32st Annual Boston Pride Parade
The horror of 9-11 still echoed almost a year later. At that year’s Pride Parade, the loudest cheers were for the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), who represented LGBT law enforcement. Boston GOAL invited members of the New York chapter to march in the Parade, as a gesture of solidarity with the still shaken city.
The turnout of over 100,000 was the highest in years as few now questioned the need for Pride, as had happened in prior years. The need to reunite and gather was palpable along the route. Jeanine Galloway told Bay Windows, “Maybe people were just more apt to participate as a result of 9- 11, as part of a comfort process.”[1]
Grand Marshal: Gay Officers Action League of New England
Festival Entertainment: Headliner – Sophie B. Hawkins, Skott Freedman
2002 Boston Pride Photo Galleries
Click on the buttons below to view the event photo gallery. Note: You will be taken to the Boston Pride Smugmug Website
LGBTQ Historical HighlightS
- The Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes finds that bullying in schools is an early indicator of possible hate crimes offenses; launches a survey of Massachusetts Middle Schools to find out what measures localities are taking to curtail bullying.[2]
- PFLAG establishes the Transgender Network
Event Details
Date: June 8, 2002
Theme: American Pride
Organized by: New Boston Pride Committee
Parade Route
START – Copley Sq., Boylston St., Right on Clarendon St., Left on Tremont St., Left on Berkeley St., Right on Boylston St., Left on Charles St., END – Boston Common