The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB), The City of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) and the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee have joined forces to form an…
The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB), The City of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) and the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee have joined forces to form an official San Francisco delegation to Sydney, Australia February 25 – March 3, 2008.
San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty (District 8) will lead a group of 50 – 75 delegates to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and the 40th anniversary of the San Francisco-Sydney Sister City association and encourage more gay and lesbian travelers to visit San Francisco.
“This will be the first official San Francisco delegation to participate in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president & CEO, SFCVB. “We look forward to welcoming more Australian travelers to our city and to promoting San Francisco as the top gay-friendly destination in the U.S.”
A press briefing was held on October 8, 2007 at the San Francisco LGBT Center to announce San Francisco’s official delegation to travel to Sydney. Joe D’Alessandro, president & CEO, SFCVB, Bevan Dufty, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Jose Cisneros, San Francisco Treasurer, Phillip Black, Sydney councilor, and John D’Alessandro, executive director of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) each provided an overview of the 2008 delegation — the “Sister to Sister DownUnder.”
“The Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney is very pleased to welcome San Francisco’s delegation to Sydney in 2008,” stated Phillip Black, Sydney councilor. “Our Sister City partnership mutually benefits both cities in areas as diverse as public transportation to environmental sustainability.”
“I`m looking forward to bringing the experience, ideas, energy and vitality of our LGBT Community to Sydney,” said San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty. “This is a great opportunity to partner on issues of mutual concern and to encourage Sydney`s LGBT Community to visit San Francisco for Pride 2008.”
“Delegate participation is open to the public and a percentage of all proceeds will benefit the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee’s Education & Outreach Fund,” said San Francisco City Treasurer Jose Cisneros, San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “This delegation will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate 40 years of sister city alliance.”
Thirty-one years ago, committee members from the San Francisco Freedom Day Parade, now called the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, invited Sydney to start a parade in Australia in an effort to demonstrate solidarity with the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade and the International LGBT movement. March 1, 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
