40 Years of Pride – Part 12

The parade associated with the 1992 Pride Celebration was billed as the only Pride Parade in the country to span two states.  Granted, it started on a state line and was only about a mile-and-a-half, but still.  Gathering in Westwood, Kansas, near 48th and State Line, the parade marched north to 47th and then east through the Country Club Plaza, ending at Southmoreland Park.

1992 Pride Parade route

1992 Pride Parade route

 

 

 

 

 

 

1992 Pride logo

1992 Pride logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GALA entry in the Parade

GALA entry in the Parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride Week events

Pride Week events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1992 Pride Guide

1992 Pride Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protests greeted parade marchers, primarily from members and supporters of FIRED-UP, the local anti-gay organization founded by local right-wing Christians.  In addition, a lawsuit was filed against the mayor of Westwood for proclaiming Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, and his response was to subsequently issue a tongue-in-cheek proclamation announcing “Heterosexual and Moral Living Month”.  This anti-gay sentiment was in part responsible for record crowds at both the Parade and the Picnic that year.

40 Years of Pride – Part 11

The 1991 Pride Celebration was almost no celebration at all.  The event was engulfed with political controversy and community rancor.

It the year between the 1990 and 1991 Celebrations, there was much civic and political energy and complementary media attention around attempts to pass a city ordinance that would ban discrimination in housing and employment against gays, lesbians, and those afflicted with HIV/AIDS.  Heated City Council and committee debates had occurred all year, and a watered-down version of the full ordinance passed the Council in November of 1990.  It extended full protection only to those with HIV/AIDS, and even then only to comply with the recently passed federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Kansas City Star, April 26, 1990

Kansas City Star, April 26, 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kansas City Star, May 11, 1990

Kansas City Star, May 11, 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kansas City Star, November 11, 1990

Kansas City Star, November 11, 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Cleaver was elected mayor the following spring, after actively seeking the gay and lesbian community’s support in light of the impressive performance in the primary election by activist Jon Barnett, who ran for city council as an out gay man and garnered over 7,000 votes.  Despite his courting of the community, Cleaver decided against proclaiming June 15-23 Gay and Lesbian Pride Week.  Out of town when the decision was announced, a mayoral spokesman stated “It is his feeling that the issuance of such a proclamation would serve as a divisive force in our community and work against creating an inclusive and harmonious city”.  The discord referred to was evident in the flood of calls to City Hall against the proclamation, the Pride Celebration, and gays and lesbians in general, spearheaded by one Connie Cierpiot, host of a local Christian radio show and leader of the anti-gay group FIRED-UP (Freedom Involves Responsibility Exposing Decadence and Upholding Principle).

To make matters worse, Cleaver later announced he was cancelling his original plans to attend the Pride picnic and parade out of concern for his safety.  The feelings of betrayal this act engendered were made worse by Cleaver’s decision to attend the annual Jewel Ball on the Friday night before Pride.  Normally it wouldn’t have mattered, but the organizers of the all-white debutante ball had neglected to send the Mayor an invitation and hand-delivered it just three days before the event.  Cleaver and his wife would have been the first African-Americans attend in the event’s thirty-seven year history.  These actions were seen by many in the gay and lesbian community as examples of long-standing Kansas City segregation and racism, and they were infuriated that the Mayor would kowtow to it.

So the day of the parade and picnic arrived, and Cleaver backtracked once again and wisely attended the picnic.  He was cheered when he took the stage at Southmoreland Park and gave a rousing and dramatic speech.

Picnic crowd awaits Mayor Cleaver

Picnic crowd awaits Mayor Cleaver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mayor Cleaver approaches the stage with community activist Keith Spare to his right.

Mayor Cleaver approaches the stage with community activist Keith Spare to his right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Himself an ordained, practicing minister, Cleaver stated that “every single living being in this community must be respected…Over the past three weeks I have listened to people who call themselves Christian.  And in the same sentence, they have the theological audacity to speak of other children of God as if they were trash.  The God I serve ‘don’t make no trash'”.

Cleaver onstage.

Cleaver onstage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His words were met with resounding cheers.

The crowd responds.

The crowd responds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even Mrs. Cleaver was caught up in the moment, taking the stage with a smile and nodding toward the Nelson-Atkins Museum across the street, site of the previous evening’s Jewel Ball:  “After attending the Jewel Ball last night, I had to come to the high point of my weekend here today”.

The Cleavers’ appearance at the Pride Celebration not only healed wounds in the community, it had tangible results as well.  During his speech, Cleaver announced the formation of an official commission to investigate the status of gays and lesbians in Kansas City and charged it with reporting back to him in sixty days.  The commission’s work would greatly influence the passage of the non-discrimination ordinance in 1993.

40 Years of Pride – Part 10

By 1991, members of GALA were becoming more sophisticated in their efforts to raise funds for the annual Pride Celebration.  That year they offered a 16-month calendar entitled “Kansas City Prime”, featuring beefcake photos of area men:

Travis, also the model for June

Travis, also the model for June

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug

Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff and Don

Jeff and Don

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave and Paul

Dave and Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug

Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tommy

Tommy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles

Charles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blair

Blair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.D. and Steve

J.D. and Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John

John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim and Gerry

Tim and Gerry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no record of a corresponding calendar for the women’s community.

