The Friends of the Pink Triangle have placed a giant pink triangle on top of Twin Peaks - a mountain in the center of San Francisco - on every Pride Parade weekend since 1995. The Pink Triangle started out as a renegade crafts project, assembled under cover of darkness as protecton from police notice. It's now grown into something large that is appreciated enough for the mayor and many of the city's other elected officials to acknowledge and celebrate. The project has been officially embraced by the city. Mayor Willie Brown christened the triangle on three occasions with a bottle of pink champagne.

Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr at Pink Triangle's first champagne christening

Congresswoman and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks at the Pink Triangle Ceremonies in 1999 and 2012

Supportive letter from Former President Bill Clinton to Pink Triangle.

Governor Gray Davis's office issued an ornate proclamation and Senator Feinstein
and Senator Boxer have also sent supportive letters over the years to Pink Triangle.

Commemoration speakers have included:

Congresswoman (former Speaker of The House) Dem. Leader Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Willie L, Brown Jr., Senator Mark Leno, Senator Carole Migden,

US Ambassador James Hormel, German Consul General Rolf Schütte; The Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney Australia Phillip Black; Assemblyman Tom Ammiano; Assemblyman Phil Ting;

Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Sue Bierman, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Treasurer Susan Leal, Assemblyman Kevin Shelley, Assessor/Recorder Teng, Supervisor Leslie Katz,

Academy-Award winning actress Cloris Leachman; Actor/writer Bruce Vilanch of “Hairspray”,

Emmy-winning Actor Leslie Jordan of “Will and Grace”, Pop music star Andy Bell of “Erasure”,

Comedian and BBC Talk-show host Graham Norton, Actor Alec Mapa of “Desperate Housewives”,

The “MILK Movie Team” of Bruce Cohen, Dan Nicoletta and Howard Rosenman;

Dustin Lance Black (Academy Award winner for “Milk”); Empress Jose Sarria - the Widow Norton,

Activist Stuart Milk - nephew of Harvey Milk; Cleve Jones creator of the Names Project Quilt;

Actress Dot Jones of TV’s hit series “GLEE”, Alex Newell of TV's hit series "GLEE";

Michael Tilson Thomas, 11-time Grammy winning conductor, composer and music director of the San Francisco Symphony and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra;

Award-winning Actress/comedian/singer Lea DeLaria of TV’s hit show “Orange is the New Black”;

TV host and comedian Ross Matthews of “Hello Ross”, “Tonight Show”, “Chelsea Lately”, “The View”;

Tabatha Coffey, star of TV’s “Tabatha Takes Over”; Mondo Guerra of "Project Runway"

Actor Wilson Cruz of TVs “Noah’s Arc”, Actor Wes Culwell, Model and TV’s Honey Labrador,

Author and TV’s “Amazing Race” victor Reichen Lehmkuhl, TV hostess and personality Jan Wahl;

Shakespearean actor Roger Rees; TV Producer and Creator of “The ‘L’ Word” Ilene Chaiken,

Lt. Dan Choi a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”,

NFL football player and actor/singer Esera Tuaolo, Eric Alva, who was the first US soldier wounded in the Iraq War (losing a leg) and an outspoken critic of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell”,

Ted Phillips Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the U.S. Holocaust Museum and curator of: "Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, 1933-1945",

Ashram Parsi the “first Iranian gay activist”;

Sylvia Guerrero, mother of Gwen Araujo, who was murdered for being Transgender;

Dorothy Hajdys-Holman, mother of Allen Schindler, who was murdered for being gay;

Alice Hoglan, mother of Mark Bingham a gay hero on Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001

The goal of the Pink Triangle ceremony: is to remind people of what can happen when hatred and bigotry become law. Discriminatory laws led to the creation of the Pink Triangle patch that homosexuals were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps, and the Yellow Star of David badge that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi occupation, and a whole series of colored patches for each of their targeted groups of "undesirables". We try to prevent such hatred from happening again.

Even though the legalized Homophobia, anti-Semitism and hatred toward many other minorities which took place in Nazi Germany 80 years ago no longer exist there today, such hatred certainly persists in many parts of the world including Uganda, Nigeria, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Malawi, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Russia and many others.

