Gay Pride and you

It all started in late May 1970 when Morris Kight asked if Troy Perry would read the advocate article about the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. He wanted them to meet up with Reverend Humphries to see it they could find a way to memorialize them in Los Angeles. Three nights later over coffee at Troy Perry's house they decided on a parade.

According to an article I read, the guys went to the police and filled out an application for permit. Aftr about two hours of debate, then-chief-of-police Ed Davis said, "As far as I am concerned, granting a permit to a group of homosexuals to parade down Hollywood Boulevard would be the same as giving a permit to thieves and murderers!"

The police would agree to a permit only if they took out liability insurance totalling $1.5 million and posted a $1,500 bond. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, they took their request for a permit to a county superior court judge, who not only granted it - without requiring a bond or insurance - but also required the police to provide them protection! Class act!

On Sunday afternoon, June 28, 1970, the first LGBT Pride Parade in LA began at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and McCadden Place. About 1200 homos marched and staffed the floats while 1,500 others showed up to watch.

The first pride parade in LA gave homos then a political edge. Never again would the police or anyone tried to stop their movement frighten them. They made up their minds that year to show our pride with parades and demonstrations. And they've never looked back.


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It's Jordin Sparks!! Our new American Idol!!

Only 17 and already sparkling...!

Just short of a spark and Blake Lewis lost tonight. Jordin Sparks won with This Is My Now, a song written especially for her. Like A Moment Like This written for Kelly Clarkson and I Believe for Fantasia, the gospelic This Is My Now soars well above C flat at the end, giving Jordin the greenlight to nail it and finish it off with a satisfying punch. Blake was wiped out and gone. Jordin retained a spark of decency and provided the much needed spark to end the season. And, as we had naturally expected, she sparkled in the spotlight tonight, ending what was seemed as one of the most boring finales yet. Kelly Clarkson gave a half-hearted performances, Rueben Studdard was still the same and Carrie Underwood's singing was inspiring. Taylor Hicks rocked it well but still didn't give it all. I wish Fantasia was there. She would have rocked it hard and brought the house down! What do you homos think?