Written by: Kara Kundert
Today, the California Bluegrass Association and Bluegrass Pride were officially named the Best Overall Contingent in this past year's SF Pride Parade, placing us number one out of more than 270 floats and contingents. Featuring three live bands and a marching contingent of over 100 bluegrass lovers, Bluegrass Pride took to the streets of San Francisco to share our love of roots music with the world and show that, despite any stereotypes that may exist, bluegrass is truly for everybody. This message struck a chord with the crowds and judges of SF Pride, who loved our unique and enthusiastic presence in the parade.
In addition to being taking home the Best of the Best ribbon, we were also named one of six Absolutely Fabulous Musical Contingents, alongside the AIDS Emergency Fund/Positive Resource Center (with Beach Blanket Babylon), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the UC Davis Aggies Marching Band, and the Youth Pride Coalition.
This marks the first year that any bluegrass organization has ever represented at a Pride event worldwide, which makes this wholehearted embrace of our cause that much more powerful.
Thank you again to all that helped to make the inaugural Bluegrass Pride such a success -- if you marched with us, represented us in your community with stickers and t-shirts, donated money, cast a vote our way, or told your friends and family about our movement, then this victory belongs to you! We're looking forward to making next year's Bluegrass Pride celebration even more full of love, smiles, singing, dancing, fiddle tunes, and racing fast pickin', and we can't wait to see you there.