In 1976, about 25-30 members of the Gay Community (which included lesbians, bisexuals and transgender members - but the term used in those days covered everyone) walked down the sidewalk on Central Ave/Route 66 marking the first gay rights march in Albuquerque. This Pride event was born from events that happened in 1969 at a New York bar called The Stonewall. Police raided the bar on the night after Judy Garland died. Although raids were common, on this night the community was distraught because Garland was a very popular icon for gay community (in fact, one of the "secret codes" to indicate you were gay in those days was the question, "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" - referencing Judy Garland's role in The Wizard of Oz). The drag queens (men dressed as women) and the dykes (very masculine looking women who are lesbians) had had enough of police intrusion into their private lives and fought back.

The Stonewall Rebellion marked a turning point when the community decided to fight against homophobia and begin the struggle for acceptance of who we are. The riots that followed the raid are considered the birth of the modern struggle for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in the United States. Issues of employment, housing, personal safety and alternative families for the GLBT community all grew out of those few nights in June 1969 when people were tired of harassment and attacks. As a result, people all over the country "came out" of the closet and declared their sexual orientation (which gender they have their primary physical and emotional relationships with) and gender identification (which sex they personally identify as) and began to create a more cohesive community.

Here in Albuquerque, the parade grew steadily from those first 25 pioneers. In 1977, over 100 people marched on the sidewalks for GLBT rights and rallied at Morningside Park to hear speakers tell of their personal experiences and what was happening all over the country. We moved from the sidewalks to the streets. Then Pridefest moved from Morningside Park to Spanish Village at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds for a number of years. Then in 2001, on our 25th anniversary, Pride moved to Main Street on the Fairgrounds. The event was a huge success and over 5,000 people attended the daylong event. More space, more vendors, more entertainment and more community! In 2005, the estimate was over 10,000 attended...and we keep growing.

 

Albuquerque Pride, PO Box 80506, Albuquerque, NM 87198-0506 (505) 873-8084
E-mail us at abqpride@aol.com