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June 29, 2008
The annual christening of the pink triangle
Posted by: Andoni
This is something that is possible only in San Francisco.
Even though it was foggy yesterday, my partner and I drove to the top of Twin Peaks in San Francisco because the guide book claimed that this gave one of the best views of the city --- and we were hoping the fog would clear by the time we reached the top. Upon reaching the summit, we noticed 3 TV news vans and an overflowing parking lot. This was bit puzzling considering the bad weather. We soon discovered that there was a party at the top -- with a band, majorette, an Academy Awards like pink runway, hundreds of people and thousands of pink balloons.
The special occasion was the annual christening of a giant pink triangle displayed on the side of this the highest hill in the city. Every year for Pride an organization called the “Friends of the Pink Triangle” lays out a giant pink triangle (made of cloth) about the size of a football field overlooking the Castro, and it can be seen throughout the city.
It is quite an event. The mayor comes and christens the pink triangle with a bottle of champagne and then there is a party on top of Twin Peaks.
The “Friends of the Pink Triangle” explain in, you guessed it, pink handouts, that this is to remind people of the senseless and irrational hatred that existed against
gay people in the past, but which unfortunately still exists in many quarters today.
We waited a while for Mayor Gavin Newsom to arrive so the ceremony could begin. Several limos drove up, but queens, not the mayor emerged. The mayor was behind schedule or maybe he has become used to "gay time." We didn't wait for him. The next place in our guide book was beckoning and we had a schedule to keep. We were on vacation.
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Comments
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I've lived in SF for 6 years but I had never seen the pink triangle on Twin Peaks before yesterday. Not sure how that happened... maybe because the weather is usually nicer, and I'm more focused on all the tourist gays milling in the Castro?
I've never been a fan of the pink triangle as an icon, but I have to say it was pretty breathtaking to see ... even here in SF.
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Here is the home page for the Friends of the Pink Triangle:
http://www.thepinktriangle.com
It has some really cool photos of the triangle in better weather. If I can I will add this to the body of the post.
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Greetings, I'd like to use your photo above for a display in my classroom. Please let me know if you are willing to give permission and to whom I should attribute the photo. Many thanks!
Sara
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You may use the photo for your classroom. I have contacted you directly as well.
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Strict Scrutiny on Jun 29, 2008 12:40:09 PM:
Andoni-
Hope you're having a fantastic time in SF -- I think you'll find it a bit different from Atlanta.
If you're around next weekend for 4th of July, you might want to catch the fireworks show over the bay. It's a bit crowded and touristy, but it can be fun.