38 Years Ago Today Was The First Gay Pride March!

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the first gay pride marches, which were originally called Christopher Street Liberation Day and meant to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The first march went from Washington Place in Greenwich Village up Sixth Avenue to Central Park where there was a "Gay-In".

Here's a quote from Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney's book "Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America," about the "Gay-In":

"Many of the men and women who marched that day would forever remember that moment on top of the bluff. Before them lay a field of uncut grass, a blizzard of banners, dancing, pot-smoking, singing and music, a huge American flag, 'gay pride' signs decorated with the Day-Glo hippie flower stickers, and men and women applauding each new arrival over the hill. And behind them—stretching out as far as they could see—was line after line after line of homosexuals and their supporters, at least fifteen blocks worth, by the count of the New York Times, which found the turnout notable enough to report it on the front page of the next day’s paper. No one had ever seen so many homosexuals in one place before. On top of the bluff, many of these men and women, who had grown up isolated and alone, stood in silence and cried."

God bless us, every one. (in the words of Tiny Tim)



The amazing image above is from the New York Public Library Digital Archives - click here to see more photos from the 1970 Christopher Street Liberation Day march and celebration!



Happy Gay Pride Month - Happy GLBTQ Pride! Heck, just be Happy - and full of PRIDE - to be YOU!

Namaste,
Lee

ps- thanks to Stuart for the heads up on this anniversary!