Working Together to Make SF Pride Safe

It’s June in San Francisco and we know what that means—it’s time to kick off Pride month! With San Francisco’s Pride celebration being the largest LGBTQIA event in the U.S., SF SAFE remains ever-committed—along with our partners at the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)—to helping keep everyone safe while they’re enjoying the festivities.

This year’s 52nd annual San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration and Parade (Pride 52)—with the theme “Love Will Keep Us Together”—is set for late June, with the Celebration occurring June 25-26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Parade happening June 26 starting at 10:30 a.m. (Click here for more info).

With a large crowd expected it will take teamwork to make the safety dream work, especially in the era of COVID. Organizers said they will be following all current state and local guidelines.

While the SFPD will have both uniformed and plainclothes officers on patrol during SF Pride activities, community members can also contribute to their own safety and that of others by reviewing these safety tips compiled by law enforcement.

Safety & Wellness Tips 

The number one safety tip from the SFPD? If you see something, say something. Always pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious activity or unattended packages to the nearest police officer or security personnel.

Bring a friend with you when traveling to new and unfamiliar places. Use the buddy system.

Keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water. 

Don’t tempt thieves; keep your smartphone, wallet and other valuables close to you and in a safe place.

Watch each other’s backs! Look out and speak up for one another.

Celebrate responsibly: If you’re going to drink, don’t drive.

Never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep your friends close and your drink closer.

“Our goal, along with our partners at the SFPD, is to keep everyone safe—so if you see something that doesn’t look right, don’t be afraid to step forward and report it to a police officer or event organizer,” said SF SAFE Executive Director Kyra Worthy. “It’s always better to speak up so that it can be checked out,” she added.

If you’d like to receive alerts from the ALERTSF system over SF Pride weekend, text PRIDESF to 888-777. In the event that you see anything suspicious or a crime in progress, please report it to authorities or call 911 right away. You can also provide anonymous tips to the SFPD by calling 415-575-4444.

Photo courtesy of San Francisco Pride