Supporters ‘super proud of my hometown’ as gay pri para rolls through Buffalo Grove

Contents:

• SUPPORTERS ‘SUPER PROUD OF MY HOMETOWN’ AS GAY PRI PARA ROLLS THROUGH BUFFALO GROVE
• GAY BUFFALO
• BT AND WORST STAT FOR LGBTQ FOLKS? DIVI WORSENS AFTER 'DON'T SAY GAY,' REPORT SAYS

SUPPORTERS ‘SUPER PROUD OF MY HOMETOWN’ AS GAY PRI PARA ROLLS THROUGH BUFFALO GROVE

In June 1970, one year after the Stonewall rts, thoands of monstrators marched up Sixth Avenue New York om the former Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street to Central Park where a “gay-” was held. It was lled the Christopher Street Liberatn Day and was the begng of Gay Pri celebratns as we know them. Now, each year June, Pri ftivi across the untry serve to memorate the birth of the morn gay, lbian and transgenr civil rights movement, as well as affirm our liv the ntext of the larger muny.

In nservative, steel-town Buffalo, a closeted gay muny acknowledged Pri privately and unofficially. Participants scribe a gay muny largely divid along genr l, wh separate danc and piics for men and women. By the mid-1980s, Gay Pri activi Buffalo were more foced and centralized.

GAY BUFFALO

In 1988, the Buffalo Gay & Lbian Communy Network was found by Carol Sper and Larry Peck. The Network sponsored the Lbian and Gay Pri Uny Ft (LAGPUF) for the next four years.

The 1988 Pri Uny Ft, anized unr the theme “Power through Uny wh Diversy, ” clud a day of workshops, a Miss Buffalo Boat ri sponsored by Gay and Lbian Youth of Buffalo (GLYB), a ncert by the Cy of Good Neighbors Chorale, the DYKETONES at the Tralfamadore Café and a talk by transgenr activist Llie Fienberg for Workers World and The Other Sex, a gay and lbian film ftival sponsored by HALLWALLS. Other events om the ’80s, which beme hallmarks of lol Gay Pri celebratns, clud the annual AIDS Memorial Candlelight Service hosted by the Interfah AIDS Network, the Hall of Shame Awards (1990 nome clud “Hizzoner Jimmy Griff” and school board member Jam Comerford), the annual womyn’s danc sponsored by GROW and SHADES, the Frontnners annual Gay Pri Run, the Queen Cy Softball Day at Front Park and the famo Gearg Up for Summer Party at Ellitt Creek Park.

The first Candlelight Wish Celebratn, held behd the Buffalo & Erie County Historil Society, was the centerpiece of the 1991 Lbian and Gay Pri Uny Ft. This unique event, wh s seclud outdoor settg and non-nomatnal spirual element, offered a graceful transn between private and public celebratns of Gay Pri. Arthur and Lance Rgel, first director of the NYS Office of Lbian and Gay Concerns.

BT AND WORST STAT FOR LGBTQ FOLKS? DIVI WORSENS AFTER 'DON'T SAY GAY,' REPORT SAYS

In 1993, at least 500 Buffalonians traveled to Washgton for the April March on Washgton for Lbian, Gay and Bisexual Equal Rights and Liberatn, one of the largt civil rights monstratns history. The activist spir brought home by lol anizers om this extraordary event rulted Buffalo’s first ever Gay Pri Para. The para and other Gay Pri activi were produced that year by the Pri/Wtern New York Commtee of the Communy Network.

The Allen Street Ftival was also add to Pri weekend 2010, givg Buffalonians the opportuny to dance the streets of their historic gayborhood.