Thousands hit streets to celebrate Seattle Pride

SEATTLE -- Thousands celebrated gay pride in Seattle over the weekend.

The event, including a massive parade and a public festival at Seattle Center, was especially festive this year because of the historic Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

"I always hoped it would happen in my lifetime,,but didn't expect it this soon,” said Phoenix Benner who marched in the parade.

Benner stopped short of declaring complete victory on GLBTQ rights however.

“There's still work still work to be done with issues like the trans community not being included.. so there's still work.. there's still work. "

Seattle was not alone in hosting epic weekend pride events.

A parade that at times resembled a rainbow-colored dance party snaked Sunday through downtown San Francisco, the centerpiece of a celebration of a freshly endorsed right to marry even as advocates look ahead to new frontiers in the struggle for equality.

Cheerleaders, dancers and proud families of lesbians and gays swooped up Market Street as spectators flocked 10 to 15 people deep along both sides. There were "Hooray for Gay" and "Love Won" signs. There were rainbow flags and knee socks, umbrellas and tutus.

SF Pride Board President Gary Virginia said the exuberance was amplified given last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples can wed in all 50 states. Still, he says more needs to be done in housing and job discrimination in the United States and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world.

Hundreds of thousands of people packed gay pride events from Chicago to New York City to San Francisco. At gay pride parades in Paris and other cities outside the U.S. on Saturday, the Supreme Court's ruling was hailed by many as a watershed.