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A History of Pride Parades and
Celebrations in Syracuse
“Last weekend the Queens had turned Commandos and stood bra strap to bra strap against an invasion of the helmeted Tactical Police force. The elite force had shut down one of their private gay clubs, the Stonewall Inn at 57 Christopher Street in the heart of the homosexual community in Greenwich Village.
“Queen power reared its bleach blonde head in revolt.
“New York City experienced its first homosexual riot.”
Reprinted from The New York Daily News, July 6th, 1969
Like many cities across the nation, the Gay community of Syracuse looked to the Stonewall rebellion as the one act of inspiration that would move it forward in its desire to be free. It was the quintessential act of rightful defiance and rebellion so desperately needed to inspire a national movement. The event was big. Bigger than anything that had occurred thus far.
As news of the riot reverberated outward from NYC, it became apparent that this act would birth something very big indeed, something that would not merely dry up and blow away like so many people wanted it to. On that day was born the modern Gay Liberation Movement.
The movement in Syracuse began not with a rebellion but with a handful of people who gathered together to claim or reclaim what was rightfully theirs. They wanted to begin to remind people that they were tired of the disrespect, the hiding, the threats on their employment, and the threats on their lives. They wanted to become visible. It was time to stop taking it and start giving it! It was a time to stand up for all that was rightfully theirs.
It was time to say no.
As far back as June of 1973, a small group of members in the community gathered on a warm summer day in Thorndon Park for a picnic and celebration. There was music, food, and even a road rally that afternoon. It was a time to come together and gather strength. The revolutions of the 60’s were still fresh in their minds. Both the civil rights movement and the antiwar coalitions had made some serious changes in the way people thought about their lives. It was a time to begin yet another revolution. All went well until a rock-throwing incident by some kids marred the celebration. Fortunately no one was hurt. Harry Freeman-Jones, a long standing member of the community, remembers someone rushing into their midst when the rock throwing started, screaming “Dyke patrol, dyke patrol! We need the dyke patrol!” At once, a group of determined-looking women were dispatched and they dispersed the unruly attackers. All did not end well, however, as Earl Colvin, a long-standing member of our community, lost his job after appearing on the 6 0’clock news. “There was a pink slip waiting for me when I arrived for work Monday morning,” Colvin said.
From that auspicious beginning, Syracuse continued to celebrate Pride each and every year. According to Colvin, there was always a celebration of some sort, “the community always tried to do something to celebrate Pride – we would have picnics or a gathering of some sort to mark the occasion.” In the following years there were picnics and workshops at Pratts Falls, a County Park southeast of Syracuse. Harry Freeman-Jones remembers a good turnout at these events, stating, “there was always a large number of people who would attend – people weren’t afraid to come out to Pratts Falls.”
Some members of the Community would make their way to the celebration in NYC. In fact, the day of Pride in Syracuse was determined based on when NYC was having its celebration. “Syracuse Pride was always the Saturday before the New York City Pride Parade,” according to Bonnie Strunk, a political activist and long-time member of our community.
The first official public Pride rally in June 1985 was held at Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. Several leaders of the community spoke that day, beginning a tradition that has endured to the present.
Parades began to take place in the late 1980’s. The first “Pride March” happened in June of 1988. A spirited assembly of people from the Gay and Lesbian Community (as it was known at the time) marched from the Armory Pub on Clinton Street to Columbus Circle where they gathered to hear speeches and commentary from leaders of the community.
During the next few years there was controversy with the City of Syracuse who wanted organizers to take out a $1 million insurance policy to cover liability costs. Community leaders expressed concern about how they would raise such a large amount of money. The city wouldn’t back down, and insisted the liability insurance be in place before a Parade permit would be issued. In response to how they were expected to raise the money, city officials suggested “car washes and bake sales.” To which Harry Freeman-Jones pledged, “not one brownie shall be sold for the likes of the City of Syracuse.”
A court fight ensued, and although the first ruling went against the organizers, a subsequent court ruling by a Federal judge overturned the initial finding and exempted all future Pride Parades from carrying the exorbitant insurance costs.
The Gay 90’s
In 1990 the “March” changed to a Parade, adding floats, signs and posters to the proceedings. It was known as the “Gay 90’s Parade.” Susie Weiss, an active member of the community, remembers those parades of the late 1980’s and early 90’s. “There was a lot of excitement because it was new to the Syracuse Community, and there was great Pride in being involved.” Weiss went on to say, “It was a big political statement to be visible, and there was more risk; people had more to lose back then.”
In the years since 1990, the Parade has grown to include over 400 participants and the parade route has changed several times. Since 1994 the parade has originated from where it currently starts (at the Trolley Parking lot at the corner of Gifford and Clinton Streets in downtown Syracuse), and for the past 9 years had ended at Hanover Square with a rally. In 1997, the Mayor of the City of Syracuse agreed to paint a lavender line down Salina Street to commemorate the Pride Parade.
Another new tradition, began in 1998, was the first ever pictoral cancellation from the United States Postal Service. This tradition continues and marks it’s 3rd year offered by the Postal Service.
In 1999, we celebrated another moment in our history. An extended Parade route which ended at the Everson Museum, where a festival took place, gracing the end of the eleventh annual Parade with music, food and entertainment. Sounds just a little bit like the first celebration some 26 years ago.
Since 2000 was such a great success! Now again in 2001, we are changing the venue a little to accommodate people in the community who could never attend Pride due to the time of day. The Parade kickoff will be at 4:00 PM. Again this year, we will wind through the streets of downtown gathering at the Everson Museum for the 3rd Annual Festival followed by dancing under the stars. What a great night to celebrate the diversity in our Community
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