In a moving reminder of the gross lack of funding for AIDS care and research, a group of Act/Up Boston activists completed a three-day vigil at Massachusetts General Hospital.
At its conclusion, they joined the March. This was part of the “18 Months Campaign” to expose the lack of commitment from the US government to fight the disease, which still had no effective treatment.
In a June 1991 issue of Gay Community News, Steve Karpf made the case for a permanent Pride celebration: “One common statement [of attendees] is that Pride is a positive opportunity for our community to speak to heterosexuals about who we are.
The diversity of messages delivered during the Pride March – from El Comite Latino y sus Amigos, Moving Violations, Daughters of Bilitis, and Gay Fathers of Boston, to name a few – is by itself a refusal to be neatly categorized under a stereotypical or limited definition of being queer.”
Former Boston activist Urvashi Vaid, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, spoke at the Rally.
Attendance estimated at 90,000
Photos and Memorabilia from 1991
Event Details
Date: June 6, 1991
Theme: Together in Pride
Organized by: Lavender Rhino, Inc.
Janet Kyle, Chair; Peter Cann, Board member; Carol Wessling; Maria DePalma, Volunteer Coordinator; Arther & Dan; Michael Carol N.; Sue Ward; Lisa; Cindy Hanslick; Bryan A., Videographer; Cynthia Walton, Vendor Coordinator; Val Seabrook, Security Coordinator; Paula; Adam Brackman; Rob B.; Bob p.; Terry & Lisa.
Parade Route
START – City Hall Plaza., Down Cambridge St., Left on Charles St., Right on Beacon St., Left on Arlington St., Left on Boylston St., Left on Tremont St., Left on Park St., Left on Beacon St. END – Boston Common
References:
Photo Credits
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Susan Fleischmann, “Club Antorcha in the 1991 Pride Parade,” Documented | Digital Collections of The History Project, accessed May 3, 2023, https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/13.