Unfortunately, there are 77 countries where homosexuality is illegal. There are 38 African countries which criminalize homosexuality. Sadly, the punishment is death in four of those: Mauritania, northern Nigeria, southern Somalia and Sudan. While it is not illegal in Russia anymore, President Putin signed an anti-gay propaganda law, and local governments often look the other way when confronted with obvious hate crimes. There is still much discrimination toward the LGBT community.

During the Pink Triangle Commemoration Ceremony each year various speakers point out that the kind of hatred that existed in the 1930's and 40's still exists today.

The test of any democracy is how well it treats its minorities. The Third Reich demonstrates how easily a government can devise minority scapegoats. During the Holocaust, the Nazi's devised a whole array of colored triangles to label and distinguish their "undesirables". Branding homosexuals as criminals let most Germans feel comfortable looking the other way, while the Nazis went about their persecution. This is a tactic now being used in several countries again.

2015 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

[To be announced.]

2014 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, CA Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, CA Assemblymember Phil Ting, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Supervisor Scott Wiener, SF Supervisor David Campos, along with many of the SF Pride Parade Community Grand Marshalls.

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by award-winning actress comedian, and jazz musician Lea DeLaria of TV's hit program "Orange is the New Black". She was joined by Grand Marshal Melanie Nathan who gave current day examples of discrimination and persecution of those in the LLGBY community in many parts of the world.

Celebrity Grand Marshal Ross Mathews, of TV's "Hello Ross", and "Chelsea Lately" spoke as well.

The Band: We are delighted that The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band will be performing for us again this year. Yeah!

2013 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Michael Tilson Thomas (11-time Grammy winning conductor and Music Director of the SF Symphony) will tell the "History of the Pink Triangle", CA Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, CA Assemblymember Phil Ting, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, SF Supervisor Scott Wiener, SF Supervisor David Campos, SF Supervisor Malia Cohen, SF Director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) and former SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Grand Marshal Tabatha Coffey of Bravo TV's "Tabatha Takes Over", Grand Marshal Alex Newell of TV's hit "GLEE", Grand Marshal Mondo Guerra of "Project Runway", along with many of the SF Pride Parade Community Grand Marshalls.

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by Michael Tilson Thomas (11-time Grammy winning conductor and Music Director of the SF Symphony).

The Band: We are delighted that The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed for us in 2013.

The 2013 Pink Triangle was installed on Twin Peaks thanks to the more than 175 volunteers who showed up Sat morning, June 29th, 2013--see KTVU News coverage: Large turnout!

SPECIAL THANKS in 2013 to the San Francisco Police Department Park Station for providing traffic control but also, for the first time, assigning officers to keep an eye on the pink triangle tarp which has been vandalized in previous years. THANK YOU ALL!

2012 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader; San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee; Grand Marshal Dot Jones of TV's hit 'GLEE' will tell "The History of the Pink Triangle", former Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. (Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal) will co-emcee, CA State Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, SF Supervisor Scott Wiener, SF Supervisor David Campos, SF Supervisor Christina Olague, SFo Assessor/Recorder Phil Ting, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Grand Marshal Carmen Carrera, along with many of the Community Grand marshals of the SF Pride parade.

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by actress Dot Jones of TV's hit 'GLEE'.

Global Grand Marshal: Bishop Christopher Senyonjo spoke of the situation in Uganda and the pending “Kill the Gays” bill before Parliament.

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing in 2012.

A big thank you to our 2012 Sponsors: the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, Toad Hall and Badlands owner Les Natali, the Castro Lions Club, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Hodgkins Jewelers; for help inspiring volunteers The Bay Area Reporter, The San Francisco Bay Times, Betty's List(for email promotion), and the SF Police Department Park Station for providing traffic control.

2011 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: SF Mayor Ed Lee, CA State Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Supervisor Scott Wiener, SF Supervisor David Campos, SF Assessor/Recorder Phil Ting, former SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty, along with the Grand marshalls of SF Pride .

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by Yigit Pura and followed by a discussion of current day challenges facing LGBTs by Therese "Terry" Stewart; Victoria Kolakowski; and Dr. Aaron Belkin.

