History of Pride
Just after 3 a.m. on Saturday June 28, 1969, a group of New York City Police officers, uniformed and plain clothes from the public morals division raided the Stonewall Inn, a mafia owned bar located on Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. The Stonewall was one of a handful of dancing bars and catered to an assortment of patrons, but it was widely known to be popular with the most marginalized people in the gay community, drag queens, hustlers and effeminate young men.
Social norms at the time were very discriminatory towards homosexuals and very few establishments welcomed openly gay people. 49 states and most cities had laws prohibiting homosexuality. Businesses that did serve gay patrons tended to be bars that were regularly targeted, raided and shut down with little or no resistance. Fearful gay patrons often complied for fear of being "outed" and were often physically forced out of their gathering places, sometimes beaten and arrested, with no just cause.
In the resulting publicity after such raids, it wasn’t uncommon for gay men and lesbians to be exposed in newspapers, fired from their jobs, jailed or worse sent to mental institutions.
As the Stonewall patrons were pushed out onto the street that early morning, a crowd gathered watching as people were arrested. When the police began to physically force individuals into a paddy wagon, the crowd of patrons and local sympathizers, led by drag queens erupted into violent resistance against the officers. Word spread quickly about the confrontation. That night 13 people were arrested and some hospitalized. Outraged masses gathered on subsequent nights to protest the mistreatment inflicted upon the gay community, launching the modern LGBT civil rights movement.
On the 1st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, gay pride marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City near the Stonewall Inn. Marches were held every year to honor the "Saints of Stonewall" bold rebellion against government persecution of LGBT people and to inspire people throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights and equality for all people.
Over time, these marches evolved into the parades and festivals known as Pride. Today LGBT Pride events are held all around the world to commemorate a movement that began with a small group of people at a little bar in Greenwich Village, to celebrate the strides we’ve made and to dedicate ourselves to the work that is still left to be done.
Social norms at the time were very discriminatory towards homosexuals and very few establishments welcomed openly gay people. 49 states and most cities had laws prohibiting homosexuality. Businesses that did serve gay patrons tended to be bars that were regularly targeted, raided and shut down with little or no resistance. Fearful gay patrons often complied for fear of being "outed" and were often physically forced out of their gathering places, sometimes beaten and arrested, with no just cause.
In the resulting publicity after such raids, it wasn’t uncommon for gay men and lesbians to be exposed in newspapers, fired from their jobs, jailed or worse sent to mental institutions.
As the Stonewall patrons were pushed out onto the street that early morning, a crowd gathered watching as people were arrested. When the police began to physically force individuals into a paddy wagon, the crowd of patrons and local sympathizers, led by drag queens erupted into violent resistance against the officers. Word spread quickly about the confrontation. That night 13 people were arrested and some hospitalized. Outraged masses gathered on subsequent nights to protest the mistreatment inflicted upon the gay community, launching the modern LGBT civil rights movement.
On the 1st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, gay pride marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City near the Stonewall Inn. Marches were held every year to honor the "Saints of Stonewall" bold rebellion against government persecution of LGBT people and to inspire people throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights and equality for all people.
Over time, these marches evolved into the parades and festivals known as Pride. Today LGBT Pride events are held all around the world to commemorate a movement that began with a small group of people at a little bar in Greenwich Village, to celebrate the strides we’ve made and to dedicate ourselves to the work that is still left to be done.
History of the Pride Festival of Central PA
In the late 1980’s a group of individuals held the very first gay pride event in the Harrisburg area, called “Open Air.”
At the time, organizers discussed how people might be afraid or unwilling to attend a “Gay Pride” event in this socially conservative area. After much collaboration, the organizers chose the name "Open Air," to represent the fact that the community could come together in the light of day.
Pink helium balloons served as the “signal” at the otherwise unremarkable entrance to the festival held outside Harrisburg at the Police Athletic Grounds along Linglestown Road.
"Open Air" was held for two consecutive years, organized by the volleyball team that used the Police Athletic League Building on N. 3rd St in Harrisburg, the present day Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.
The event moved a few times including being hosted at Ski Round Top, the Harrisburg Area Community College and then to Harrisburg's Riverfront Park and has grown into what we know of today as the Pride Festival of Central PA,
According to Dan Miller, the first openly gay Harrisburg City Council member, the first actual Pride Festival was held on Sunday, July 26, 1992.
At the time, organizers discussed how people might be afraid or unwilling to attend a “Gay Pride” event in this socially conservative area. After much collaboration, the organizers chose the name "Open Air," to represent the fact that the community could come together in the light of day.
Pink helium balloons served as the “signal” at the otherwise unremarkable entrance to the festival held outside Harrisburg at the Police Athletic Grounds along Linglestown Road.
"Open Air" was held for two consecutive years, organized by the volleyball team that used the Police Athletic League Building on N. 3rd St in Harrisburg, the present day Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.
The event moved a few times including being hosted at Ski Round Top, the Harrisburg Area Community College and then to Harrisburg's Riverfront Park and has grown into what we know of today as the Pride Festival of Central PA,
According to Dan Miller, the first openly gay Harrisburg City Council member, the first actual Pride Festival was held on Sunday, July 26, 1992.
