Rainbow Chapel

LATEST INFO: Our 2017 SF Pride booth will be on McAllister, between Hyde and Larkin, on the side of the street opposite from the Asian Art Museum. It is space S007. Bring literature for your organization. Entry points to the Festival will be limited. Look for our “God is Love” or “United in Spirit” banners.

Rita Goldberger is coordinating our Rainbow Chapel & LGBT-affirming religious info booths at the San Francisco Pride Festival, Saturday and Sunday, June 24-25, 2017. LGBT-affirming churches, synagogues, and other religious groups in the Bay Area are invited to participate.

Coordinator and Cost?

We owe a debt of gratitude to Rita Goldberger who has taken leadership to organize the booth for a number of years. Thanks to a generous donor, there is no cost involved to the congregations and groups who wish to participate.

Why is the San Francisco Pride Celebration Important?

The San Francisco Pride Celebration is one of the oldest LGBT community celebrations in the world, held since 1970. The Pride festival is not only a showcase and celebration of the Bay Area LGBT community; it also features a wide array of performers, artists and local flair. With over one million attendees, the celebration is a great opportunity to reach new audiences and share about our LGBT affirming congregations, ministries, and religious groups.

What’s happens at our booth?

We will be spreading the word about LGBT affirming congregations and providing information from many of the local churches, synagogues and other groups who welcome LGBT people. Volunteers will help answer questions and hand out a brochure with contact information for national and local LGBT affirming churches and religious groups.

We also have national referrals for denominations which may have no LGBT-friendly churches (such as Affirmation for Mormons), and for national groups organized to bring about change within the structure of their denominations (such as Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists.)  And we have referrals for other LGBT people of faith, such as Muslims and Hindus. There’s a place for everyone!

How to participate?

You can participate in several ways — whichever works for you:

• PROVIDE LITERATURE: You can provide informative and welcoming literature about your church, etc., to put on the table to share with visitors.
• STAFF BOOTH: You can send volunteers to staff the booth during all or part of the day, to talk to people and answer questions.
• OFFER FEEDBACK: You can provide insight about what else you would like at the booth.
• REFER: You can share this page or let us know who else we should contact.

When and where?

The festival will be held Saturday & Sunday, June 25-26, 2016, 11 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. You can drop off informational materials any time after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, or on Sunday, after 8:30 a.m.  Also, if you prefer, you can mail it to Rita at the address below, or drop it off in person. Call Rita at (415) 640-4439,to make arrangements. Volunteers who want to help staff the booth can come by at any time, for any length of time, during the festival hours. The booth will be on McAllister, between Hyde and Larkin, and the side of the street opposite from the Asian Art Museum. It is space S014. Bring literature by for your organization. Entry points to the Festival will be limited due to heightened security. You can find us by looking for our “God is Love” or “United in Spirit” banners.

Questions about the Pride Booth?

Contact our Booth Coordinator Rita A. Goldberger if you have questions, ideas or want to arrange to drop off or mail information:

Rita A. Goldberger  (415) 640-4439

Feel free to share this page with any local congregation, organization or individual who you think might be interested.
Please direct any questions about the parade contingent to Michael Leslie.

NOTE: A growing number of groups say LGBT people are welcome, but then are subjected to something less than the affirming. For this reason, materials submitted will be reviewed so that appropriate LGBT affirming groups are presented to those seeking information.