CNY Pride encourages, empowers, and celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community and their friends, families, and supporters.

 

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. Syracuse continued to celebrate Pride each and every year. The community always tried to do something to celebrate Pride – we would have picnics or a gathering of some sort to mark the occasion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The First Official Rally:

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Court Fight Ensues:

 

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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 started (at the Trolley Parking lot at the corner of Gifford and Clinton Streets in downtown Syracuse), and for 9 years it 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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gay 90’s

In 1990 the “March” changed to a Parade, adding floats, signs and posters to the proceedings.

There was a lot of excitement because it was new to the Syracuse Community, and there was great Pride in being involved. It was a big political statement to be visible, and there was more risk; people had more to lose back then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000 to the Present

Since 2001 the Festival and Parade has changed venue. In 2001 to 2011 the Festival had been held at the Everson Museum plaza and the Parade had marched throughout the streets of Downtown Syracuse.

Our Festival outgrew the Everson Museum Plaza in 2011 which led to a move to the Inner Harbor in Syracuse in 22 with the parade route changing.

 

2014 was the first year that National Grid lit their iconic building up in purple.