Guest speakers:  The celebrity Grand marshalls of the Parade along with the elected officials listed above.

2010 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, CA State Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, SF Supervisor David Campos,  SF Assessor/Recorder Phil Ting, and the Grand marshalls of SF Pride .

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by Andy Bell, the lead singer of the pop group Erasure. He is one of the most acclaimed and beloved British and US pop singers.  He has five  #1 hits and has had 17 Top-10 UK singles. 

Guest speaker: The Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney Australia Phillip Black added an international perspective to the discussion of the persecution of those within the LGBT community worldwide.  He also spoke of the great positive aspects our community enjoys within Sydney.

The Band: The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed.

2009 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Actress Cloris Leachman, CA State Senator Mark Leno, CA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Supervisor David Campos, Grand marshalls of SF Pride .

Guest speaker actress Cloris Leachman gave "The History of the Pink Triangle." She is an Emmy and Oscar-winning actress of stage, film, and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards--more than any other female performer, and won an Oscar for "The Last Picture Show."

Guest speaker Lieutenant Dan Choi graduated from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in 2003 with a degree in Arabic and Environmental Engineering. His fluency in Arabic and West Point degree became very useful to the Army's mission in Iraq as he did not need to use an interpreter. He declared his sexual orientation publicly on national television, on The Rachel Maddow Show, resulting in his notification of discharge despite his desire to continue serving. He fights for the repeal of the discriminatory Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and reminds all soldiers that they are not alone, and they should never be ashamed of being honest with themselves and others.

Guest speakers: From the MILK Movie team: Bruce Cohen; Dan Nicoletta; Howard Rosenman; Dan Nicoletta worked with Harvey Milk in his camera store and Dan is an acclaimed photographer (he also took the aerial photos of the Pink Triangle from a helicopter which are on this website).

The Band: The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed.

2008 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, CA State Senator Carole Migden, CA Assemblyman Mark Leno, SF Supervisor Tom Ammiano, SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty, San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chui, SF Supervisor David Campos, SF Assessor/Recorder Phil Ting, Grand marshalls of SF Pride .

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by Roger Rees: actor of CHEERS, Nicholas Nickleby, and many other productions.

Guest speaker: Ashram Parsi who has been called the " first Iranian gay activist "

Guest speaker: The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany Rolf Schutte

Guest speakers - Celebrity Grand marshals:

         Stuart Milk:  Nephew of Harvey Milk, and much like his uncle, Stuart proudly presents a message of providing hope to young people and the disenfranchised.      

         Dustin Lance Black:  Academy-Award winning author of the screenplay for the film " Milk "

         Cleve Jones: the Creator of the amazing NAMES PROJECT Quilt among other great contributions to our community.

The Band: The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed

2007 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Assemblyman Mark Leno; Senator Carole Migden; Supervisor Tom Ammiano; Supervisor Bevan Dufty; S.F. Treasurer Jose Cisneros; Dan Bernal representing the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Alex Randall from Mayor Newsom’s office.

Special Guest Keynote Speaker: Rolf Schutte, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, the country where the pink triangle was invented as a symbol of shame and persecution of gays, but also the country that sent him - an openly gay man - to the US to officially represent modern-day Germany.

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told by at the beginning of the ceremony by actor Wilson Cruz from the TV series Noah's Arc.

Celebrity Grand Marshals: Eric Alva, the first US soldier wounded in the war in Iraq who has now become an outspoken critic of Don't Ask, Don't Tell; Jan Wahl (San Francisco's favorite movie critic); Noah’s Arc series Director Patrik Ian-Polk, and actors Doug Spearman and Darryl Stephens. Grand Marshals Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis.

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2006 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Senator Carole Migden; Assemblyman Mark Leno; S.F. Treasurer Jose Cisneros; Supervisor Tom Ammiano; Supervisor Bevan Dufty;

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told at the beginning of the ceremony by was told Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan,

Celebrity Grand Marshal Honey Labrador and Celebrity Grand Marshal Reichen Lehmkuhl

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2005 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Senator Carole Migden; Assemblyman Mark Leno; S.F. Treasurer Jose Cisneros; Supervisor Tom Ammiano; Supervisor Bevan Dufty; General Manager of the SF Public Utilities Commission Susan Leal; Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal "Empress" José Sarria, Celebrity Grand Marshals Ilene Chaiken - the creator and executive producer of Showtime's "The L-Word," actor Alex Mapa, and professional football player Esera Tualo

“History of the Pink Triangle” was told by at the beginning of the ceremony by Ted Phillips, Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington D.C.)

