In this issue:
- Grand Marshal Lt. Dan Choi Fights Back against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
- In the Lap of Luxury! Grandstand Seating Tickets On Sale
- Virgin America Proudly Supports the San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade
- To Form a More Perfect Union #7: State by State LGBT Rights & Issues
- Get a Room with Joie de Vivre Hotels
- Contingent Monitor Training Schedule is Available
- MUNI: Connecting San Francisco with Pride
- A Five Star Experience Blocks from SF Pride Celebration and Parade
- Pride Month is Here! Check out Our Official Events
- San Francisco Marriott - Your Passport to the 2009 Pride Celebration & Parade
- AAA Official Travel Agency of San Francisco Pride
- Building Community Through Pride: Two Ways to Support our Beneficiaries
- The Hotel Whitcomb is Just a Few Steps Away from Pride Festivities
- There's Still Time to Join in the Parade!
- City CarShare has Pride!
- Enjoy Deluxe Accommodations at the Handlery Union Square Hotel
- Enjoy the Best Views of the Parade at the Historic Renoir Hotel
- Put the 'Act' in 'Activism' - Volunteer at SF Pride
- Come Join Curve For Our Official Women's Hotel of San Francisco Pride
- Wicked, "Perfectly Entertaining, Perfectly Thrilling!" -SF Chronicle

 Grand Marshal Lt. Dan Choi Fights Back against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

"I am gay."

These three words, uttered on the Rachel Maddow Show earlier this spring, resulted in the discharge of Lt. Dan Choi from the Army National Guard under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Lt. Choi has vowed to fight his dismissal "tooth and nail."  An Arabic-speaking graduate of West Point and an Iraq combat veteran, Lt. Choi founded Knights Out, a support network for other LGBT West Point alumni. 

Lt. Choi will be joining the 2009 SF Pride Celebration & Parade as a Celebrity Grand Marshal... Read more about Lt. Choi.
 

 In the Lap of Luxury! Grandstand Seating Tickets On Sale

	2008 Celebrity Grand Marshal Cyndi Lauper greets Pride-goers in the Grandstands (Photo Credit: Jon Rivera)

Grandstand seating tickets can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/66354

Online ticket sales end June 18, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.

Please NOTE: Brown Paper Tickets will mail out your grandstand tickets.  You may receive an incorrect notice that your tickets will be available at Will Call.  The Will Call message is in error and your tickets will still be mailed to you.

In-Person Ticket Sales: for information about in-person tickets sales, click here.
Regular tickets can also be purchased in person prior to the event at Femina Potens Art Gallery located at 2199 Market Street at Sanchez in San Francisco [MAP]. The gallery is open from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Ticket sales at Femina Potens will end on June 27, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Virgin America, the official airline of better, proudly supports the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade.

Climb aboard Virgin America. Here you will find the simple pleasures of life available on a plane: a choice in movies, on-demand food, and even Wi-Fi―all for a radically low fare. This is how to fly.

Grab a seat at virginamerica.com.
 

 To Form a More Perfect Union #7: State by State LGBT Rights & Issues

In honor of our 2009 event theme, "In Order to Form a More Perfect Union...," SF Pride is keeping tabs on the state of LGBT rights and community issues in each of the states and territories in the Union.  Below are the second set in the series.  Tell us what issues are affecting the LGBT community in your state.

llinois – General Assembly may soon pass civil union measure.
Indiana – Attempts to amend Indiana Constitution fail.
Massachusetts – Poll shows that voters remain divided about same-sex marriage.
Nebraska – Pink Triangle teaches about LGBT acceptance and becoming an ally.
North Dakota – House denies LGBT community protection from discrimination.
Rhode Island – Same-sex marriage movement struggles in Rhode Island.
South Carolina – Teen violence program excludes same-sex relationships.
Virginia – Hampton Roads Pride focuses on LGBT history.

WE BELIEVE IN
ACCEPTANCE, EQUALITY AND
MIMOSAS BEFORE NOON.

Joie de Vivre created its first hotel in San Francisco, and our company is still based there today. The progressive attitudes and initiatives of our home city and state, not to mention their sizable LGBT community, are key components of our company and how we welcome our guests.

Diversity, acceptance and equality are values Joie de Vivre lives, breathes and works by. Joie de Vivre realizes that all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers are not the same. Joie de Vivre has a hotel for every LGBT traveler or group, whether they’re chasing Pride parties, meeting space or organic small plates.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS FOR OUR LGBT FRIENDS
At Joie de Vivre, we’re about fresh experiences with our guests in mind. Here are a few current promotions tailored for gay and lesbian travelers.

Pride in California - The Golden State is one of the most diverse, gay-friendly regions in the world. As a highlight, we’re offering a special PRIDE RATE of 10% off our best available rates from May through September 2009.

Milk is Good - Celebrate the history of the gay and lesbian community in San Francisco, as depicted in the critically acclaimed and locally-shot movie Milk, with this special year round package.

 Contingent Monitor Training Schedule is Available

	Photo Credit: Jane Cleland

Contingent Monitors are volunteers/staff members provided by your organization that will walk with you along the parade route acting as safety monitors for your contingent. They will need to attend a training prior to the parade.

These trainings are mandatory to help ensure the safest Parade experience for all participants.

For a list of Contingent Monitor Trainings, go here.

