A surge of recent policy updates, widespread acceptance and changes with LGBT culture in San Jose set the stage for a milestone 40th anniversary of Silicon Valley Pride festival, returning this weekend with the theme “Pride XL: Looking Forward From Forty.”

For the first time in seven years the festival will include an SV Pride parade on Sunday followed by a festival featuring a variety of live performances, activities and food and drinks. The updates are the result of months of planning and an initiative to increase attendance this year.

“I’m looking forward to putting on a festival that San Jose has never had before,” says Thaddeus Campbell, president and chief executive officer of nonprofit Silicon Valley Pride. “Expect a lot of fun.”

Starting at Market Street and continuing until the festival entrance on Park Ave., the parade is expected to have 60 to 70 floats with participants including San Jose Sharks mascot Sharkey and big names in tech like Google and Adobe.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, the first openly gay elected official in Santa Clara County, will serve as grand marshal with Wiggsy Siversten, former SJSU sociology professor and director of counseling services and an LGBT activist.

The festival also leaves its previous home at Discovery Meadow for a street party on Almaden Boulevard between West San Fernando Street and Park Avenue with stages for live entertainment, nearly 100 booths and food a drink vendors. In addition to beer and wine, spirits will be served this year. There will also be a family-friendly area, a “Gaymer’s Tent” for gamers and the chance to snag an Instagram pic with roaming cosplayers and/or furries.

Musical talents Steve Grand, Debby Holiday, Prince tribute band Chase & Ovation and American Idol Finalist MK Nobilette will grace the main stage with hosts Mona Lot Moore and Alina Maletti.

Gale Chandler, owner of downtown San Jose bar Mac’s Club, is looking forward to the changes this year.

‘‘Resurgence, is the word that comes to mind,” Chandler says. “It’s a beginning. Next year SV Pride will be bigger and perhaps grow from that. I see this as a new beginning.’

The forward momentum is also aided by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of legalizing same-sex marriages in June and more widespread acceptance of gays and lesbians. Chandler remembers a time when it was hard for her LGBT customers to go anywhere in Silicon Valley without being harassed.

“The police would stop my customers and say, ‘Oh you look like a guy we were looking for,’” she says.

Luis Sarmenco, owner of downtown San Jose bar Renegades, says local and national changes have created a new landscape for the LGBT community.

“We are more fractured and spread out now,” Sarmenco says. “We are also more accepted and more integrated within the general community, which is a great thing but it has changed that sense of community.”

Both Chandler and Sarmenco say there are much less resources and businesses specific to the LGBT community compared to previous years.

“There were about 14 gay bars in San Jose back in 1977,” Chandler says. “Today there are about three to four.”

She attributes this change to the fact that members of the LGBT community can go anywhere in San Jose and not be harassed.

“This is the one time of year where we do come together,” said Sarmenco. “Personally, what I wish everyone to encounter is a new energy and a renewed sense of togetherness.”

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