EXCLUSIVE: SF Pride Appoints Executive Director and New Parade Producer to Plan 53rd Annual Pride Parade and Celebration

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The organization that organizes the annual San Francisco Pride Parade and Festival has chosen Suzanne Ford as its executive director. Ford has been acting executive director of San Francisco’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Celebration Committee since February 2022, successfully bringing the annual parade and festival back to Market Street and San Francisco’s Civic Center after the pandemic ended large gatherings for two years in town.

The new executive director isn’t the only change coming to this year’s Pride celebration. The company that organizes the biggest celebrations in the country took a step back from planning the parade after last year’s event.

VIDEO: San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration

Ford announced on “Getting Answers” that a new production company will take the lead this year. According to Ford, the city of San Francisco expects more than one million people to attend Pride events, about half of whom will attend the parade itself.

Los Angeles-based JJLA Events and Entertainment will work with SF Pride to plan this year’s event. The company, known for planning big events, was responsible for producing the flagship concert and festival for the 2019 World Pride Celebration and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York. Parade organizers hope the company’s experience in the entertainment industry will bring notable headliners to the San Francisco Pride celebration.

PHOTOS: San Francisco Pride 2022 Parade and Celebration

The San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration will take place June 24-25. The 53rd annual “Looking Back and Moving Forward” Pride Parade will take place on June 25, beginning at the foot of Market Street and heading towards the Civic Center.

You can’t do it? Join us for our live stream of the parade, right here on ABC7. The only place you can watch the parade and celebration live.

Check out abc7news.com/pride for stories about the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.

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