Running Through Pride: Explore San Francisco’s Castro Neighborhood!
June in San Francisco is synonymous with Pride, a time when the city bursts into a rainbow of colors and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and history–and the epicenter of the City’s LGBTQ+ community is the Castro neighborhood.
Written by SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow
Edited by Pavlína Marek
A Legacy of Liberation
The Castro wasn’t always the vibrant LGBTQ+ haven it is today. Originally known as Eureka Valley, it was a working-class neighborhood until the 1960s when a wave of LGBTQ+ individuals, seeking refuge and community, began to settle there.
By the 1970s, the Castro had transformed into a symbol of gay liberation, with Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, opening his camera shop and launching a political career that would inspire generations. (See Gus Van Sant’s excellent film Milk for a gripping introduction to the Castro neighborhood during the 1970s!)
Monuments of Memory
Between miles 21 and 22 of the Marathon, you’ll be running on the northeast edge of the Castro. If you’re able to spend time in the neighborhood prior to or after the race, you’ll find the Castro is a living museum. Harvey Milk Plaza stands as a tribute to Milk’s enduring legacy, while the nearby Pink Triangle Park honors LGBTQ+ victims of the Holocaust. These sites are poignant reminders of the struggles faced and the progress achieved.
A Route Steeped in Significance
For runners, the Castro offers more than just a scenic route. The neighborhood’s steep streets provide a physical challenge, while its rich history offers intellectual and emotional engagement.
Community and Celebration
The Castro isn’t just about remembrance; it’s a living, breathing community that continues to celebrate and advocate. Events like the Castro Street Fair, founded by Harvey Milk in 1974, and the Frameline Film Festival, the world’s oldest LGBTQ+ film festival, showcase the neighborhood’s ongoing commitment to visibility and expression.
You’ll also enjoy seeing the exterior of the Castro Theatre, which opened in 1910 and will reopen after a lengthy renovation later this year. At nearby Cliff’s Variety, which opened in 1936, you can purchase items as varied as buzz saws to rhinestone tiaras.
Pride in Every Step
This July, a month after Pride is celebrated, you’ll see rainbow flags that adorn the streets in the Castro year-round. It’s more than a neighborhood; it’s a testament to courage, love, and the unyielding pursuit of equality.
Take historic MUNI trolleys to the Castro
In an earlier post, I described the F-Market Line; The Castro is the starting and ending point for these historic trolleys.
About Scott Benbow
Scott Benbow is a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador, attorney, nonprofit specialist, and passionate SFM runner. He lives in San Francisco and runs the hills of our incredibly beautiful city with us every year.
