Joe Hawkins is a noted Oakland California community activist and organizer who was the first Black gay man to appear on national television on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1989, defending his right to parent his then 7-year-old son.
Joe is co-founder of the East Bay AIDS Walk and is co-producer of the nation’s largest Black LGBT Film Festival and was selected as one of Click Magazine’s top 25 Elite LGBT people in America in Atlanta in 2006.
Mr. Hawkins also owns one of the nation’s first African American gay lifestyle websites (http://www.clubrimshot.com/) and produces the largest black gay men’s events in the northwest.
He is also co-producer of the nation’s only national event celebrating gay erotica and men of African or Latino descent called BLATINO OASIS, held annually in Palm Springs, California.
A military veteran, Mr. Hawkins’ work in the community has been recognized by the White House and has been featured on Good Morning America and in numerous publications to include USA Today and the Wall Street Journal.
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About San Francisco Pride
This year marks the 39th anniversary of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade. This year's theme is "In Order to Form a More Perfect Union…," and the event will be held over the weekend of June 27 and 28, 2009. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and more than a dozen community-run stages and venues, the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest gathering of LGBT people and allies in the nation. The two-day celebration is free and open to all.
The energy reaches a crescendo the last weekend of June. On Saturday close to 150,000 folks will gather at Civic Center for the first day of the two-day celebration! Stages of music, more than 300 exhibitors, great food and drinks are available to enjoy. That same night, 200,000 revelers will pour into the Castro and party into the wee hours of the night.
On Sunday morning, the roar of 500 motorcycles heralds the start of the Pride Parade, a dazzling cavalcade of diversity. The streets are lined 12 people deep as 750,000 people cheer the contingents on. Going on during and after the parade is the second day of the Celebration at Civic Center. More than a dozen community stages entertain the crowds with world famous acts.Come and enjoy the show, culture and experience! If you are visiting from out of town, we suggest you browse our Travel and Hotels page.
http://www.sfpride.org/parade/grandmarshals.html
2 comments:
Congratulations!
What a great year to select a GREAT MAN to honor as Grand Marshall. Seems fitting YOU have been selected based on all your years of working "TOWARDS A MORE PERFECT UNION!" CONGRATS JOE! YOU deserve to be honored in this great way. One more parade to lead in YOUR list of many.
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