Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and many other sexual persuasions gathered to celebrate their uniqueness at Pink Saturday last week.

Hundreds of people wandered Market Street where there were information booths, food tents, clothing vendors and plenty of entertainment.

The event was joyous as people shopped, ate, and watched gay and lesbian cheerleaders.

Everywhere signs read “I love to be gay” or “I have two mommies/daddies” and even “straight people are not normal”.

“I am gay and I love this,” said Kevin, a 52-year-old Los Angeles resident, who walked around naked. “I feel very comfortable without clothes. I am not trying to make it [nudity] into a sexual thing. Plus, it’s a great way to get a tan,”

Kevin said that California Men Enjoying Naturism (CMEN) is a great place where gay men can come together in fellowship. Kevin met his partner Ric at the CMEN resort in 2000 and have been together and happy ever since.
Many others took a more serious approach to the event, promoting AIDS awareness and other causes.

Bruce Thatcher, who is gay, started a fundraising program that helps raise money for researching a cure for gay men with AIDS.

“I’m interested in raising money for AIDS research,” said Thatcher, 37. “I want to incorporate awareness for safe sex. It [AIDS] is a huge problem among gay men and young gay men especially. AIDS is more of a problem than it was before.”

Not only is AIDS among gay couples rising, but also legal tension toward gays, lesbians, and transsexuals.

“We started the Transgender Equality Project, and we’re trying to pass a trans health bill, which will provide funding for things like sex change surgery,” says Molly McKay, assistant executive director of Equality California.

“I’m here because I want to talk about marriage equality in America. Currently we’re asking the government to sign a marriage bill. We’ll be holding mini rallies everywhere to support it.”

While the straight political world has its own biases against gay practices, they are not the only ones who have difficulty accepting other people.

Often times the gay community puts down other gays. “ We basically had to beg for service in the club,” said Lee Kyles, an African-American Washington D.C. resident who came from is hometown to take part in the Gay Parade on Sunday. “ We’re used to it…I guess,” he added when asked how he felt about the incident.

Because many gays, lesbians and transsexuals are discriminated against, events like Pink Saturday and the Gay Pride Parade give gays a place and platform to feel comfortable with their sexuality and security to be themselves.

BAMMA is a summer journalism camp for high school students coordinated by the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism through the journalism department at SF State. For more information or comments on BAMMA, please contact Cristina Azocar.