Marriage equality will take center stage at this year's Castro Street Fair Sunday, October 4, kicking off what will be a weeklong focus on the lack of rights same-sex couples in committed relationships in America have compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

The festival's board selected as its theme this year "Come Get Hitched in the Center of the Gay Universe." The decision was made long before LGBT activists announced a national march for LGBT equality would take place in Washington, D.C. Sunday October 11. The two events will serve as bookends to a seven-day focus on the fight for numerous LGBT rights, from marriage to workplace discrimination protections to hate crimes legislation.

The annual outdoor festival in San Francisco's LGBT neighborhood, now in its 36th year, will feature numerous LGBT couples talking about their relationships, love for each other, and struggle to secure the same rights as straight people who marry throughout the day at the fair's various stages. There will also be a newlywed game where LGBT couples can compete to win prizes.

"It was founded by Harvey Milk and the whole point was always to remind people of the issues of importance to the neighborhood and the gays in San Francisco. This happens to be the topic right now. Whether you are in a relationship, are wanting to get married, or single, it is still about equal rights," said Juan Garcia, a fair board member and chair of its entertainment committee.

Those donating the suggested $5 at the entrance gates will be given a green carnation entrance badge. According to the fair organizers, a person wore the flower along with a red tie or scarf in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to signal they were attracted to people of the same sex. In his 1929 musical Bittersweet, Noel Coward used a green carnation to denote homosexuality, writing "as we are the reason for the Nineties being gay, we all wear a green carnation."

This year's fair T-shirt design also ties into the wedding theme. Costing $20, the tees are designed to look like pink tuxedoes.

The fair's theme will also be incorporated in not so visible ways. San Francisco-based men's fashion company N.I.C.E. Collective is sponsoring the dance pavilion in the parking lot behind Walgreens on 18th Street. Openly gay owners Joe Haller and Ian Hannula have been together 14 years.

"We decided months ago that we wanted to keep the embers burning for the marriage equality stuff. People just assumed it was over or forgot about it," said Garcia. "Instead of protests we wanted to do something that was a friendly reminder so we are showcasing and introducing examples of positive relationships. We figured that would be more inspirational than beating people over the head with a rant or protesting."

Another sign of how gay families have emerged as a key component of the LGBT community, new this year is a Family Garden space dedicated to children and their parents. The area along 18th and Noe streets will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature arts and crafts activities.

Back for a second year is Barnaby's World of Wonderment, located on 18th Street between Hartford and Noe streets. The interactive entertainment zone will present "Storybook Love," which promises to bring favorite childhood tales to life, as well as a Marriage Midway.

The fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more info visit www.castrostreetfair.org.