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.

Parade at Main and 13th.

Reverend Perry

Rally at Liberty Memorial base.

Post-parade rally