Pride isn’t exactly music related, but it still embodies everything we at O&B love about San Diego.

The annual Pride parade, which took place this past weekend in Hillcrest, is a super-interesting mix of righteous self-expression, politics, and patriotism — a lot like an alternative Independence Day. Contrary to what many might think, the event attracts all kinds of groups, from LGBTQ activists to feminists to a whole host of inclusionist churches, libertarians, cops, service members, and people who simply oppose attempts to marginalize human beings.

In pretty much every way, Pride is vastly more interesting and sincere than actual Independence Day. For the latter, we trot out the same sterile statism every year. Pride, by contrast, seems much more American than any other parade: it’s freedom, liberty, and community at its finest, and its overwhelming success proves that conservative fundamentalism is incompatible with the age in which we live. Plus, at Independence Day parades, you don’t hear pretty much the entire Lady Gaga catalog.

We took 200+ photos of parade marchers and spectators, proud politicians like U.S. Representatives Susan Davis and Scott Peters, City Council President Todd Gloria, California State Senator Marty Block, California State Assembly members Toni Atkins and Lorena Gonzalez, Nathan Fletcher, and, of course, SD Pride grand marshals Brad and George Takei and LaToya Jackson.

Photos: San Diego Pride Parade 2013