Gay Pride: Past, Present and Future, "Hartford Courant," June 17, 1999ĭay of Pride is built on sacrifice and Loss. Schedule, "Hartford Advocate," June 17, 1999 Heavy metal fest, gay parade biggest draw of big day. Rainbow Flag Flown for the First Time in the Nation Over A State Capitol, Hartford, CT, Ma(4 oversized postcards)Ī day for diversity. Pride Day Interfaith Prayer Service, flyer, June 20, 1998 "Metroline," June 21, 1991įestival a day of equality and pride. Hartford Gay Pride, "Metroline," July 14, 1989Ĭonnecticut Celebrates Gay Pride. Gay Pride Celebration in Hartford, "Metroline," July 15, 1988 Hartford Courant Article pre/post Festival Times articles on Gay Rights March in Washingtonĭon't Hide Gay Pride Festival Theme in Connecitcut, "Metroline," June 26, 1987 Hartford Courant Article re Gay Rights Bill in Connecticut
Gay Pride June 29, 1985, advertisements, "Metroline," July 5, 1985įestival in full swing, "Metroline," June 7, 1985Ĭonnecticut Gay Pride, "Metroline," May 23, 1986
Metroline Clipping of letters in support of gay pride from Mayor Milner, Senator Dodd, Hartford's Lesbian and Gay Pride Day Set. Thank you letter, "Metroline," August,1982Ģnd Lesbian/Gay Pride Celebrated. * Official Program 1993 March on Washington * Banner (silk? rayon?) Giant check written for $1,000 June 27, 1987 * Two Blue Berets - homemade berets used as a gag-symbolizes anti-gay Christian Right Stonewall Rebellion, New York City, June 28, 1981 * Black Silk Jacket "Lesbian/Gay Pride Festival 1994 * Linen Banner with felt letters Lesbianism Better Than the Rhythm Method n.d. * People Respecting Individual Diversity Everyday, October 7, 2000 * Rally '99 New Haven's Second Annual Pride Celebration, June 12, 1999 * A Proud Past A Powerful Future, June 19, 1999 * Equality through Visibility, June 21, 1997 * Equality Through Visibility, Security, June 21, 1997 * Equality Through Visibility, June 21, 1997 * Connecticut 10th Annual Pride Festival, June 23, 1990 * Lesbian/Gay Pride Festival Connecticut, June 23, 1984 * Coming Out = Political Clout, June 23, 1984 * Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival, June 26, 1982 * Together in Pride Forward We Stride, June 15, 1991 * Stonewall 20, A generation of Pride, June 24, 1989 * Forward Together.There's No Stopping Us Now, June 8, 1986 * You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, June 29, 1985 In 1986, I believe, the CLGPF was granted 501(c) (3) tax exempt status. The two groups worked closely together until the passage of the gay rights bill. The political work of the Task Froce grew into the Connecticut Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights. Later, the organization called Connecicut Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival (CLGPF) spun off from the Task Force to work solely for the purpose of producing the festival each year, starting in '84. The Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Pride Festivals were originally organized by a group called the Greater Hartford Lesbian and Gay Task Force ('82, '83). And if we were to be visible, to stand up and be counted, to come out and be proud of who we were, then we must do it in our own back yards and stop running to New York and Boston to hide among the masses. Only through our visibility would we be able to gain political clout and win civil rights for ourselves. The Connecticut Festival was started because we believed all gay and lesbian people should come out and be visible. Many people who worked for the insurance companies of downtown Hartford were afraid to participate for fear their employers would see them. The 1982 festival drew approximately 200-250 people to the Old State House in Hartford.
Before CT Pride festivals began, CT gays and lesbians marched in the festivlas in either New York or Boston where significant numbers of people guaranteed anonymity. Coming out to a pride festival in Hartford meant possibly coming out to employers, landlords, families, and others to whom one was not ready to come out. Connecticut Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival CollectionĬonnecticut gays and lesbians waited until 1982 to have a festival because it was a very daring and risky thing to do in a small conservative city like Hartford.