St. Louis PrideFest

Rainbow & Trans flag flying above City Hall; June 2017

PrideFest St. Louis is an annual LGBT pride event in Saint Louis, Missouri. The event is organized by Pride St. Louis, an LGBT non-profit organization in the Greater St. Louis area.

The 2017 event took place on June 23rd[1], with Cleve Jones as the parade's Grand Marshal.

The 2018 event will take place on June 23rd[2] once again in Downtown Saint Louis, at Soldiers Memorial. The theme will be "Remember. Rise. Respect."[3]

Overview

PrideFest St. Louis began in 1980 as the St. Louis Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration. The theme began as "Celebration of Lesbian and Gay Pride" in 1980 and 1981, and changes yearly. The event is held annually during the last full weekend of June.

History

What became known as the St. Louis Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration Committee began in 1979, but the first St. Louis Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration didn’t occur until 1980. This event was sponsored by the Magnolia Committee – named for the street where the majority of the members lived and had their meetings. Their combined effort with a second organization resulted in a week's worth of activities held in April 1980. At the end of the week, hundreds gathered for “The Lesbians and Gays Walk for Charity” which went down Lindell Boulevard in the Central West End to Washington University’s quadrangle. These two combined groups then became the St. Louis Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration Committee.[4]

At the same time, writer Jim Thomas invited representatives from organizations around town to a meeting to begin discussions for an annual celebration. It was to be held in June as a tribute to the Stonewall Riots which occurred the last weekend of June in 1969. Each participating organization, still able to keep their identity in individual events, would form a larger group – creating a greater whole. At the time, the celebration consisted of a picnic in the beginning of the week and a march at the end.[4]

Thus began a tradition which is still strong today in St. Louis. June is now known as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, and since the first PrideFest in 1981, the event has grown in size, attendance, and scope.[4]

Festival

Location

In the 1980s and 1990s, Pride was held in the Central West End and Forest Park. By the late 1990s, festivities were moved to Tower Grove Park.[5]

In 2013, PrideFest and the annual parade moved to downtown St. Louis. It has since been held at Soldiers Memorial, with the support of local officials, LGBT organizations, and the City of Saint Louis.[5][6]

Attendance

In 2011, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch estimated an attendance of 85,000 attendees over PrideFest weekend.[4]

In 2012, attendance was estimated at 100,000+ over two days; it was also the longest parade in the organization's history.[4]

In 2014, Pride St. Louis saw over 150,000 attendees along with an estimated 90,000 parade-goers. The Festival layout grew to feature over 160 vendors and sponsors with two entertainment stages, a children’s area, Athletes Village and more.[4]

In 2015, the Festival topped record numbers once again and reached over 200,000 spectators and attendees.[4]

In 2017, an estimated 300,000 people attended PrideFest.[4]

Parade

The Pride Parade has served as a method for legislators and candidates to illustrate their support of the LGBT community. The parade also serves as a means to showcase the creative talents and service hundreds of LGBT-friendly businesses, non-profit organizations, and community groups, as they spread their message to all who attend.

When on South Grand, the parade started from South Grand Blvd and Utah Street, passing Arsenal Street to Tower Grove Park. The parade route is now along Market Street in Downtown St. Louis.

References

  1. ↑ "Pride St. Louis Announces Dates, Location, Theme for PrideFest 2017". #Boom Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  2. ↑ "PrideSTL Announces 2018 PrideFest Dates, Location, and Seeks Community Input on Theme". #Boom Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  3. ↑ "PrideFest 2018: "Remember, Rise, Respect" – St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee". stlcitydems.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "About - PrideFest 2018 | Saint Louis". Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  5. 1 2 Brawley, Steven L. "Pride". www.stlouislgbthistory.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  6. ↑ Moore, Doug. "PrideFest moves to downtown St. Louis, with parade down Market Street". stltoday.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
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