Phoenix Pride

For the defunct Major Indoor Soccer League team, see Phoenix Inferno.
Marchers at 2017's Phoenix Pride

Phoenix Pride (formerly known as Phoenix Pride March & Rally,[1] Desert Pride,[2] Arizona Central Pride,[2] and Phoenix Pride Festival[2]) is a parade and festival held each year in Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people and their allies.

Unlike other pride parades in major US cities, which is held in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots,[3] Phoenix Pride has been held outside of the summer months in Arizona since at least 2004,[4] due to high summer temperatures.[5][6]

History

Phoenix has had a history of hosting gay pride-themed events even before the first pride parade was held in 1981.[1] In June 1977, the first gay pride week was organized in Phoenix by the city’s LGBTQ+ community at the time.[1]

The first pride parade in Phoenix took place in 1981, and it was organized by the Lesbian & Gay Pride Planning Committee, which was led by Kirk Baxter and BJ Bud.[1] The first parade was a march from Patriots Square Park (now the site of CityScape) to the Arizona State Capitol.[4] The event was a politically focused march that aimed to bring awareness to LGBT rights issues in the Phoenix area.[4] Newspaper reports at the time estimated 600 to 1,000 people attended the evening march,[7] although later research has put the figure to over 700 people having taken part.[1]

From 1983 to 1985, the march took place on a portion of Phoenix's Central Avenue Corridor,[4] and the event in 1987 became politically focused once again, as it was combined with an event aimed at recalling controversial Governor Evan Mecham.[4]

A non-profit organization was established to coordinate the pride festival in 1991.[4] That same year, after a decade of hosting the event in Phoenix, the pride festival was moved to Tempe Diablo Stadium.[4]

The event was moved to Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix in 1998, and moved to Steele Indian School Park in 2003, where it is still being held to this day.[4]

In 2020, the parade and festival was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with event organizers saying they will reschedule the event to a time during the fall.[8] Days after the announcement to postpone was made, organizers announced an alternative date of November 7 and 8.[9][non-primary source needed] 2020's parade was later rescheduled to 2021, in effect cancelling Phoenix Pride for 2020.[10]

Event by year

Immigrant rights protesters managed to disrupt the Pride Parade in 2017.
Phoenix Pride History
Year Dates Theme/Slogan Location Notes
1981 June[1] We Are Here March: Patriots Square Park to Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix Keynote speaker: Lesbian activist Arlie Scott and Leonard Matlovich.[4]
1982 We are Family March: Patriots Square Park to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, Phoenix Keynote speaker: Charlotte Bunch. 17 people walked to the event from Tucson.[4]
1983 Uniting for Freedom, Recognition, and Understanding March: Central Avenue, Phoenix
Rally: Phoenix Civic Plaza (now Phoenix Convention Center), Phoenix 		Keynote speaker: David Clarenbach[4]
1984 Unity and More in ’84 March: Central Avenue, Phoenix
Rally: Phoenix Civic Plaza (now Phoenix Convention Center), Phoenix 		Keynote speaker: Flo Kennedy[4]
1985 Our Future in Our Hands March: Central Avenue, Phoenix Keynote speaker: John Heilman[4]
1986 Phoenix Pride Emerging Event: South Mountain Park, Phoenix Keynote speaker: Cleve Jones[4]
1987 Silent No More / Hands Across the Capitol Rally: Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, Phoenix Participants held hands, and surrounded the Arizona State Capitol.[4]
1988 Unity ’88 Festival: Phoenix Civic Plaza (now Phoenix Convention Center), Phoenix Keynote speaker: Carolyn Warner.[4]
1989 Stonewall Remembered March: Patriots Square Park to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, Phoenix
Rally: Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, Phoenix 		Keynote speaker: Karen Thompson.[4]
1990 A New Decade of Pride Festival: El Lienzo Charro Rodeo Grounds, Phoenix Keynote speaker: Lynn Lavner.[4]
1991 Desert Pride: It’s Hot Festival: Kiwanis Park, Tempe
1992 Pride = Power: A Simple Matter of Justice Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
1993 A Family of Pride Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
1994 Stonewall 25: A Global Celebration of Pride Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe Festival expands to becoming a three-day event.[4]
1995 Discover Pride Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
1996 May 31 – June 2[11] Discover: Pride Without Borders Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
1997 June (Festival)
April (Parade)[4] 		Pride…Equality Through Visibility Festival: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
1998 Pride 98…A Gateway to Change Festival: Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
1999 Millions of Lives…One Voice in Pride Festival: Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix First year of 5K Pride Run[4]
2000 April 14 (Pageant) April 15 (Parade)[12] One Heart, One Mind, One Vision, Take Pride, Take Joy, Take Action Festival: Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix The Transgender Pride Flag made its debut during this year's event.[13]
2001 June What Part of Equal Don't You Understand Festival: Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
2002 For One Day Feel Like the Majority Festival: Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
2003 Let Your Pride Be Your Guide Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix First year the pride parade headed in a northerly direction.[4]
2004 April 3 (Parade)
April 4 (Festival) 		Celebrating Rainbow Flag 25 Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix First ever Phoenix Gay Pride Week proclamation made by then Mayor Phil Gordon.[4]
2005 April 2 (Parade)
April 2–3 (Festival) 		25 Years of Pride in Phoenix Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix 5K Pride Run held on April 3.[4]
2006 April 1 (Parade)
April 1–2 (Festival) 		10th Annual Parade Parade: 3rd Street, Phoenix
Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix 		5K Pride Run held on April 2.[4]
2007 April 14 (Parade)
April 14–15 (Festival) 		Over The Top Parade: 3rd Street, Phoenix
Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix 		5K Pride Run held on April 15.[4]
2008 April 14 (Parade)
April 14–15 (Festival) 		The Celebration Starts Here! (Parade)
More Color, More Voices, More Pride! (Festival)[4] 		Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2009 April 18 (Parade)
April 18–19 (Festival) 		Celebrate Community, Celebrate Family, Celebrate YOU! Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Pride Gala organized for the first time in June, as well as the first OUTdayPHX in October.[4]
2010 April 17 (Parade)
April 17–18 (Festival) 		1 Community. 3 Decades. 4 Pride Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Parade sponsored by Verizon Wireless.[4]
2011 April 16 (Parade)
April 16–17 (Festival) 		Do Ask. Do Tell. Be Proud Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2012 April 21 (Parade)
April 21–22 (Festival) 		Born This Way. Feel It. Live It. Be It. Proud! Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2013 April 6 (Parade)
April 6–7 (Festival) 		Equality & Justice For All Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2014 April 5 (Parade)
April 5–6 (Festival) 		Be Heard, Stay Strong, Be You Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Celebrity Grand Marshal: Brittney Griner[4]
2015 April 12 (Parade)
April 11–12 (Festival) 		Passionate, Powerful & Proud Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Parade moved to a Sunday, for the first time.[4]
2016 April 3 (Parade)
April 2–3 (Festival) 		Community Strong Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2017 April 2 (Parade)
April 1–2 (Festival) 		Stand Up, Stand Proud Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2018 April 8 (Parade)
April 7–8 (Festival) 		United We Stand, Equality For All Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2019 April 7 (Parade)
April 6–7 (Festival) 		Celebrating Progress: Past, Present, and Future Festival: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
2020 Cancelled Celebrating 40 Years of Fortitude Planned: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Event originally scheduled for April 4–5. Originally postponed to November 7–8 due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United States,[8] later rescheduled to 2021, in effect a cancellation.[10]
2021 November 6(Parade)
November 6–7(Festival)[14] 		Celebrating 40 Years of Fortitude Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix Originally scheduled for April 10 and 11, with the parade on April 11.[10] Postponed to November due to ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

