Sacramento’s Pride March took place Sunday morning, starting in Southside Park and progressing to the Capitol building. The march helps to bring awareness and visibility to the LGBTQ+ community, with the original Sacramento march taking place in 1979 in response to a police raid of a gay disco, Upstairs/Downstairs in downtown Sacramento.
At the front of the march was the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes, leading the procession down T Street. They revved their bikes, flags waving and engines roaring.
Michelle Reynolds, who’s on the board of directors for Dykes on Bikes, was at the front of the pack. She lives in Sacramento, and said it was great to lead the parade. Dykes on Bikes first formed in San Francisco in 1976—this year marks their 50th year in operation.
Michelle Reynolds and her partner ride in the Sacramento Pride March, flying a flag for San Francisco Dykes on Bikes on June 15, 2026.Ruth Finch/CapRadio“It’s a lot of history, it’s a lot of very strong women that came before that set that precedent, that set that standard,” Reynolds said. “It’s really impressive to kind of take that to the next chapter and keep fulfilling those visions that our founders had.”
Reynolds said she goes with the group on cross-country rides, and that they make stops in rural towns in places like Washington and Montana.
“We stop in these small towns and we see queer women that come out and they’re just, they don’t have representation in these small towns,” Reynolds said. “It's super inspiring to be able to see these women and show them that we're visible out here.”
Justin Miller, a spectator of the march, said he’s been living in Sacramento for 20 years and this was the first time he’d been to the march.
“This really [was] the year for me to go and just be a part of the community and just be here in support and love,” Miller said.
Another spectator, Ben Millner, watched from his front porch as the march continued. He said that since moving in October of last year, it’s his first year watching it from his front porch, but that he’s attended Sacramento Pride for years.
“People filling out all the sidewalks has been awesome, with the added bonus of all the different kinds of people represented in the parade,” Milner said.
The Sacramento Sirens Cheer Elite tossing squad members at the Sacramento Pride March on Sunday, June 15 2026.Ruth Finch/CapRadioThe march also had members of the Sacramento Sirens Cheer Elite, stopping to toss each other into their air every block. The Sirens are a charity cheer squad that was founded 20 years ago.
Misty Dawn Mastella, a founding member and coach of the squad, said that the team has been raising money for direct care services for people with HIV, AIDS, cancer and leukemia. Mastella said that for Pride, performing on hot concrete and asphalt can present challenges.
“We try to get a lot of pre-work in so that when we come out for performance time, we’re all ready to go,” Mastella said. “We’re lucky to have all these big strong athletes throwing us up in the air and catching us every time.”
Mastella said that her team loves to perform in the Pride march.
“Everybody comes out and shows us so much love, shows each other so much love. Really proud to be a part of this community,” Mastella said.”Everything that Sacramento has to offer keeps bringing us back because everybody is so generous and donates so much to our cause.”
This year, Mastella said the Sirens are raising money for Sunburst Projects, a non-profit that offers HIV and AIDS testing and treatment.
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