Public
Pride
SUMMER | THE ANATOMY OF…
27 June, 1969 marked an important
turning point in lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender history when the
patrons of Stonewall Inn — a popular
gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich
Village — galvanised a 6-day protest
against routine police raids on gay-
friendly establishments.
The following year, gay communities
from New York City to Los Angeles
organised marches called 'Pride
Parades' — to commemorate the riots.
Since then, the movement has spread
across the globe in support of the 1969
event's original mission: civil rights for
the LGBT community.
In honour of pride month, below is
a look at the state of the pride parade
around the globe. Which countries
celebrate openly? And which countries
force gay communities to embrace
their identities in the dark?
Pride parades embraced
Pride parades either don't occur or occur in
the face of violence or political opposition
Homoesexuality outlawed. No pride parades
Countries where only male homosexuality is illegal
Information sourced from a collaboration between Good and Column Five. References: Gayprideindex.
com; Advocate.com; Defense.gov; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; New York Times
1990
1978
1969
The Stonewall
riots in Manhattan
inspire the
creation of the
Pride Parade
movement
2,000 gather in
Washington, DC
for its first pride
parade, 'Capital
March'
The Georgia Gay
Liberation Front
organises a
march in Atlanta
One year later, the Christopher
Street Liberation Day March
— named after the site of the
rebellion — begins the pride
parade tradition as we know it
Other LGBT pride parades
are held in Los Angeles, San
Francisco, and Chicago
12
1975
1971
1970
The first rainbow flag
makes its debut at the
San Francisco Pride
Parade and comes to
symbolise the LGBT
community. The
original design has
eight colours, including
pink and indigo
1972
Pride parades
spread to
Texas, Florida,
Minnesota, and
other states
1977
Former Miss Oklahoma Anita
Bryant stirs up controversy
after leading the 'Save our
children' campaign to repeal
a gay rights ordinance in
Florida. In defiance, scores of
pride parade marchers turn
out that year holding hands
The first African
LGBT pride parade
takes place in
Johannesburg.
South Africa
remains the only
African country
to host a Pride
celebration
1981
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention publishes the first official
documentation of AIDS. During the 1980s
and 1990s, a growing number of AIDS
awareness groups march in the annula
pride parades to bring attention to the
disease