In the USA, the 50’s and the 60’s, were extremely repressive legally and socially for the LGBT community. Homophile organizations (Precursors to the LGBT Community) such as the “Daughters of Bilitis” and the “Mattachine Society” coordinated some of the earliest demonstrations of the modern LGBT rights movement. In particular these two movements carried out demonstrations called “Annual Reminders” to remind the American people of the lack of civil rights for the LGBT people. These Annual Reminders began in 1965, taking place on the 4th of July at Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
Unfortunately at the time, homosexuality was seen as a mental illness. Frank Kameny, a civil rights pioneer and a regular participant of the Annual Reminders, coined the slogan “Gay is Good” in 1968, in the hopes of trying to counter the social stigma and personal feelings of guilt and shame suffered by those early LGBT community.
In the early morning of the 28th of June 1969, the LGBT community rioted; this followed a police raid on “Stonewall Inn” a gay bar at 43 Christopher Street, NYC. Later known as the “Stonewall Riots”, it became a pivotal moment for the LGBT rights movement and became the impetus for the organization of much larger pride marches, on a much larger public scale.
It was on November 2nd, 1969, that Craig Rodwell, his partner Fred Sargeant, Linda Broidy and Linda Rhodes proposed the first pride march to be held in NYC. A letter of intent was published:
“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.”
Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 28, 1970 marked the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots with an assembly on Christopher Street and the first Gay Pride march in U.S. history, covering the 51 blocks to Central Park. The march took less than half the scheduled time due to excitement, but also due to wariness about walking through the city with gay banners and signs. Although the parade permit was delivered only two hours before the start of the march, the marchers encountered little resistance from onlookers.The New York Times reported (on the front page) that the marchers took up the entire street for about 15 city blocks. Reporting by The Village Voice was positive, describing “the out-front resistance that grew out of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn one year ago”.
By 1971, Gay Pride marches took place in Boston, Dallas, Milwaukee, London, Paris, West Berlin and Stockholm.
We now have Gay Pride Marches in most of the capital and major cites in the world, though in some countries there are still huge issues concerning LGBT rights and where it’s still a capital crime to be gay, so let us not forget why we are marching, it may be a fun day with lots of fabulous outfits, it started off as a way of educating the masses that the LGBT community has as much right to freedom and liberty as everyone else.