First gay pride parade in u
After the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in, the commission dropped all its requirements but a $1,500 fee for police service. Davis telling him, “As far as I’m concerned, granting a permit to a group of homosexuals to parade down Hollywood Boulevard would be the same as giving a permit to a group of thieves and robbers.” Grudgingly, the Police Commission granted the permit, though there were fees exceeding $1.5 million. Perry recalled the Los Angeles Police Chief Edward M.
But homosexuality was still illegal in the state of California at the time, so securing a permit from the city was no easy task. They settled on a parade down Hollywood Boulevard. It was fast approaching one year since the Stonewall riots of June, 1969, when Reverend Bob Humphries (United States Mission founder), Morris Kight (Gay Liberation Front founder) and Reverend Troy Perry (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches founder) gathered to plan a commemoration. The parade, which has long been the centerpiece of Pride weekend, was the first of its kind in the world when it began in 1970.
With more than 400,000 people descending upon 1.9 square miles, Los Angeles Pride is the largest gathering of LGBT people and allies in Southern California. The photo was by Steve Fleming, assistant coordinator of carnival lot decor. On steps, left to right, John Toy, raffles chair David Schwinkendorf, circus coordinator Pat Rocco, carnival and circus chair John Walsh, food concessions chair Sharon Tobin, secretary Morris Kight, parade theme chair, and Patricia Underwood, treasurer. Part of the CSW Board in 1976: Lower foreground, Sharon Cornelison, president Terry “Spider” Luton, vice president.