(First off, here is the post I link to whenever I write about civil rights for the GLBT community. If you haven’t read it before, I highly suggest you do so now.)

Since the passage of Prop 8 taking away the right of gay and lesbians to marry in California, and the Obama administration’s broken promises on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, I had been curious to see the reaction at this year’s San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. Since Mayor Gavin Newsom began allowing same-sex weddings in San Francisco a few years ago, Pride weekend has been an all-out party. No one acted as if equality had been attained, but it did seem as if the path was shorter. The recent setbacks and betrayals did have an impact to my eyes. It was hard to make images to tell this story, (except for the obvious ones of people carrying signs) but the vibe was definitely less airy and more determined (for an event marked by assless chaps and topless motorcyclists, anyway.) Also in stark contrast to last year when they were rampant, I didn’t see a single Obama t-shirt, and not for a lack of looking.

Americablog has been doing important work on Obama vs The Gays, and I encourage you to head over there and read more about it, especially this post about political homophobia.

Below are some of my pictures from the parade. Enjoy.