The History of NYC Pride

The New York City Pride March is one of the largest in the world, with tens of thousands of people donning their rainbow garb in celebration of free love. This year, the parade will take place on Sunday, June 27, so we’re honoring the festive tradition with a history of how it came to be one of NYC’s most iconic annual celebrations.

The Pride March memorializes the famous Stonewall riots, which occurred on Saturday, June 28, 1969. The riots were a reaction to a police raid at the Stonewall Bar, which was a popular location for the LGBTQ community to congregate in Greenwich Village. The riots became the cornerstone of the gay rights movement, and the Stonewall Inn is perhaps the most famous landmark in the fight for LGBTQ equality. In the weeks following the Stonewall riots, several marches advocating free love were organized throughout the city. On November 2, 1969, gay rights activist Craig Rodwell proposed that an annual march be held in memory of Stonewall. Rodwell, his partner Fred Sargeant, and activists Ellen Broidy and Linda Rhodes formally proposed the march at the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations. They stated;

“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.”

The proposal passed unanimously, and Rodwell and his colleagues began organizing the march. They solicited donations and worked with advocacy groups and individuals to raise funds and plan the event for the following year.

June 28, 1970 was designated as Christopher Street Liberation Day because it was the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The day was celebrated with a march from Sheridan Square to Sheep Meadow in Central Park.

Since the first march in 1970, NYC Pride has become a time-honored tradition that only grows in popularity every year. NYC is the most popular location to celebrate Pride in the U.S., and the 2019 Pride weekend reported nearly five million participants. The parade was the largest in the city’s history, and there were four times more people in attendance than at the Time Square Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve.

NYC Pride is one of the city’s greatest treasures. It’s an opportunity to come together and celebrate love and inclusivity. We’re excited to support and encourage our community this year and every year to come.

The Life and Legacy of Marsha P. Johnson

In celebrating both Juneteenth and Pride Month, we’re honored to highlight the extraordinary life of gay and Black rights activist, Marsha P. Johnson.

Marsha P. Johnson was born with the name Malcolm Michaels Jr. on August 24, 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Growing up, Johnson enjoyed wearing dresses, and entertained the idea that he might be gay but kept his sexuality a secret because acceptance of the LGBTQ community was virtually non-existent in the mid-20th century. However, in 1963, after graduating high school, Johnson moved to New York City, where his life and legacy changed forever.

Once in NYC, Johnson moved to Greenwich Village, where he quickly became ingrained in the world of sex work and drag queens. He came out as gay and made it his mission to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ community, as well as the safety and protection of those working in the sex industry. Johnson himself became a drag queen and went by the name “Marsha P.” He claimed the “P” stood for “pay it no mind.” During his life, Johnson identified as openly gay and preferred dressing as a woman. In today’s terms, Johnson was “gender non-conforming.”

Johnson quickly became popular on the NYC drag scene. He was known for his alluring androgynous style—his costumes were never quite entirely masculine or feminine. Johnson was a pivotal figure during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and was known for using his stage presence as a platform for AIDS awareness and education. Johnson was also photographed by Andy Warhol, which served to further increase his popularity.

Johnson was also one of the leading figures in the Stonewall Uprisings. Although he denied starting the riot, he was seen on site every night of the uprising fighting back against police in a grand showing of LGBTQ advocacy. After the uprising, Johnson joined the Gay Liberation Front to continue his activism. On June 28, 1970, Johnson participated in the first New York City Gay Pride march.

In 1972, Johnson founded the STAR house, which provide shelter and community to gay and transgender kids. Johnson’s goal with STAR house was to help marginalized youth find other individuals similar to themselves with whom they could hopefully live a less risky, more fulfilling life.

Unfortunately, the late 1970s found Johnson in a precarious state. His mental health severely declined after a series of financial losses forced him to resort to survival sex as a way of life. He had several mental breakdowns, and he was arrested over 100 times for various crimes. In June 1992, Johnson’s body was found in the Hudson River. Police ruled his death a suicide, but friends argued that a large wound on Johnson’s head indicated violence. In 2002, Johnson’s official cause of death was changed from “suicide” to “undetermined.”

Despite his tragic ending, Marsha P. Johnson will forever be remembered as a brave advocate speaking out as his authentic self in a time when it was not acceptable to do so. This Pride Month, we look to icons like Johnson to remember how far we’ve come, and how hard we must continue to work for the rights of all people.