Christopher Street West
Encyclopedia
Christopher Street West is the non-profit organization that produces the Los Angeles LGBT
(Lesbian
, Gay
, Bisexual and Transgender
) Pride Celebration (Parade and Festival) held every June in its host city of West Hollywood, California
, USA.
Named after New York City
's famed Christopher Street
, the June 1969 site of the Stonewall Rebellion. The CSW parade was started in June 1970 the year following the Stonewall Riot, by a number of Los Angeles' gay activists, prominent among them Morris Kight
, Reverend Troy Perry
, and Bob Humphries. The first parade traveled east on Hollywood Boulevard
starting from McCadden Place in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles
, California
. Although one of several gay pride parades that took place that day around the United States, this was the only "street closing" gay pride parade held in 1970 --- something emulated by the other parades the following year. After several troubled years (no parade was held in 1973), the CSW parade returned in 1974, and originated yet another feature of the modern gay pride movement by adding a festival to its annual event.
There was always a tense relationship between CSW, the businesses on Hollywood Boulevard
and the Los Angeles Police Department
(LAPD), so in 1979 the parade and festival were moved to the more friendly environs of Santa Monica Boulevard, in the soon-to-be-incorporated (1984) City of West Hollywood, California
. The parade now moves west on Santa Monica Boulevard from the corner of Crescent Heights Boulevard, and the festival is held in West Hollywood Park and the adjacent section of San Vicente Boulevard. Present day attendance is typically 250,000 for the parade, and 40,000 at the two-day festival.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
(Lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, Gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, Bisexual and Transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
) Pride Celebration (Parade and Festival) held every June in its host city of West Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
Named after New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's famed Christopher Street
Christopher Street (Manhattan)
Christopher Street is a street in the West Village neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is the continuation of 9th St. to the west of its intersection with 6th Ave. The Stonewall Inn is located on Christopher Street, and, therefore, the street was at the center of New York's...
, the June 1969 site of the Stonewall Rebellion. The CSW parade was started in June 1970 the year following the Stonewall Riot, by a number of Los Angeles' gay activists, prominent among them Morris Kight
Morris Kight
Morris Kight was a gay rights pioneer and peace activist, based in Los Angeles. He is considered one of the original founders of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement in the United States.- Early life :Kight was born and grew up in Comanche County, Texas...
, Reverend Troy Perry
Troy Perry
Troy Deroy Perry Jr founded the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian denomination with a special affirming ministry with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, in Los Angeles on October 6, 1968.-Early life:...
, and Bob Humphries. The first parade traveled east on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
starting from McCadden Place in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Although one of several gay pride parades that took place that day around the United States, this was the only "street closing" gay pride parade held in 1970 --- something emulated by the other parades the following year. After several troubled years (no parade was held in 1973), the CSW parade returned in 1974, and originated yet another feature of the modern gay pride movement by adding a festival to its annual event.
There was always a tense relationship between CSW, the businesses on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
and the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
(LAPD), so in 1979 the parade and festival were moved to the more friendly environs of Santa Monica Boulevard, in the soon-to-be-incorporated (1984) City of West Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The parade now moves west on Santa Monica Boulevard from the corner of Crescent Heights Boulevard, and the festival is held in West Hollywood Park and the adjacent section of San Vicente Boulevard. Present day attendance is typically 250,000 for the parade, and 40,000 at the two-day festival.