Pride March: The First Fifteen Years

A visual history of NYC's Pride March from 1970 to 1985

Pride March 2014 by Lester EchemThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

In June 1969, members of the LGBT community stood up to police during a routine raid of Stonewall, a gay bar on Christopher Street in New York City. This uprising helped give birth to the gay liberation movement and, one year later, to New York’s first Gay Pride March, called Christopher Street Liberation Day. This gallery features images and video of Pride Marches held between 1970 and 1985. Assembled from our various archive collections, they capture both the rapid growth of the Pride movement, and illustrate the spirit, diversity and concerns of the LGBT community.

Christopher Street Liberation Day, Central Park, New York, June 28, 1970 (1970-06-28) by Diana DaviesThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1972 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Holding Hands New Jersey (1972) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1972 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Lead Banner (1973) by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

As LGBT groups won battles and took on new challenges, the March reflected the community’s evolving priorities. Over the years, anti-gay legislation was condemned; AIDS support and funding were demanded; and the struggles to openly serve in the military and for marriage equality were highlighted.

PFLAG (1973) by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Eulenspiegel at the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1973 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1973 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1974 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Church of the Beloved Disciple (1974) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, New York, 1974 by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Attendee with Sign, West Village, 1977 (1977/1977) by Leonard FinkThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Speech by Activist Marc Rubin, Emeral City TV (1977)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Marchers (1981) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

PFLAG (1981) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Robert Clements, Quentin Crisp, John Noble (1982) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Christopher St. Liberation Day Committee (1983) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Black and White Men Together (1983) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Gay Men's Health Crisis (1983) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Gay Men's Health Project, Washington Square (1983) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Voter registration banner (1983) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Protesters, St. Patrick's Cathedral (1984) by Richard C. WandelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center (1984) by Chris CollinsThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Marchers (1985) by Steve ZabelThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Pride March 2014 by Lester EchemThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Forty-five years after Stonewall, the Pride March continues to be a critical platform for articulating and amplifying LGBT movement messages. 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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