Source: Diana Davies photographs, 1965-1978 / Christopher Street Liberation Day, 1970
It’s Pride Week in New York City, and celebrations are already underway on Christopher Street. The first official Pride March took place in 1970, one year after the infamous Stonewall Riots of 1969. Marchers started at Christopher Street and marched up 6th Avenue to the Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park. In essence, they were coming out of the village (coming “out of the closet”) and into mainstream Manhattan. A sign of strength and visibility.
Over the years, Pride has grown and changed. Celebrated today all around the world (and sometimes still referred to as Christopher Street Day like in Germany), today’s New York City Pride is referred to as a Parade and not a March. Many argue that the political component of Pride has gotten lost over the years, specifically making mention of the change in direction of the parade route. The Pride Parade now begins Uptown and marches down 5th Avenue, before turning onto Christopher Street and ending at the Hudson Piers.
Regardless of feelings on the actual effectiveness of today’s Pride Parade message, it continues to be a day when people – gay and straight, young and old – gather together to remember and reflect on how the LGBT community has grown and together celebrate diversity and individuality. With the announcement of Cher joining part of this year’s festivities, estimates for attendance this year are said to be in the millions.
For me, Pride is a time to celebrate the story of Christopher Street. To go back to locations that have been key to its evolution. And most importantly, to celebrate the people of the West Village and beyond, who have made sacrifices that make my own life possible. To never forget how far we have come.
In keeping with this celebration of pride, I will be out on Christopher Street all week, handing out free fragrance samples of Christopher Street and talking more about its past (and the pivotal role it continues to play in our future). Each day, I will reveal a specific location I will be at, where you can come and meet me and get a chance to experience the scent in a place that was key to its development. Come be part of the story.
On this scorcher of a Monday (June 24,2013), I will be at Jefferson Market Garden (at the start of Christopher Street on 6th Avenue behind the New York Public Library in Jefferson Market Courthouse) from 2pm-4pm. Once there, I will send out messages through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help you locate me. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Happy Christopher Street Pride!!!!
(For those of you not in New York City this week, please follow us on Facebook and stayed turned for details on Friday, June 28, on how you too can become part of the celebrations as well as score a free sample of Christopher Street.)
