 
Members of the Kaiser Permanente contingent ride by the Paramount Theater during Sunday morning’s Oakland Pride Parade along Broadway. The festival, which attracted thousands of people, concluded with a festival at Frank Ogawa Plaza. 

Overview

  • Thousands lined Broadway for an hourlong parade that ended at Frank Ogawa Plaza, where a multistage festival capped the weekend.
  • The event carried the theme “In Unity, We Thrive,” with attendees and organizers emphasizing the need for public support and representation.
  • City leaders joined the festivities, with Rep. Barbara Lee participating in the parade and U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon addressing the crowd.
  • Dykes on Bikes and the Soul Fire Dyke Motorcycle Club led a procession of about 80 contingents spanning community groups, schools, bands and civic organizations.
  • Grand marshals and performers included W. Kamau Bell, Layshia Clarendon, Patrik-Ian Polk, Tim Nguyen and Somos Familia Bay, with sets by Martha Wash, CeCe Peniston, Kamaiyah and Christian Chávez.