Routes of Pride - 2026 Zine

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original routes of pride map The History Project created in 2001, Public History intern Fiona Charlson took on the task of updating it. Through research into 55 years of Boston Pride celebrations, she uncovered that there has been 10 different routes, cancelled parades, shifting neighborhoods of acceptance, places where the community demanded change, and how the growing visibility of queer folks impacted the community in Boston.

Credits:
Written by Fiona Charlson
Designed by Enzo Nguyen
Map by Sebastian Belfanti
Printed by Flash Print

Reader(s):
Matisse Dupont, Jaydie Halperin, Joan Ilacqua, Enzo Nguyen, Emily Silk, Izzy Astuto, Linor Fernandez Alesina, Toni Armstrong.

Special Thanks to Mark Krone, Libby Bouvier, the Public History Committee, and everyone who has helped preserve Boston’s Queer History!

Notes:

1. Dick Bourdeau, “Marching Through the Years.” Boston Pride Guide 2025. p.59 https://bostonpride.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BostonPrideGuide15.pdf

2.  The Lavender Rhino, Queer History Boston. https://www.queerhistoryboston.org/lavenderrhino

3. Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund. https://www.legalmomentum.org/amicus-briefs/goodridge-v-department-public-health

Image Citations

Cover Page: 'Neighborhood Watch for dignity.' Marilyn Humphries. June 9, 2012. Boston MA. Pride Parade and Festival 2012. The Boston Pride Committee.

A: "THP member Martha Pellegrino selling maps pride 2001" THP Organizational Records. Collection 41. Queer History Boston. 

B: Poster: “Love Is All You Need, 1970,” Queer History Boston , accessed July 16, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/879.

C: Kyper, John, “Attendee holds a sign that reads "IF YOU COME OUT YOU CAN'T BE FOUND OUT" during Boston's first Pride March, 1971 June 26,” Queer History Boston , accessed July 15, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/490.

D: Kyper, John, “Marchers at the corner of Boylston Street during Boston's first Pride March, 1971 June 26,” Queer History Boston , accessed May 29, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/488.

E: Kyper, John, “Marchers near Tremont Street and the Boston Common during Boston's first Pride March, 1971 June 26,” Queer History Boston, accessed May 29, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/493.

F: "Dare to Snuggle, Dare to Win" four unidentified men holding sign. Daughters of Bilitis (Boston chapter), “Focus: A Journal for Gay Women, 1972 Summer,” Queer History Boston , accessed August 6, 2026, p.8.https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/822.

G: “Gay Pride Week 72’ June 17-25.”, Poster for Pride week. Boston Pride Collection. Queer History Boston.

H: Lavender Rhino Boston Pride Button. (Year and maker unknown). Collection Number: 205. Box Number: 5 LGBTQ+ Boston Button and Pin Collection. Queer History Boston.

I: "Anita Bryant speaking at a Save Our Children rally, "February 15, 1977. AP Photo.

J: “ANITA SUCKS [ORANGES],” Button. Queer History Boston, accessed July 11, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/67.

K: Unknown, "Mike Riegle, Charles Shively, and unidentified person", possibly Michael Bronski, preparing Fag Rag #27/28 for mailing. Queer History Boston.

L: Joyce Harper, “Robin MacCormack by City Hall,” Ca. 1981. Coll. 104 Gay Community News Photograph Collection, Queer History Boston.

M: “Stonewall Remembered.” Vol 11. no 49. Gay Community News collection 1984. Queer History Boston. 

N: ACT UP / Boston, “ACT UP Pamphlet,” Queer History Boston.

O: Pride 1992 Marchers. Gay Community News. Vol. 19. 45-46, p. 9. Queer History Boston.

P: Two unidentified drag queens ride in the back of a red convertible at the 2002 boston pride parade. Boston Pride. https://bostonpride.smugmug.com/2002-Boston-Pride-Parade/n-5SLpJn/i-GvxjC2p/A

Q: Collage of "Badgate." Dykeatude Zine. Issue 1. 1996 Bedgate.https://bostondykemarcharchive.weebly.com/uploads/7/0/2/5/7025237/dykeatude_n_1_1996_sm.pdf

R: Knudsen, Jeff, “Lined up for a marriage license,” Peter Muise and Tony Grima wait in line for a marriage license at Boston City Hall. Queer History Boston , accessed July 28, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/1625.

S: “EQUAL JUSTICE: MARRIAGE FOR ALL / MAY 17, 2004,” Queer History Boston , accessed July 28, 2026,https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/75.