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2004 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Telling the “History of the Pink Triangle” was actor/writer/comic Bruce Vilanch, introducing dignitaries was British talk show host/comedian Graham Norton (the emcee), Sylvia Guerrero (the mother of Gwen Araujo, a transgender 17-year-old who was slain in two years before after acquaintances learned she was anatomically male), gave the keynote talk; CA Assemblywoman, Carole Migden; SF Treasurer Susan Leal; President of SF Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano; San Francisco Supervisor Mark Leno; SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty;

“History of the Pink Triangle” was given by actor/writer/comedian Bruce Vilanch,

Introducing dignitaries was British talk show host/comedian Graham Norton.

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2003 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Telling the “History of the Pink Triangle” was Alice Hoglan, the mother of Mark Bingham, the San Francisco gay man believed to have been among the passengers who struggled with terrorists for control of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001; Chair of the CA Board of Equalization, Carole Migden; SF Treasurer Susan Leal; SF Supervisor Tom Ammiano; SF Supervisor Mark Leno; SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty;

“History of the Pink Triangle” was given by Alice Hoglan, the mother of Mark Bingham, the San Francisco gay man believed to have been among the passengers who struggled with terrorists for control of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001;

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2002 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: CA Assemblywoman, Carole Migden; SF Treasurer Susan Leal; President of SF Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano; San Francisco Supervisor Mark Leno.

“History of the Pink Triangle” and introductions, were given by Patrick Carney

2001 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Kevin Shelley, Majority Leader, California State Assembly, CA Assemblywoman, Carole Migden; President of San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano; San Francisco Supervisors Mark Leno, Sue Bierman, Aaron Peskin, Troy Fernandez , Representative for Governor Gray Davis,

“History of the Pink Triangle” and introductions were given by Patrick Carney

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing

2000 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr, CA Assemblywoman, Carole Migden; President of San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano; San Francisco Supervisors Mark Leno, Sue Bierman, Leslie Katz; Dorothy Hajdys-Holman, the mother of Allen Schindler, who was beaten to death while in the Navy for being gay, she spoke on what happened to her son and why the Hate Crimes Act is important.

“History of the Pink Triangle” and introductions were given by Patrick Carney

Greetings and Best Wishes were sent from:

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Barbara Boxer;

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi;

Steven Spielberg and his Shoah Foundation;

Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche;

And a message of “The very best of Luck with the Project” from Barbra Streisand

The Band: Many thanks to The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for performing in 2000. This was the inaugural year for the band at the Pink Triangle Ceremony.

1999 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader; San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr; Supervisor Mark Leno, SF President of the Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano, President of the SF Board of Supervisors David Chiu, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros, SF Supervisor Scott Wiener, SF Supervisor David Campos, SF Supervisor Christina Olague, SFo Assessor/Recorder Phil Ting, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Grand Marshal Carmen Carrera, along with many of the Community Grand marshalls of the SF Pride parade.

“History of the Pink Triangle”, and introductions were given by Patrick Carney

1998 Commemoration Ceremony Program:

Honored Guests: San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., CA, President of the SF Board of Supervisors Tom Ammiano, SF Supervisor Mark Leno, SF Supervisor Sue Bierman

“History of the Pink Triangle” and introductions were given by Patrick Carney

1997 Commemoration Ceremony:

No formal ceremony. “History of the Pink Triangle” was given by Patrick Carney

1996 Commemoration Ceremony:

No formal ceremony. Project went up in the dark of night to be ready as sunrise concluded.

Unless otherwise noted, the content of this page is copyrighted 1995-2008 by The Friends of The Pink Triangle under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 license, some rights reserved. Website started by Katie Hickox and David Helton; current design and implementaton by Michael 'Mickey' Sattler.