Thousands march, Boston Celebrates Gay Pride

Anita Bryant, singer and spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission, burst onto the national political scene in 1977 by opposing a gay rights ordinance in Florida. Bryant marshaled enough opposition to defeat the ordinance but, in the process, galvanized thousands of LGBT people across the country to come out and become politically active.

Pride member John Mitzel recalled years later that the 1977 Parade was noticeably bigger, with onlookers crowding the sidewalks along the route.

Charles Shively, a professor at Boston State College (now UMass- Boston), was the last speaker at the post-parade Rally at Parkman Bandstand. He strode up to the podium, wearing his Harvard doctoral cap and gown.

Activist and writer Freddie Greenfield held up a large wok and lit it on fire. As the flames shot into the afternoon air, Shively brandished his Harvard diploma and threw it into the wok, condemning his alma mater for its treatment of gay students. He then threw in his draft and health insurance cards, while excoriating the government and medical profession. Finally, with great fanfare, he picked up a bible and read from Leviticus 20:13, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…” Shively paused, held up the Bible, and tossed it into the fire.

Some members of gay religious groups, including Dignity, Integrity, and the Metropolitan Community Church, were “visibly angry” at Shively for casting the Bible into the flames. A few rushed the stage while others shouted at Shively to get off the stage. For the next few weeks, letters were sent to the Gay Community News and Esplanade, some supporting and others condemning Shively.

Attendance was estimated at 3000 -5000 people.

2nd year that a Lesbian Contingent lead the march.

Pride finished in the black in 1977, with $1,355.