PrideFest St. Louis is an annual LGBT pride event in St. Louis, Missouri. The event is organized by Pride St. Louis, an LGBT non-profit organization in the Greater St. Louis area.
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
The 2018 event took place on June 23[2] once again in Downtown Saint Louis, at Soldiers Memorial. The theme was "Remember. Rise. Respect."[3]Angelica Ross was Grand Marshal.
The 2019 event - They have taken down the STL city flag during Pride month and replaced it with the transgender and gay flag. The parade's Grand Marshal, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, resigned after the decision to ask police to not wear uniforms in the parade was reversed.[4]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, 2020 celebrations were conducted virtually. Organizers originally planned for a live, in-person PrideFest in 2021 but again due to COVID-19 the live event was postponed until 2022.[5]
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 did not 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.[6]
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.[6]
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.[6]
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.[7][8]
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.
^"Pride St. Louis Announces Dates, Location, Theme for PrideFest 2017". #Boom Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
^"PrideSTL Announces 2018 PrideFest Dates, Location, and Seeks Community Input on Theme". #Boom Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
^"PrideFest 2018: "Remember, Rise, Respect" – St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee". stlcitydems.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
^Moore, Alexis. "Metro Trans Umbrella Group Leaves St. Louis PrideFest Parade Over Police Marching In Uniform". news.stlpublicradio.org. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
^"PrideFest postponed this year in St. Louis". ksdk.com. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
^ abcd"About - PrideFest 2018 | Saint Louis". Retrieved 2018-05-09.
^ abBrawley, Steven L. "Pride". www.stlouislgbthistory.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
^Moore, Doug. "PrideFest moves to downtown St. Louis, with parade down Market Street". stltoday.com. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
External links
Pride St. Louis official site
March 11, 2023
louis, pridefest, pridefest, louis, annual, lgbt, pride, event, louis, missouri, event, organized, pride, louis, lgbt, profit, organization, greater, louis, area, rainbow, trans, flag, flying, above, city, hall, june, 2017, contents, overview, history, festiva. PrideFest St Louis is an annual LGBT pride event in St Louis Missouri The event is organized by Pride St Louis an LGBT non profit organization in the Greater St Louis area Rainbow amp Trans flag flying above City Hall June 2017 Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Festival 3 1 Location 3 2 Attendance 4 Parade 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOverview EditPrideFest 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 JuneThe 2017 event took place on June 23 1 with Cleve Jones as the parade s Grand Marshal The 2018 event took place on June 23 2 once again in Downtown Saint Louis at Soldiers Memorial The theme was Remember Rise Respect 3 Angelica Ross was Grand Marshal The 2019 event They have taken down the STL city flag during Pride month and replaced it with the transgender and gay flag The parade s Grand Marshal Metro Trans Umbrella Group resigned after the decision to ask police to not wear uniforms in the parade was reversed 4 Due to the COVID 19 pandemic in the United States 2020 celebrations were conducted virtually Organizers originally planned for a live in person PrideFest in 2021 but again due to COVID 19 the live event was postponed until 2022 5 History EditWhat became known as the St Louis Lesbian amp Gay Pride Celebration Committee began in 1979 but the first St Louis Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration did not 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 amp Gay Pride Celebration Committee 6 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 6 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 6 Festival EditLocation Edit 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 7 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 7 8 Attendance Edit Year Estimated attendance 6 2011 85 0002012 100 000 2014 150 0002015 200 000 2017 300 0002020 virtualParade EditThe 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 See also EditLGBT culture in St Louis LGBT rights in MissouriReferences Edit Pride St Louis Announces Dates Location Theme for PrideFest 2017 Boom Magazine Retrieved 2018 05 09 PrideSTL Announces 2018 PrideFest Dates Location and Seeks Community Input on Theme Boom Magazine Retrieved 2018 05 09 PrideFest 2018 Remember Rise Respect St Louis City Democratic Central Committee stlcitydems com Retrieved 2018 05 09 Moore Alexis Metro Trans Umbrella Group Leaves St Louis PrideFest Parade Over Police Marching In Uniform news stlpublicradio org Retrieved 2019 10 14 PrideFest postponed this year in St Louis ksdk com 9 April 2021 Retrieved 2021 07 19 a b c d About PrideFest 2018 Saint Louis Retrieved 2018 05 09 a b Brawley Steven L Pride www stlouislgbthistory com Retrieved 2018 05 09 Moore Doug PrideFest moves to downtown St Louis with parade down Market Street stltoday com Retrieved 2018 05 09 External links EditPride St Louis official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Louis PrideFest amp oldid 1120952509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
