The world would not be the same after these events. This coincided with many monumental social shifts occurring during the decade of the 1960s throughout the United States –the Civil Rights movement, the feminist movement, the death of Judy Garland (an icon for gay men), the first man to walk on the moon, the assassination of President Kennedy and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. When the disease started to claim members of the community in large numbers, the mood turned from gay to somber, as the day began to serve as a memorial for those who had been taken from the community.Īnother major change was that in 1970, gays and lesbians were just beginning to assert themselves as having rights. This means that partying in the street was huge, with drag queens, disco music, and a festive atmosphere. First and foremost, 1970 was before the AIDS epidemic began. Several major changes took place over the years. The name, plain and simple, was Gay Pride. Those who identified as lesbian, bisexual or transgender were not expressly acknowledged as part of the new movement that got kickstarted in New York City after the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The author and her wife in 1985įorty-four years ago, when Boston Pride was founded, the atmosphere for gays and lesbians was very different. To understand more fully the meaning of this year’s theme, a historical perspective is necessary. This has changed since the inception of Boston Pride in 1970 when a single day marked the event with the parade as the main happening and some private parties afterward. In doing so, the idea is that those qualities of individuality can, and should, be used to change the world for the better.īoston Pride events actually encompass 10 days, starting on the Friday one week preceding the parade, and ending the day after. The theme for the event – and, in fact, the entire week, is “Be Yourself, Change the World.” The LGBT community is encouraged to embrace what is unique about each individual. What does this mean for those marching and for those watching along the parade route? The organizers describe the significance of their theme as Boston anticipates the event coming just on the coattails of the 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage in the U.S., which got its start in Massachusetts. Pride parades are held throughout the U.S.
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Each person has something unique to share, which is the theme of this year’s Boston Pride parade, a happy and Gay festival on Saturday, June 14.