Council President Alice Rainville famously said, “This will turn Minneapolis into the San Francisco of the wheat belt,” and we were like, “Yeah, that sounds good.” Dennis Schulstad, who was the most conservative, gay-hating member, opposed it on moral grounds. Some on the City Council opposed the permit because of traffic and crime issues. Later that year, we sought a permit for 1981 Pride, and that was also turned down. Peck: We filed for a block-party permit in 1980 and the Minneapolis City Council turned it down, which was a slap in the face, because the city had closed Hennepin for other groups. I said, “They’re never going to give us a permit,” and he said, “Why not?” “Cruising Into the ’80s” was the most controversial a lot of people hated it.īurke: At one point, Brad Golden said he wanted to have a block party on Hennepin Avenue. The themes included “An Army of Lovers,” that was from Walt Whitman. Peck: We raised money back then by selling $2 Pride buttons. We tried it one year - charged a dollar to go to the festival.
In Minnesota, people wouldn’t come if they had to pay. Tretter: Other festivals charge to get in. We scheduled it on the day before the parade, and quickly learned that was wrong because everyone was so hung over and sunburned that nobody showed up the next day. We wanted a beach party down by the river, which was a cruise-y area, the river flats down there, south of Franklin Avenue. But we wanted it to be something people wanted to come to. Tom Burke: Our attitude was that Pride was inherently political. It was proud people holding signs and saying: Yes, we’re here, and we’re good. McConnell: Those first years were celebrations. That’s what I’ve always loved about Pride, feeling that web of connection. The political component was still there, but it was fun, it became a celebration, a time to socialize, see old friends and make new ones.
Paul as a place to try to win the repeal of an early gay rights ordinance.Īnyone who was a Target City Coalition regular was duty bound to help out with Pride, which had been more like a march and a protest rally, and then it evolved. I got involved because my old boyfriend Bob Bruneau became the treasurer of Target City Coalition, a 1970s activist group formed to combat antigay crusader and orange juice spokester Anita Bryant. It wasn’t just one focus.Ĭlaude Peck: It was all very grassroots. There was a lesbian resource center at that time and some very brave women held it and we marched for all social causes. proclaims, “I prefer to say gay,” a variation of a rallying cry against the law.Meadow Muska: Many lesbians, we had been marching for everybody - for children who are hungry, Native American rights, African American rights. Its official sponsor, the KindRED Pride Foundation, is encouraging attendees to wear red to Disney June 4 “to remind Disney how powerful visibility is.”Īn official red shirt sold by Gay Days, Inc. This year’s Red Shirt Day also takes the form of a protest. Thousands will wear the color in a display of unity and recognition of LGBTQ+ history Saturday, which marks the official Red Shirt Day at the Magic Kingdom. The Human Rights Campaign vowed to refuse Disney’s money until it saw the company make real progress toward its promises to advocate for LGBTQ+ communities.Īt Gay Days, organizers encourage attendees to wear red shirts at the theme parks in keeping with a tradition set during the first event in 1991. Though he said he was disappointed in Disney’s initial “non-verbal condemnation” of the bill, Manley said he was satisfied by its response afterward, including a pledge to donate $5 million to LGBTQ+ organizations. “It’s my way of saying, ‘It might not have been the best response, but it was enough,” said Logan, 54. Jeff Logan of Tampa said Disney employees vocally opposing the legislation caused Disney to do “enough to get angry.” His visit to the park Wednesday proved that the company has regained his trust, he said.
DeSantis slammed Disney for its actions, initiating a fight that led to the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and some conservatives boycotting the company.