Noho Pride

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Noho Pride was an annual LGBT pride event, consisting of a parade and a rally, held in Northampton, Massachusetts in early May. It was first held in 1982, and then every year afterwards until 2020.

1982-1988[edit]

Noho Pride started as the Northampton Lesbian and Gay Liberation March, which was first held in May 1982.[1] The march was organized in response to harassment that LGBTQ residents were facing and to legislation which denied money to groups that "promoted homosexuality".[1][2][3] The march was organized by the Gay and Lesbian Activists (GALA), who consisted of local residents.[1] Marchers walked from the Bridge Street School to Pulaski Park.[2] They faced backlash, with marchers having eggs thrown at them from windows and by passersby.[1] Educators who joined the march wore paper bags over their heads to disguise their identities, as they could be fired if their employers knew they were gay.[1] In 1983 an estimated 1-2,000 people were expected to attend.[4]

In 1984 GALA was denied a permit by the city, and they filed a lawsuit in response. The Hampshire Superior Court threw out the city's parade ordinance.[5] The 1985 march was attended by about 1,500 people.[6]

1989-1999[edit]

In early 1989 conflicts arose after the event's name was changed to the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual March (although bisexuals had been included since at least 1986).[7][8][9] Lesbian activists feared the inclusion of bisexuality would lead to the decentering or exclusion of lesbian speakers and activism.[8] The name was changed back in 1990, but disagreements continued on the extent to which bisexuality should be included in the event, with some bisexual individuals boycotting the march.[8][10][11] The event's name was again changed to the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Pride March in 1992.[8][12] In 1993 the name was again expanded to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride March.[8][13]

2000-2020[edit]

By 2000, the event's planning committee was named Northampton Pride March, Inc.[14] In 2004 an estimated 10,000 people turned up to the event to celebrate the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.[15]

2011 marked the event's 30th anniversary, during which Robyn Ochs served as the event's first openly bisexual grand marshal.[16] One group, the Queer Insurgency Collective, protested the supposed commercialization, racially homogenous, and apolitical nature of the event.[17]

As of 2014, the event cost an estimated $30,000 to put on.[18]

An estimated 30,000 people attended the event in 2017.[19]

In 2019 the event drew between 30,000 and 35,000 people.[20] In 2020 the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a virtual 'parade' was still held.[21][22] During the following years the event struggled to reorganize, and in 2023 the event was replaced by Hampshire Pride.[23]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Thurlow, Emily (8 May 2022). "'We have to keep fighting': History of Noho Pride celebrated 40 years on". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Marching on Main Street". HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. ^ Wilson, Sue Young (7 May 1989). "Marchers step out for 'pride'". The Republican. pp. A1. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ Blomberg, Marcia (9 May 1983). "Mayor Musante disbands gay task force". Springfield Union. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. ^ Van Arsdale, Sarah (28 April 1995). "Gays and lesbians prepare for march". Springfield Union. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. ^ Van Arsdale, Sarah (5 May 1985). "Lesbians, gay men march in Hamp'". Springfield Union. p. 3. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. ^ Sathanson, Jessica (2001-10-17). "Pride and Politics". Journal of Bisexuality. 2 (2–3): 143–161. doi:10.1300/J159v02n02_10. ISSN 1529-9716. S2CID 143296285.
  8. ^ a b c d e Hemmings, Clare (2002). Bisexual spaces : a geography of sexuality and gender. New York. pp. 67–71. ISBN 978-1-317-79513-1. OCLC 863158089.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Northampton Open Media (2022-05-04). "Northampton MA's Gay Pride, March 1986". YouTube. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. ^ Contrada, Fred (3 May 1990). "Bisexuals may protest exclusion from march title". The Republican. p. 29. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  11. ^ Munoz, Natalia (14 April 1991). "'Hamp bisexuals miffed at parade". The Republican. pp. A15. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Hampshire Briefs". The Republican. 9 May 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  13. ^ Contrada, Fred (24 March 1993). "Pride march expands to include everyone". The Republican. p. 12. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  14. ^ Contrada, Fred (5 May 2000). "Pride is both means, end for groups on the march". The Republican. pp. T02. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  15. ^ Bergengren, David (2 May 2004). "10,000 rally for gay pride, rights". The Republican. pp. A19. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Robyn Ochs". Robyn Ochs. 2013-09-15. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  17. ^ Stabile, Lori (2011-05-08). "Northampton Pride March celebrates 30 years". Masslive. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  18. ^ Contrada, Fred (2014-04-09). "Northampton Pride March speaker knows the history of the event". Masslive. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  19. ^ Hughes, Morgan (6 May 2017). "Northampton Pride Parade defies rain, marches on". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  20. ^ Smith, Steve (2019-05-05). "Northampton Pride Parade 2019 draws 35,000 (photos)". masslive. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  21. ^ Jochem, Greta (29 April 2020). "Northampton festival is off, but NoHo PRIDE still shows". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Northampton Pride May's Virtual Parade". The Rainbow Times. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  23. ^ "Northampton Pride". Explore Western Mass. 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
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