Cleveland’s first unofficial gay pride march took place in July 1972 and was sponsored by the Cleveland Gay Activist Alliance. The march began outside of The Change, 1510 Prospect Avenue. Participants departed from The Change and marched “to Public Square along Euclid Avenue.” Over 70 people participated.
No gay pride marches were held in Cleveland in 1973-1975. Though the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) sponsored a gay pride celebration in 1975, Cleveland did not have another gay pride march until the MCC sponsored the city’s second second gay pride march in 1976.
Additional information coming soon.
Resources
- “Cleveland’s Second Gay Pride.” High Gear. August 1976. Page 10.
- “John Nosek and Leon Stevens Interview, 15 August 2023.” Cleveland Voices.
- Negron, Sidney. “Pride in Cleveland.” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- Nosek, John, and Leon Stevens. “Gay Community 1970s.” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- Schneck, Ken. LGBTQ Cleveland. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2018. Page 54.