The birth of Pride in South Florida had to do with the political process that was unfolding. In 1978 activists collected names to put the gay rights ordinance back on the ballot, the first time in U.S. history that gays & lesbians used the political system to place a pro-gay initiative on an electoral ballot. The referendum was again defeated, but the 1978 Pride Parade and Rally grew to 1500. The march occurred annually in Miami and continued to grow in size and scope.

Though early marches were held by and in Dade County, the Broward County Coalition for Human Rights was always an active participate. In 1980, the subcommittee of the Dade County Coalition that planned and organized the past Pride Parades, lead by Marty Rubin, filed for incorporation as a separate group to represent both Dade and Broward counties. The South

Florida Gay & Lesbian Pride Committee was created and organized the annual Pride Parade. In 1980 a rally in downtown Miami’s Centennial Park was added to the end of the parade.

In 1982, the committee caused controversy by abandoning the Parade in favor of an indoor festival to encourage participation by closeted gays and lesbians not willing to be seen in public. The 1982 festival, held at the Hollywood Sportatorium, featured booths for businesses and organizations, and brought together hundreds of people that would otherwise not have participated in a public parade or rally. In 1984, the Parade was brought back and Pride was expanded to a full week of events. The indoor festival was moved to the Coconut Grove Exhibition Center and grew to over 5000 by 1985.

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