More than 100,000 people thronged the San Diego Pride Parade in Hillcrest on Saturday, the centerpiece of a Pride weekend that is expected to draw in excess of 200,000.

That’s a record crowd, yet Bianca Burt would like to see more.

She’d like to see everyone.

“We are hoping that Pride can bring the entire community together,” said Burt, co-chair of the San Diego LGBT Pride board. “There’s more that unites us than divides us. We are open to hearing from parts of the community that feel left out.


“We want to hear from them.”

If the 43rd annual Pride parade did not represent every San Diegan, it came close. This year’s theme, “Allied in Action, United for Justice,” was reflected in the record 270 contingents marching the 1.1-mile route from Hillcrest to Balboa Park.

1 / 37 The Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad makes its way along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route. () 2 / 37 The Alaska Airlines float, a balloon that looks like one of their planes, flies near an American flag with Pride colors during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 3 / 37 Spectators cheer on the participants of the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade as it makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 37 David Darling and Doug More wear Pride colors during 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 5 / 37 Glamda and the Hot Cheetos make a political statement as they make their way along University Avenue in Hillcrest during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 37 Sharon Ruzek, a Sgt. with the CHP’s Senior Volunteer Program waves from a patrol car along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route on University Avenue. () 7 / 37 Sam Moehlig, foreground, and his mom, Kathie Moehlig, founder of TransFamily Support Services, and the 2017 Friend of Pride reciepient, along with Augustus Lawson, Sam’s boyfriend, ride in the San Diego Pride Parade. () 8 / 37 Fonzi Figueroa and Cassidy Richards, Miss Gay Pride San Diego 2017, take a selfie photo before the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade began. () 9 / 37 Motorcycle riders lead the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 10 / 37 The color guard makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 11 / 37 Catie Giske carries a California Pride flag while walking in the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 12 / 37 Many attending the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade wear the Pride flag. () 13 / 37 Mickey Green enjoys herself during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 37 Alfredo Wessling wears his hair in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag at the 2017 Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 37 The Qualcomm participants make their way along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 37 A Chula Vista police officer waves a Pride from a patrol car as it makes its way along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route on University Avenue. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 37 Spectators cheer on the participants of the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade as it makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 37 Jim Osborne rides his bike along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route on University Avenue. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 37 Glamda and the Hot Cheetos make a political statement as they make their way along University Avenue in Hillcrest during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. () 20 / 37 The Transgender flag carried by members of the North County LGBT Resource Center, makes its way along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route on University Avenue. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 37 Jacq Moehlig painted her finger nails the colors of the Pride flag, along with one finger painted like the transgender flag. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 37 Motorcycle riders lead the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 37 A participant in the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade waves a Pride flag. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 37 Interfaith leaders, members of Fatih for Freedom, participated in the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 37 Floats make their way along University Avenue during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 26 / 37 A young girl points to the floats in the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 27 / 37 The 2017 San Diego Pride Parade makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 28 / 37 CHP Officer Rafael Reynoso, and Border Division Assistant Chief Deb Schroder, high-five spectators along the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade route. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 29 / 37 The 2017 San Diego Pride Parade makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 30 / 37 The 2017 San Diego Pride Parade makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 31 / 37 The San Diego Derby Dolls strut their stuff during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 32 / 37 Spectators along the parade route enjoy themselves during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 33 / 37 On the District Attorney’s float, a woman holds a sign supporting Orlando. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 34 / 37 Two spectators take a selfie photo during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 35 / 37 Father Jason Samuel of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Bay Park, a member of Fatih for Freedom, was one of the interfaith leaders to participate in the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 36 / 37 The 2017 San Diego Pride Parade makes its way along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 37 / 37 The colors of the Pride flag were apparent in many different ways during the 2017 San Diego Pride Parade. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)

One the nation’s largest gay pride events — as well as the biggest civic weekend event in the city — it drew marchers who represented the full spectrum of life in San Diego. Industry was there (Qualcomm, Union Bank, San Diego Gas & Electric); medicine (Sharp HealthCare, UC San Diego Health); sports (San Diego Padres, San Diego Armada Rugby Football Club, the San Diego Derby Dolls); religion (more than 50 clergy, from Episcopalian priests and Lutheran ministers to Jewish rabbis); politics (Mayor Kevin Faulconer, members of Congress, state Senate and Assembly, plus carloads of candidates).


There were also explicitly LGBT groups, everything from the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus to the Rainbow RV, “North America’s largest gay and lesbian RV camping club.”

What caught Tony Long’s eye, though, were rank upon rank of uniformed men and women.

“What impresses me is the outpouring of support from military and law enforcement,” said Long, a native San Diegan who now lives in Los Angeles. “That’s an amazing sign of the times.”

For years, the Pride parade has served as a social and political barometer for the LGBT community. The 2015 march, coming weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered all states to recognize same-sex marriage, was fiesta-like. Last year’s march, held weeks after a gunman killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., was somber.


This year?

“I think it’s becoming more political, especially in light of the current administration, the current president,” said Stephen Boyer, president of the San Diego Cruisers motorcycle club and a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer. “People are concerned they might lose their rights.”

A few contingents were overtly political. The American Civil Liberties Union group carried signs reading “Resist” and “Demand Justice, Fight Hate.”

Others wore T-shirts or buttons subverting President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. “Make America Great Again”? These read “Make America Gay Again.”


“I’d like to see the guy impeached,” said Alexandra Kogan, marching with the ACLU. “We are here to support our community and take our country back.”

Still, partisan politics largely took a back seat on most floats. Among the active duty and retired military marchers, there was more talk of gains than losses. Lauren Henson, who left the Marine Corps as a sergeant in April, was encouraged by the more welcoming attitudes towards gays and lesbians — and straight women like herself — she witnessed during 10 years in uniform.

“It’s like a new pair of shoes,” Henson, who just moved to Spring Valley, said. “You’ve got to break it in.”

Justin Brent also applauded the changes in Pentagon policy since he enlisted in the U.S. Army 54 years ago.


“It’s important to show that gays — I should say LGBTQ people — serve in the military and should be recognized as patriotic Americans,” Brent said. “I had to lie to join the Army, had to deny my own sexuality in order to serve my country.”

Breaking down barriers that have hindered LGBT citizens is not just about instilling pride and fighting prejudice, noted Vicki Mealer-Burke. It’s also about common sense and corporate sensibilities.

Mealer-Burke is vice president and chief diversity officer at Qualcomm. A lesbian with a wife and a daughter, Mealer-Burke said she’s been treated like every other employee during her 20 years with this Fortune 500 company.

That’s just good business, she said.


“Diversity helps innovation,” Mealer-Burke said. “The more diversity we have, the more we come up with better innovations, better ideas.”

Outside of traffic snarls and two people arrested for public drunkenness, the massive parade wrapped up with few notable problems. Yet even after the last float disappeared, Pride was far from over. A concert headlined by En Vogue was scheduled inside the ticketed festival area in Balboa Park for Saturday afternoon and night, plus encore performances Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Ticket sales are up 20 percent from last year,” said Fernando Lopez, director of operations for San Diego Pride. “We’re on track to have 48,000.”

While that would not be everyone, it would be — once again — a record for San Diego Pride.