As your partner in transit, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates Muni, is proud to sponsor the 2009 LGBT Pride Celebration. The SFMTA celebrates the diversity of our community and recognizes the importance of equality for all people. Our goal is to provide residents and visitors of San Francisco with safe, timely, convenient and environmentally sustainable transportation options. At the SFMTA, we connect San Francisco with Pride!

 A Five Star Experience Blocks from SF Pride Celebration and Parade

Described by The New York Times as “Equal parts wit, surrealism and glamour – a luxury hotel with an edge”, CLIFT, a Morgans Original, provides a festive backdrop for the SF Pride Celebration and Parade.  A Five Star experience blocks from SF Pride Festival Central, cable car lines providing non-stop service to the Castro and high-end flagship retailers.  Pride Packages beginning at $155.00 per night. Most including two complimentary signature cocktails nightly, superior accommodations, champagne brunch for two, two complimentary Grandstand tickets for Sunday’s parade and two tickets to the VIP Party. Supporter of the fight towards a more perfect union as a donor to Equity CA in 2008. Reservations: call 800.652.5438 or book online at www.clifthotel.com. Promotional Code is PKPRD. 

The Official Events program is a partnership between SF Pride and event organizers throughout the Bay Area to assemble the most awesome calendar of LGBT events for the month of June.

SF Pride's Official Events offer a diverse mix of events for our diverse community: family outings, performances and exhibits, parties and club events, business and networking functions, and much more!

[6.02] Ballroom Class & Pride Routine: More info.
[6.04, 6.11, 6.18 and 6.25] Ladies Night with "Betty's List" @ Orson: More info.
[6.07] Ninth Annual Dessert First! Benefiting Project Open Hand: More info.
[6.13] Homeless Children's Network Rock In Fest Concert: More info.
[6.18 & 6.19] borderOUT: More info.

San Francisco Marriott - Your Passport to the 2009 Pride Celebration & Parade

San Francisco Marriott  
55 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA  94103-3199
(415) 896-1600
(800) 228-9290 Reservations

Book your reservation at the San Francisco Marriott, your passport to the 2009 Pride Parade and Celebration.  Step outside our front door to the annual events of the weekend. Savor a night cap in the View Lounge on the 39^th Floor with the spectacular view of the City’s skyline and end the night in slumber in our comfortable guest rooms featuring Marriott’s Revive Bedding.

AAA Travel in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah is proud to serve the LGBT community, your friends and family. Our specially-trained Vacation Specialists can put together virtually any type of travel arrangement for you, including exclusively Lesbian and Gay trips or vacations with family and friends. Check us out at your local AAA Travel Agency, by phone 1-888-248-5980, or online at: www.aaa.com/connect.

 Building Community Through Pride: Two Ways to Support our Beneficiaries

	Your beverage purchases and gate donation support  over 70 non-profit organizations. (Photo Credit: Juan Carlos Betancourt)

Donate the minimum request of $5 at the entrance gates of the SF Pride Celebration to earn yourself a dollar discount off beverage purchases for that day of the event.

Not only is your donation going to help the more than 35 local non-profit organizations staffing the gates, but a portion of your beverage purchase also helps support another 30-plus non-profits working the beverage booths.

Your support is vital not only in helping to keep San Francisco Pride free and open to people of all economic backgrounds, but your donation also helps strengthen community organizations working on issues related to the LGBT community, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

 The Hotel Whitcomb is Just a Few Steps Away from Pride Festivities

Hotel Whitcomb
1231 Market Street   
San Francisco, CA 94103
Call 1.800.227.4747 for Reservation and Information.  
Pride Rate: Call for rates
E-mail: Reservations@HotelWhitcomb.com

The Hotel Whitcomb is centrally located in the heart of San Francisco with easy access to the Castro and Soma District and a few steps away from Pride Festivities making us the ideal place to stay and celebrate. The hotel features recently renovated rooms, views of the parade, and onsite restaurant featuring California cuisine. Prices range from $189 and up. www.hotelwhitcomb.com.

 There's Still Time to Join in the Parade!

Think global, share local. Join City CarShare and get hourly access to hundreds of fuel-efficient cars without the costs of ownership. You will also be investing in your community by joining the only local nonprofit, car share organization. Since you’re a part of the Pride celebration, City CarShare is giving you $30 in driving when you use to promo code Pride09 to sign at www.citycarshare.org. (Valid for ShareLocal or SharePlus until July 15, 2009)

The Handlery Union Square Hotel is offering 2 great Pride Packages.  Enjoy deluxe accommodations, complimentary valet parking for one car, 2 hats, and 2 boas starting at $149 for the Historic Section and $169 in the Club Section. Include 2 Grandstand Tickets for just $20 more.

For Reservations call 415-781-7800 and mention promo code PRIDE09.

	A view of the Renoir Hotel along the Pride Parade route

Renoir Hotel
45 McAllister Street
(at Market)
SF, CA  94102
 

 Put the 'Act' in 'Activism' - Volunteer at SF Pride

 Come Join Curve For Our Official Women's Hotel of San Francisco Pride

http://www.curvemag.com/

  Wicked, "Perfectly Entertaining, Perfectly Thrilling!" -SF Chronicle

WICKED’s open-ended engagement is now playing at the Orpheum Theatre. This is a significant homecoming for WICKED, which premiered in San Francisco before casting its spell on Broadway. 

For more information about WICKED at the Orpheum Theatre, please visit http://www.shnsf.com.