T: '45th Anniversary #Wicked Proud.' Marilyn Humphries. June 13, 2015. Boston MA. Pride Parade and Festival 2015. The Boston Pride Committee.https://bostonpride.smugmug.com/2015-Pride-Parade/n-NK8dZK/i-566w8Kp/A

U: "No Pride in Genocide." Boston Pride Parade, June 8, 2019. Photographer unknown. https://bostonpride.smugmug.com/2019-Boston-Pride-Parade/n-jRSbLb/i-MkhM4sh/A

V: Jo Trigilio, “Crowd at 2020 Trans Resistance March,” Queer History Boston.

W: “Hot Dykes Melt ICE” Jolie Frazer-Madge (left) and Mia Hoyos Murray (right), sign created by: Liz Diamond. Boston Pride, Community Contribution, Queer History Boston. June 6, 2026.

Bibliography

“2014 Boston Pride Parade.” The Boston Calendar. Accessed June 4, 2026. https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/2014-boston-pride-parade

2020 Virtual Boston Pride, The Boston Calender. Accessed July 11, 2026. https://www.theboston calendar.com/events/2020-virtual-boston-pride

“A Historical Map Of Lesbian And Gay Boston.” Boston Gay & lesbian Architects and Designers: Cambridge, MA: The History Project (Queer History Boston, 1995. https://archive.org/details/historical-map-of-lesbian-and-gay-boston/mode/2up

Bourdeau, Dick. “Marching Through the Years.” Boston Pride Guide 2025. P.59 https://bostonpride.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BostonPrideGuide15.pdf

Bouvier, Libby and Mark Krone. “45th Anniversary - #WickedProud - Kicker: A Concise History of Boston Pride.” Coll. 41. The History Project (Queer History Boston). 

Bouvier, Libby and Mark Krone. “A History of Boston Pride,” 45th Anniversary - #WickedProud, Boston Pride Guide 2015. The History Project (Queer History Boston). https://bostonpride.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BostonPrideGuide15.pdf

Colimon, Zoe. Pride and Progress: A Journey Through Boston’s LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces. Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center, Boston Public Library. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.leventhalmap.org/articles/queer-boston/

‘Goodridge v. Department of Public Health,’ The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund. Accessed June 4, 2026. https://www.legalmomentum.org/amicus-briefs/goodridge-v- department-public-health

Karedes, Drew. Large-scale Boston Pride parade not happening again in 2022. Boston 25 News. April 14, 2022. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/large-scale-boston-pride- parade-not-happening-again-2022/C3GHHFVCN5BIPGUQCOIKXRBLVU/

Linscott, Bob. LGBT Seniors Share Stories about the First Boston Pride Marches. May 23, 2017. https://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2017/05/lgbt-seniors-share-stories-about-the-first-bosto n-pride-marches/

Muller, Corinne. The Boston Equality Trail. June 26, 2020https://www.bostonpreservation.org /news-item/boston-equality-trail

Nilsson, Casey. The Rise, Fall, and Hopeful Return of Boston’s Pride Parade. Boston City Life. June 6, 2023. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2023/06/06/boston-pride-parade- back/

Ophelia, Marshall. Boston Pride 2010. The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Webmaster. March 12, 2010. Accessed June 12, 2026. https://www.thebostonsisters.org/boston-pride- 2010/Mass. governor marches in pride parade, reiterates support for marriage equality

Pennington, Juliet, and Maggie Mulvihill, Rob Phelps "The (R)Evolution of Boston Pride: How a grassroots group took over the Bay State’s biggest LGBTQ+ event." Boston Spirit Magazine, May 25, 2023. https://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2023/05/the-revolution- of-boston-pride-how-a-grassroots-group-took-over-the-bay-states-biggest-lgbtq-event/

Pride Was A Riot Exhibit, Queer History Boston, Accessed July 14, 2026. 

Routes of Pride, The History Project (Queer History Boston, 2001. https://www.queerhistory boston.org/public-history-all/blog-post-title-two-bzr7j

Slan, Kevin. Boston’s Pride parade is back for 2023. Boston.com. June 10, 2023. https://www. boston.com/things-to-do/events/boston-pride-parade-june-2023/

“The Boston Equality Trail.” Meet Boston. Accessed May 31, 2026. https://www.meetboston. com/things-to-do/sightseeing-and-tours/walking-tours/boston-equality-trail/

‘The Lavender Rhino,’ Queer History Boston, Accessed May 31, 2026. https://www.queerhistory boston.org/lavenderrhin