Mark Doty is the author of eight book of poems and has won a number of awards.  He teaches at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  

Chris Good June 11, 2000 - he brought back the full slate of Pride events, rally, parade and festival after a five year absence.


From the May 2003 issue of "Greater Cincinnati GLBT News".....

Cincinnati's First Pride Parade
by Bruce Beisner

Thirty years ago last month, gay and lesbian Cincinnatian's held their very first Pride Parade. Over the past 3 decades, the event has grown, declined, disappeared, and been reborn. As you march with thousands of other people this June, remember that it all started with a little noticed, but very important, happening back in April of 1973.

Following the Stonewall Riots and the growth of the anti-Vietnam War movement, "hippie" culture began to strongly take hold in the Cincinnati area in the early 1970s. Out of this "leftist" and "druggie" crowd came the city's first gay organization. The Cincinnati Gay Community, or CGC, was established in 1972 by a small group of die hard activists. Among the founding members were Michael Weyand, Terry Flanigan, Carol Kipp, Dick Jasinski, Ronald Carter and Jack Ferguson. 

The CGC advertised in the University of Cincinnati's newspaper and soon had over 200 people attending their regular meetings, which were held at St. John's Unitarian Church. The group was made up of mostly gay white males many of whom were college students, although a handful of women and African Americans became involved. CGC sponsored theater productions and social activities and sent speakers to sexuality education classes at UC and Miami University. About a year after it was founded, the leadership of CGC decided to build on their successes with a Pride Celebration on April 6, 7 and 8, 1973 which would include a parade
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The first ever Cincinnati Pride Celebration began on Friday night with a spaghetti dinner at St. John's Unitarian Church that was attended by over 150 people. Following a brunch on Saturday morning at the popular gay dance club Badlands, the first Pride parade stepped off from Washington Square Park in Over the Rhine. Having secured a parade permit, about 70 people marched with signs and banners through downtown to Fountain Square. 

In a 1986 presentation to the UC Gay Academic Union, Terry Flanigan recalled that "there was much heckling along the route," and that "while press releases were sent to all the local media, only WCPO- Channel 9 covered the event, and their coverage was very brief and really didn't capture the spirit of the day at all,"

Following the parade there was a rally on Fountain Square which featured live music, political speakers, and several theatrical skits.

Although privately a friend of many gays, Cincinnati Mayor Theodore Berry, the city's first African American mayor, refused to publicly issue a proclamation of this first Gay Pride Day. It would be years before the event would receive official recognition from the City government.

On April 15, 1973, gay and lesbian activists held their first "Red Shirt Day" at the Kings Island amusement park. On May 8 of that same year, about 150 people participated in the first state wide Pride march in Columbus.

Despite the success of Cincinnati's first Pride Parade, the CGC fell apart amid heated disagreements only a month later.

Center note: By the mid 1980s Pride was organized by the Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition (GCGLC). In 1993, GCGLC became the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati, now located in Northside and online at cincyglbt.com.  GAY PRIDES IN CINCINNATI (This is a work in progress! Write us with updated facts!)  We acknowledge the kind work of Phebe Beiser, Bruce Beisner and Michael Chanak who helped to compile this information!

1973 April 6, 7 & 8 - Cincinnati Gay Community - Washington Park through Fountain Square. Parade April 8th.

1978 Proclamation by mayor Gerald (Jerry) Springer signed June 24 

1979 June 30 – Rally at Fountain Square = Proclamation by mayor Bobbie Sterne (10th anniversary of Stonewall) (Greater Cincinnnati Gay Coalition)

1980 Sunday, June 22  -   L/G Pride Day (Greater Cincinnnati Gay Coalition)

1981 ?                                             (Greater Cincinnnati Gay Coalition)

1982 Sunday, June 20 L/G Pride Day on Fountain Square (Greater Cincinnnati Gay Coalition)

1983 ?                                             (Greater Cincinnnati Gay Coalition)

1984 “Gay Pride Week” June 9-17  (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1985 June 7 - Rally & Parade. Gathered at City Hall and marched to Fountain Square (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1986 June 7 -  met at City Hall and marched to Fountain Square for Rally (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1987 June 6  -  Rally at Fountain Square, no Parade [focus on March on Washington, pr and collection of donations for this] (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1988 June 18 - March & Rally for “G & L Rights”  (Greater Cincinnnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1989 June 10 - Pride Rally (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1990 June 9 - Rally at Fountain Square, Parade to Sawyer Point (Greater Cincinnnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1991 Sat, June 15 - L & G Pride Day (Greater Cincinnnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1992 June 13 - Rally at City Hall, March to Fountain Square (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1993 June 12 - March begins at City Hall, Rally at Fountain Square (Greater Cincinnati Gay & Lesbian Coalition)

1994 June 11 - Rally at Bicentennial Commons, Parade marched through downtown. Festival afterwards at the Dock. (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati). Pride Marhshal: Michael X. Chanak

1995 June 17 - Fountain Square rally, march to the Dock for festival in front parking lot (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati)

1996 8 events in 3 days  - “Pride and Cultural Fest” (all kinds of events, but no rally or parade)  (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati)

1997 “Aware on the Square” held from 12-1 Thursday, June 5 (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati)

1998 “Aware on the Square” held on Tuesday, June 23 (No parade)  (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati)

1999 June 6 -  Rally at City Hall (No parade/No festival) Michael Blankenship organized rally at City Hall

2000 June  11 -  Rally at Burnet Woods, parade to Northside, festival at Hoffner Park (Chris Good - Chair - and independent committee - Michael X. Chanak - Senior Advisor) Honorary Pride Marshal: Peaches LaVerne.  Pride Marshal: Dr. Shane Que Hee.

2001 June 10 -  Rally at Burnet Woods, parade to Northside, festival (2 days) at Hoffner Park (Ken Colegrove - Chair -  and independent committee -  organizers)