Vermont Pride History
Vermont's Rich History of Liberation
A Legacy of Resistance and Community Care
Pride Vermont has been a staple of the 2STLGBQIA+ community in Vermont for over forty years. Since its inception in 1983, it - like the community it celebrates - has undergone many changes.
The first major Pride parade in Vermont, named by organizers the "Lesbian & Gay Pride March", took place on June 25th, 1983 in downtown Burlington. Held almost exactly fourteen years after the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, nearly 350 people marched down Saint Paul Street then gathered in City Hall Park to celebrate. The largest and most successful LGBTQ+ event in the state to date, the Lesbian & Gay Pride March of 1983 set the stage for increasingly visible and organized Pride celebration for years to come.
While not the first public resistance to discrimination against trans and queer rights, the Stonewall Uprising fouurteen years before was a turning point int he history of trans and queer liberation, and became an enduring symbol of the early days of what would become a national movement for 2STLGBQIA+ rights. After Stonewall, many major cities began having their own Pride celebrations. New York City held their first in 1970, Boston the year after, and Montreal followed suit in 1979.
These events inspired a group of mostly Lesbian-identified feminist organizers and community members to wonder why Vermont writ large - and Burlingotn specifically - had not had their own Pride Celebration yet. From these early living room conversations, the organizing group began to envision a Pride march through Vermont's largest town, and quickly submitted their request to the Board of Alderman (City Council) for June 25th, 1983 to be officially recognized byt he city. Despite pushback from residents and businesses, a slim majority of board members and acting Mayor Bernie Sanders agreed, and proclaimed June 25th "Lesbian & Gay Pride Day" in Burlington, VT. The theme, in typical Vermont fashion, alluded to nature: water won't run straight & neither will we!"
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, annual pride celebrations alternated between Burlington and Montpelier. Descriptions expanded out from "Lesbian and Gay" to "LGB" (including Bisexual) to "LGBTQ+", to the current 2STLGBQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Trans, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more). Although the themes (and dates!) have changed, the true essence of Pride has remained the same: resisting discrimination, caring for community, and celebrating autonomy and authenticity. Pride celebrations in Vermont now stretch beyond Burlington and Montpelier, including NewPort, Rutland, Bennington, Woodstock, St. Albans, and many other small towns statewide.
For a detailed history of Pride Vermont 1983, including photos and audio interviews with organizers and participants, please visit the Pride 1983 Online Exhibit curated by the Vermont Queer Archives and Vermont Folklife Center.
OUR HISTORY IS OUR STRENGTH:
Remembering Burlington Pride 1983
As we gear up for this year's march, we are looking back at the incredible roots of our community’s resilience. Did you know that Vermont’s very first Pride march took place right here in Burlington back in 1983?
To honor our history, joy, and homegrown queer legacy, we are thrilled to spotlight "Proud Little State," a brilliant new series of short comics exploring LGBTQ+ history in Vermont!
Issue #1: Burlington Pride 1983 brings our origin story to life through stunning illustrations by local Burlington cartoonist Teppi Zuppo. Adapted from powerful, real-life interviews with queer elders recorded by Vermont Folklife and the Vermont Queer Archives, this comic gives us an intimate look at the brave folks who first took to the streets to demand liberation, visibility, and joy.
This beautiful project is a collaboration between the Center for Research on Vermont, Vermont Folklife, the Vermont Queer Archives, and UVM faculty working together to ensure our community's stories are preserved and celebrated.
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