Pittsburgh Pride

Pittsburgh’s first Pride Parade occurred on June 17, 1973, only four years after the Stonewall riots in New York City.  About 150 marchers trekked uphill from Market Square to Flagstaff Hill in Oakland. The day before, Gay Alternatives Pittsburgh (GAP) chartered a local streetcar. The queer streetcar traveled from Market Square through Castle Shannon, Dormont, Beechview, and back to downtown. That evening a dance was held at the Unitarian Church.
In the following years, an event was held annually in June, with the parade route changing from year to year. 
In the wake of the Aids epidemic in the 80s, no Pride parades occurred until a renaissance trek in May 1991 when 500 queers and friends traveled to the Point from the Civic Arena. 
1992 marked a parade apex with nearly 1,000 marchers.
In 2001, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) took over Pride, organizing and moving the event in Schenley Meadow. 
In 2002, ample participation in the parade pushed the crowd size to an estimated 10,000 people.
In 2003, Pittsburgh marked 30 years of celebrating Pride with a parade and street festival in Shadyside. Leading up to PrideFest was a series of activities, including the Unity Ball, the 2nd annual Mr. Pittsburgh Drag King Pageant, a Pride Run/Walk, and a performance by the gay/lesbian sketch comedy/cabaret trio Unitard.
In 2005, the parade snaked through downtown, across the Allegheny River to Riverfront Park on the North Shore. New to the parade was the Doggie Drag Creative Costume Contest. A children’s activity area was added for the first time, and Pride Night at PNC Park was held the prior week.
In 2006, the Pride Awareness March kicked off downtown and included PA Governor. New this year was the addition of a 2nd stage. 
In 2007, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was the first Pittsburgh Mayor to ever grace the festival stage. 

For full details on Pittsburgh Pride, be sure to check out the official event program. Happy Pride!