A lot has changed since gays and lesbians first marched in protest through the streets of Downtown San Diego in 1974. Back then a number of participants wore paper bags over their heads to protect their identities. “They wanted to march for their rights, yet at the same time were fearful of retaliation,” said San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte.

The first San Diego gay and lesbian festival occurred in 1981 on Juniper between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Bankers Hill. It included many of the same features as today’s festival, including vendors, entertainment, food and drink but, of course, on a far smaller scale.

Billed as one of the largest civic events in America’s Finest City, the Pride parade and festival of today is gigantic by comparison, with 28,000 tickets sold in 2008.

While there have been several changes to Pride events in the past 35 years, one thing has stayed the same: Pride – the feeling of being proud of being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

This year, Gay & Lesbian Times Staff Reporter Rick Braatz captured the 2009 San Diego Pride experience as people gathered in and along the “Rainbow Mile” parade route and at the two-day festival at Marston Point in Balboa Park. Here are just a few Snapshots of Pride, as seen through the camera lens!