Criticism

Activists who disrupted 2017's pride parade have criticized Phoenix Pride as being overly commercialized, in its present form, and accused organizers of straying from its original theme of standing up for the rights of people.[15] Similar criticisms have been leveled against other pride parades around the country.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "1969–1984 · LGBT History in Arizona". ASU Library. Arizona State University. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "1985–1999 · LGBT History in Arizona". ASU Library. Arizona State University. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Battle, Marquaysa (June 1, 2017). "Why Is Pride Month in June? What You Should Know About The Stonewall Riots". Elite Daily. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "History – Phoenix Pride". Phoenix Pride. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Anderson, J. Seth (June 1, 2012). "Gay History from Phoenix – Sunday's Childe". Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions – Phoenix Pride". Phoenix Pride. Retrieved June 30, 2017. While the riots first occurred in June of 1969, and while many communities across the world annually celebrate Pride celebrations or "Pride" in June, the Phoenix community has adjusted the outdoor event to occur in April which is a month more tolerable to most of its residents and visitors due to the heat.
  7. ^ Zipser, Andrew (1981). "Gay and proud: First march for homosexual rights brings hundreds to the streets" (JPG). Phoenix Gazette. Retrieved July 3, 2017.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ a b "Valley event cancellations, closures mount amidst coronavirus pandemic". KSAZ-TV. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Phoenix Pride announces new date for 2020 festival and parade". Phoenix Pride (via Facebook). March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Wong, Kenneth (October 6, 2020). "No Pride Parade in Phoenix for 2020 amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "Arizona Central pride Festival, 1996". ASU Library. Arizona State University. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  12. ^ "One heart one mind one vision! Take pride! Take joy! Take action! 2000". San Diego State University Library Digital Collections. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Sankin, Aaron (November 20, 2012). "Transgender Flag Flies in San Francisco's Castro District After Outrage From Activists". HuffPost. Oath Inc. Retrieved July 17, 2017. The trans flag was created by Monica Helms, a transgender woman, in 1999. It was first flown at a pride parade in Phoenix, Ariz., the following year.
  14. ^ a b Wong, Kenneth (February 19, 2021). "Phoenix Pride rescheduled yet again due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; will now take place in November". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Farzan, Antonia Noori (March 31, 2017). "Is Phoenix Pride Getting Too Corporate?". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Morash, Alex (April 26, 2017). "Pride Fests Too Corporate, in Danger of Being Left Behind". The Advocate. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
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