 

 

40 Years of Pride – Part 9

Kansas City’s 1990 Pride Celebration built on the success of the previous two years’ events and saw the return of a parade to the festivities.  Papers from Gay and Lesbian Awareness, the organizers of Pride events during this period, indicate strong anti-parade sentiments when the subject was initially introduced in the fall of 1989.  It was noted that when rumors of TV cameras at the 1989 Picnic spread, the crowd dissipated in quick fashion.  Many Kansas Citians of 1989/90 were limited in the extent to which they wanted to be out.  But GALA organizers were able to make a successful case for the Parade, and it was a significant component of that year’s commemoration.

1990 Pride Parade route

1990 Pride Parade route

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior reticence about marching in a parade evidently disappeared, as there were 29 entries in the 1990 Pride Parade!  Businesses such as Phoenix Books and The Cabaret were represented, as were more unexpected organizations such as the Rainbow Society for the Deaf, the Onyx Society – A Minority HIV-Challenged Organization, and a local chapter of Dykes on Bykes.  Grand Marshals were Susan Johnson and Keith Spare.

The 1990Pride Picnic and Parade program

The 1990Pride Picnic and Parade program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of two button designs for Pride 1990

One of two button designs for Pride 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride-1990-Button-blk

The other button design from 1990

 

40 Years of Pride – Part 8

After the impressive array of Pride Week activities, the 1989 Gay Pride Picnic proved to be the perfect way to celebrate GALA’s achievements and bring the community together.  Once again held in Southmoreland Park, the Picnic mirrored that of the year before, in that it was grassroots in feeling and offered attendees casual forms of entertainment like volleyball and other games.  Expansion of the event was evident in the roster of talent that performed, including

  • The Blues Broads
  • Linda Corbin
  • Heartland Men’s Chorus
  • Scott Hegenbart, making a repeat appearance
  • Kansas City Women’s Chorus
  • Peaches
  • Rosalind Smith
  • Excerpts from The Ten Percent Revue
  • Two Turned On

As in previous years, performers were coordinated by Willow Productions.

Over 1,000 people attended the Picnic, a testament to the organizational and promotional abilities of members of GALA.

Pride logo, created by Marc Hein

Pride logo, created by Marc Hein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volleyball action

Volleyball action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a warm day

It was a warm day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Pierce, of Gay Services Network

Steve Pierce, of Gay Services Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strolling Picnic attendees

Strolling Picnic attendees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stationery Picnic attendees

Stationary Picnic attendees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pink Triangle Political Coalition table

 

Saturday night, after the Picnic, organizers hosted a dance they called “The Great Coming Out Party”.  It was held at the VFW Hall at 31st and Walnut, and included a drag show featuring entertainers such as Myrna Vonn, Sandy Kaye, Renee Scott, and Lilly White.

Flyer for The Great Coming Out Party

One of the reasons the 1989 Pride Celebration in Kansas City was so extensive was because it marked the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, seen by many as the inauguration of the gay rights movement.  It was the first commemoration of Stonewall in 1970 that led to the evolution of annual Pride celebrations across the country, and during this special anniversary year Kansas City held its own in appropriately celebrating the historic event.

 

40 Years of Pride – Part 7

GALA members responsible for the 1988 Gay and Lesbian Awareness Picnic took the lessons learned from that project and applied them to create even greater success in 1989. They held numerous fundraisers throughout the year, the biggest being the “Button Nite Blowout”, and expanded version of the previous year’s sole fundraising event. More bars participated than in the previous year, with special offers for the button wearers:

  • Cabaret and Taps– 50¢ off any drink
  • The Windjammer – 25¢ schnapps or tequila shots
  • Connections – 50¢ schnapps shots
  • The Other Side – 25¢ schnapps shots
  • View on the Hill – two schnapps shots for 50¢
  • Legends – one free cocktail

Over $1,000 was raised that evening for the Pride festivities.

Bar.10.Kon Tiki

Kon-Tiki Lounge, 3253 Main (now the site of Costco and Home Depot)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organizers planned an entire week of activities, culminating in the “2nd Annual Gay Pride Picnic”, again held in Southmoreland Park. Other events included:

The Stonewall Arts Festival, held at the Foundry, 2805 Southwest Boulevard, was presented by ACT-UP Kansas City, the local chapter of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, as a fundraiser for GALA. Featuring visual art and performance pieces, the Festival was held Friday, June 16 and drew a substantial crowd.

Stonewall Arts Festival flyer

Stonewall Arts Festival flyer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participating visual artists included Bert Provost, Craig Bruns, Roy De Cries, Christopher Leitch, and Kurt Von Schlemmer. Some of the performers that night were Kacey Carlson, Scott Cordes, Kate Burn, and Davina Gabriel. Ms. Gabriel’s first piece featured a recitation of the famous poem “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg in its entirety and entirely from memory!

