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
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
One of two button designs for Pride 1990
The other button design from 1990
