Boston Pride History (original) (raw)

The event began with a few dozen lesbians and gay men marching as part of a Vietnam War protest. Five decades later it had grown into a massive celebration often drawing more than 100,000 participants and over a million spectators. The annual Boston Pride celebration, on of the nation’s largest, has served as a crucible for the immense changes that have taken place within New England’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities over the last 50 years. We hope you enjoy learning about of the evolution of Boston Pride.

The Unity Flags along with the American flad hang on the outside on the Boston Public library during the evening.

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2015

A parade participant showed off a sign supporting gay fatherhood that reads, "Gay Men Make Great Dads" during the 2014 Boston Pride parade

2011

Members of the group Keshet, which works for the full inclusion gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews in Jewish life, and supporters from The Workmen's Circle marched.

Iconic Lesbian Motorcyclist, Woody Woodward riding her motorcycle down Clarendon St during the Boston Pride Parade

© 2005 Marilyn Humphries

Moira Barrett (L) and Johanna Schulman, of Cambridge, ride in a car on June 12, 2004 during the 34th annual Boston Gay Pride Parade in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images

June 14, 2003. Boston, MA. GLBT Pride 2003. © 2003 MARILYN HUMPHRIES

People during the 2001 Boston Pride Parade holding a banner that reads Moving Violations Motorcycle Club

A view from the Boston Common looking towards the Back Bay, The John Hancock buildings as well as the Prudential create the skyline

1993

1992-Featured

1992 Pride Equals Power: A Simple Matter of Justice

Despite a major route change in 1992, for the first time over 100,000 attended Pride.

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1990 Proud of Our Past, Looking to the Future

LGBT people were on the defensive in Massachusetts as Pride Week began.

Gay Pride marches down Beacon Street in Boston. Credit: Boston Globe Staff, Wendu Maeda

1989 A Generation of Pride

Some expressed disagreement with Pride’s decision to omit “bisexual”

Gay and Lesbian Pride Day at Park Street Boston 1988

1988 Rightfully Proud

The 1988 parade was the first parade run by a formally incorporated Pride Committee,
which required pre-registration for groups marching in the parade.

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1987 Out For Good

A banner with the Lavender Rhinoceros and pink triangle was raised at City Hall

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1986 Forward Together

After four years in office, President Reagan finally mentioned the word “AIDS”

1985 Alive with Pride in ’85

By 1985, it was clear that President Ronald Reagan had no intention of addressing the mounting scourge of AIDS.

1984 – Unity and More in 1984

Pride obtained permission from the City to enclose the ball field on Boston Common for hot air balloon rides and rides on a reluctant camel.

1983 Stepping Out With Pride!

Even the surge in attendance to 18,000 was seen as a sign that people wanted to come together out of fear and confusion.

Signs reading It's a Nice Day To Be Out, Lesbian & Gay Sober Proud and Free and Lesbian Jews United Credit: Susan Fleischmann The History Project

1982 – It’s a Nice Day To Be Out

The mayor’s office brought better news this year, as Mayor White signed an executive order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

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1980 All Our Voices, All Our Visions

Nearly every lesbian and gay organization in Boston was represented in the Parade.

Community members in 1979 Boston's annual Pride march holding a sign that reads "Women Hold Up Half the Sky"

1979 Boston Pride

The Rally was broadcast on WBCN-FM and 89.9, an MIT radio station.

1978 Boston Pride March

1978 We Are Everywhere and We Will Be Free

Gay Pride Week was now Lesbian and Gay Pride Week.

1977 gay pride parade on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts.

Barney Frank Speaks Out - Prominent gay politician Barney Frank addresses the crowd at a gay pride rally at the Parkman Bandstand in the Boston Common.

The lesbian contingent at the Back Bay gay pride parade display a banner quoting Mao Zedong: "Women hold up half the sky." Photo Credit Spencer Grant, Spencer Grant Collection at Boston Public Library

Pictures showing the papier-mâché Lavender Rhino that marchers pushed along the route of Boston Pride in 1974.

Sylvia Sidney as Queen of the 1974 Boston Pride Parade

1973- Inaugurated a route that was used until 1978.

1973 saw the creation of the first Parade order, starting with the Pride banner.

1972 Gay Pride

1972 – New Route, Starting in Copley Square

The March and Rally on June 24 adopted a new route, starting in Copley Square.