"To form a more perfect union" was the theme of this year's SF pride parade featuring a number of performers and speakers including Lt. Dan Choi. It truly felt like as much a celebration of Pride as it did a political protest against the state supreme court's support of ban on same-sex marriage.

Yesterday morning, a friend and I made our long drive up US 101 to San Francisco to see the 2009 SF Pride Parade as part of my birthday celebration plans. We only stayed for two hours and to my great disappointment,  I didn't get a chance to stay long enough to hear Lt. Dan Choi speak. But for two hours that we were there, the sidewalks were packed and no counter-protesters were in sight. GLBT supporters cheered for not just the floats but also the police officers escorting the floats. Many different GLBT interest and rights as well as healthcare organizations set up booths nearby the parade route on Market Street. We signed petitions supporting same-sex marriage, got a number of stickers showing our support for GLBT rights, got matching rainbow colored pukka shell necklaces and of course, cheered on the floats that showed strong disapproval of Prop 8.