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The judge was Miles Lord.īurke: We were skeptical any judge or city council was going to give us a permit until the case got assigned to Miles Lord - randomly, I think. Peck: The Gay Pride Committee went to the Civil Liberties Union, which sued the city of Minneapolis in U.S. It sends a message that Minneapolis is a gay town. They fear their children might be converted to that lifestyle. Walt Dziedzic, Minneapolis City Council member, speaking in 1981: People with six kids like me fear that lifestyle. Council President Alice Rainville famously said, “This will turn Minneapolis into the San Francisco of the wheat belt,” and we were like, “Yeah, that sounds good.” Dennis Schulstad, who was the most conservative, gay-hating member, opposed it on moral grounds. Some on the City Council opposed the permit because of traffic and crime issues. Later that year, we sought a permit for 1981 Pride, and that was also turned down. Peck: We filed for a block-party permit in 1980 and the Minneapolis City Council turned it down, which was a slap in the face, because the city had closed Hennepin for other groups. I said, “They’re never going to give us a permit,” and he said, “Why not?” “Cruising Into the ’80s” was the most controversial a lot of people hated it.īurke: At one point, Brad Golden said he wanted to have a block party on Hennepin Avenue. The themes included “An Army of Lovers,” that was from Walt Whitman. Peck: We raised money back then by selling $2 Pride buttons. We tried it one year - charged a dollar to go to the festival. In Minnesota, people wouldn’t come if they had to pay. Tretter: Other festivals charge to get in. We scheduled it on the day before the parade, and quickly learned that was wrong because everyone was so hung over and sunburned that nobody showed up the next day.
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We wanted a beach party down by the river, which was a cruise-y area, the river flats down there, south of Franklin Avenue. But we wanted it to be something people wanted to come to. Tom Burke: Our attitude was that Pride was inherently political. It was proud people holding signs and saying: Yes, we’re here, and we’re good. McConnell: Those first years were celebrations. That’s what I’ve always loved about Pride, feeling that web of connection. The political component was still there, but it was fun, it became a celebration, a time to socialize, see old friends and make new ones. Paul as a place to try to win the repeal of an early gay rights ordinance.Īnyone who was a Target City Coalition regular was duty bound to help out with Pride, which had been more like a march and a protest rally, and then it evolved.
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I got involved because my old boyfriend Bob Bruneau became the treasurer of Target City Coalition, a 1970s activist group formed to combat antigay crusader and orange juice spokester Anita Bryant. It wasn’t just one focus.Ĭlaude Peck: It was all very grassroots. There was a lesbian resource center at that time and some very brave women held it and we marched for all social causes. Meadow Muska: Many lesbians, we had been marching for everybody - for children who are hungry, Native American rights, African American rights.