Pride March

Today was Pride Day in NYC.   I thought I should pay homage to Pride even though I'm in Florida.  So here is an entry about the history of the Gay Pride March.  Now - this entry COULD be epic but I simply have not had the time to write a proper history of all LGBT history in NYC or the U.S.   It is fascinating, colorful, and beautiful, so I do highly recommend you read up on it if it interests you.  Perhaps in the future I will write a more complete entry.   This entry is going to focus only on the parade.

A lot of the parade history centers around the StonewallRiots.  I urge you to read a full account here: http://gaylife.about.com/od/stonewall/a/stonewallhistory.htm  The very brief version of the Stonewall Riots is that during the weeee hours of the morning on June 28, 1969 (the night/morning following Judy Garland's funeral), an openly gay club known as the Stonewall Inn was raided by the police.  This in and of itself was not an uncommon occurrence - gay clubs were frequently raided.  For the first time, however, on this night, the gay community fought back.  They fought back for six days and they fought so mightily and with so much charisma the police were actually forced back and the gay rights movement was born.  

The Stonewall Riots created a cohesive community amongst the gay community in New York and amongst the gay community throughout the U.S. The gay community wanted to continue to contribute to their cause.  On July 2, 1969 Craig Rodwell (famous for founding the first bookshops devoted to gay and lesbian authors -the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop), Fred Sergeant, Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes proposed the idea of a Pride March during a meeting in Philadelphia.  (This meeting, I have read, was not nearly as colorful as the organizers and participants had hoped it would be - but never fear - the pride parade was coming.  For anyone who has attended - it is one of the most spectacular and colorful parades around!)  

Here is what this amazing quartet of activists proposed: 

"That the Annual Reminder, in order to be more relevant, reach a greater number of people, and encompass the ideas and ideals of the larger struggle in which we are engaged-that of our fundamental human rights-be moved both in time and location.

We propose that a demonstration be held annually on the last Saturday in June in New York City to commemorate the 1969 spontaneous demonstrations on Christopher Street and this demonstration be called CHRISTOPHER STREET LIBERATION DAY. No dress or age regulations shall be made for this demonstration.
We also propose that we contact Homophile organizations throughout the country and suggest that they hold parallel demonstrations on that day. We propose a nationwide show of support."

The proposal passed unanimously amongst all voting parties (there was an abstention) and for the next year planning took place.  It wasn't always easy - in fact the parade PERMIT arrived only 2 hours before the parade was scheduled to begin!  Brenda Howard was the organizer for this parade and earned the nickname "Mother Pride" for her efforts.  She also originated the idea of a week long series of event leading up to "Pride Day" which we now know as "Pride Week."

The very first parade was held June 28, 1970, the 1 year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.  Today it is held the last Saturday of each June, and similar events are held worldwide.  This year the parade started at 36th and 5th and ended at Christopher and Greenwhich streets.  This means the parade passes the Stonewall Inn - which still stands and operates to this day!  (The very first march went all the way up to Central Park and covered 51 blocks!)  

Of this this year was especially powerful thanks to the Supreme Court DOMA ruling.  The tops of the Bloomberg Building, Empire State Building, and Conde Nast were all even lit up rainbow celebrating pride.  It was a good day for New York City!

You can read more about NYC pride events here: http://www.nycpride.org/events