A production of The Ten Percent Revue was launched during Pride Week at the Quality Hill Playhouse. The show featured a series of songs that addressed a wide range of gay-related issues, from the AIDS crisis to lesbian motherhood, with poignancy and humor.

Cover of Alternate News

Cover of Alternate News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the Stonewall Arts Festival, ACT-UP Kansas City also sponsored a Public Rally on the steps of City Hall on Friday June 23, urging “all who are ready to be publicly visible and want to express their outrage over the city’s response to AIDS…to join at City Hall and participate in whatever fashion they feel comfortable.”

Flyer promoting the rally

Flyer promoting the rally

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon Barnett addressing the crowd

ACT-UP co-founder Jon Barnett addressing the crowd

Rally participants at City Hall

Rally participants at City Hall

Rally participants

Rally participants

Banner displayed at the top of City Hall

Banner displayed at the top of City Hall

40 Years of Pride – Part 6

The Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that took place in October of 1987 drew 500,000 participants, including a contingent from Kansas City. The energy from that event resonated with attendees long after it was over, leading to a resurgence in political activism and awareness-building across the country. Locally, the March led to the formation of the Pink Triangle Political Coalition in early 1988, and within that organization a committee called Gay and Lesbian Awareness (GALA) was created that would be directly responsible for organizing local Pride events.

PTPC Brochure

Pink Triangle Political Coalition Brochure

When the decision was made to host a Pride event, GALA had only two months of planning time. One of the fundraisers they held was a “Button Nite”, at which Pride buttons were given to people who donated at least $1. Participating bars included The Windjammer, Kon Tiki, Frisco, Jamie’s, The Other Side, Changes, and Twylite Zone.

The Gay and Lesbian Awareness Picnic was held in June of 1988 in Southmoreland Park, just west of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Approximately 150-200 people from Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis were in attendance.

Picnic people

Picnic people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More picnic people

More Picnic people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were entertained by pianist Scott Hegenbart and the musical group Rosie’s Bar and Grill. Local activist and future City Council member Carol Coe gave a powerful speech on the influence of gay people in politics.

Scott

Scott Hegenbart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott performing

Scott performing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community play was encouraged by the presence of volleyball and a water balloon toss.

Volleyball

Volleyball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More volleyball

More volleyball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balloon toss

Balloon toss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't let it break!

Don’t let it break!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though small by today’s standards, the 1988 Gay and Lesbian Awareness Picnic reinvigorated the local community and set the stage for much larger community-based celebrations over the next few years.

40 Years of Pride – Part 5

This poster is the only object in GLAMA from early to mid-1980s Pride celebrations.  It appears from the graphic that the event(s) took place at Liberty Memorial or Penn Valley Park, but that has yet to be confirmed.  If you can help us with details about this or other Pride events from the period – better yet, if you have related stuff you want to donate – let us know!

Pride-1982

40 Years of Pride – Part 4

After the Friday night parade and rally, the Pride Celebration weekend of 1979 continued with a Gay Pride Dinner and Dance on Saturday night.  Sponsored by the Metropolitan Community Church and held at All Soul’s Unitarian Church, nearly 150 people enjoyed a homemade meal and listened to rousing speeches by Kansas City Councilman Jerry Riffel and Reverend Troy Perry.

Sunday, the festivities culminated with Hoedown!, a picnic and dance party hosted by Taurus Productions and Club Midwest.  The day-long event was held on a farm in Gardner, Kansas, and participants feasted on corn-on-the-cob, salad, and an entire side of beef that was roasted for most of the day.  In addition, twelve kegs of beer and a dozen ripe watermelon were also consumed!

Pride-1979-0008

“Gerry”, one of the Hoedown! chefs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride-1979

Hoedown participants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ravenous revelers were also treated to live country music by Elk River Biscuits and Gravy Band and recorded disco music DJ-ed by Steve Jones, better known to the community as Wanda Lust, the VD Queen who traveled to bars and community events testing for venereal diseases on behalf of the Kansas City Public Health Department.

Hoedown! dancers

Hoedown! dancers

40 Years of Pride – Part 3

The late 70s saw a burgeoning of pride and Pride in Kansas City, and 1979 was no different.  The weekend of June 15-17 presented a raft of opportunities for gay and lesbian Kansas Citians to march, rally, eat, drink, and be merry.  To kick things off a parade was held on Friday night, starting at 7:00 at Liberty Memorial.  Three blocks in length, the parade made its way up Grand to 11th Street, west on 11th to Main, then south on Main back to Liberty Memorial, where paraders and onlookers gathered for a rally.  The parade marshal was Reverend Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, who spoke briefly at the rally.  Parade organizers had planned on using a horse-drawn carriage for Reverend Perry, but couldn’t secure an appropriate horse.  So, the carriage was transformed into the “human-drawn” variety.

Pride-1979-1

Parade at Main and 13th.

Pride-1979-7

Reverend Perry

Pride-1979-3

Rally at Liberty Memorial base.

Pride-1979-6

Post-parade rally