Find out what they’re doing, talk to us obviously about our organization, and you really kind of find out so many different reasons why other people are here. “I’ve done a lot of Prides and at the table when you’re tabling it’s just really fun to talk to a lot of different people during the day. So that’s kinda cool,” said Evelyn Mesler, a female student who was sitting with her friends to the side of the festivities. We were looking at the Dunkin’ Donuts float and we thought that was really great that a company would openly support pride and – I don’t know – take time out of their day to do it. “We liked seeing all of the companies and their staff out supporting. The crowd also held varied opinions on why Pride mattered to them. Some added fun wigs, hats, or leis to their outfits. Ages ranged from babies with their parents, to generations old enough to remember the Stonewall Riots when they happened. People were also sporting a variety of other flags for their sexualities and gender identities - transgender and bisexual seeming to be popular, though some asexual and pansexual flags could also be spotted.īoston Pride had a diverse crowd. People, stores, animals, and buildings all featured the colorful designs. Those rainbow flags could be seen all around during the 48th Boston Pride Festival, which happened at Boston City Hall Plaza on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Over the years, the pink and turquoise stripes on the flag were dropped mainly due to production difficulties.
Each color in the flag was supposed to represent a different aspect of the LGBT community: Sex (pink), Life (red), Healing (orange), Sunlight (yellow), Nature (green), Magic (turquoise), Serenity (blue), and Spirit (purple). The organization of that first parade is believed to have been done by Brenda Howard, a bisexual LGBT activist.Įight years later brought about the creation of the Pride Flag, also known as the Rainbow Flag.
To celebrate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first Pride Parade occured in 1970. Protests continued for few days, and the Stonewall Riots have come to be known as the first major LGBT protest. Raider Times photo / Kirsten AucoinĪ scene from the Boston Pride Festival on June 9, 2018.Īfter Stonewall Inn was raided, people started chaotically protesting - and eventually forced the police officers to barricade themselves inside the bar. These were places that many viewed as their only safe space. Police appeared to have been targeting gay bars in that area for some time - making raids, arrests, being violent, and emptying the bars. That alone didn’t cause the uproar of the riots.
They also made arrests off of laws that allowed anyone not wearing a certain amount of gender-appropriate clothing to be taken into custody, and laws regarding the asking/offering of same-sex relations. The officers made multiple arrests for employees selling alcohol without a liquor license. It all went down when police had raided a NYC gay bar called Stonewall Inn at 3 a.m. It’s in honor of the Stonewall Riots, which started on June 28, 1969. There’s a reason why June, specifically, was chosen to represent LGBT Pride. Pride - including the recent Boston Pride Festival - celebrates those victories for the movement and continues the line of activism, education, and awareness. LGBT+ rights have come a long way since the Stonewall Riots. The events are known for raising awareness and celebrating people of varying sexual, romantic, and gender identities. LGBT+ events can be witnessed all over the country during that time.