The History of InterPride

«Thirty-six years ago I had a nugget of an idea that I never knew would grow. The plan was simple ... invite about 50 LGBT Pride or Pride-related organizations to join me (Boston Pride) in a historic Beacon Hill home converted to a community center, to discuss commonalities. Of those who replied were six cities: Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco represented by 16 people. Twelve of them slept pajama-party style on the floor of my brownstone studio in Boston's South End. I prepared and provided all the breakfasts and lunches... some of us dined out together for dinner. I recall the weather was, disappointingly, typically autumnish gray and rainy instead of beautifully New England Indian summerly. We met for three days and agreed as we wrapped things up that the conversation was healthy and inspiring, determining to meet the next year in San Diego. I never imagined it continuing on until this day — or that it would be so inclusive, connecting the whole world — my ideas had been just simple and immediate: Share the information, mentor as we go. It is still a little surreal to take in, and makes me immensely proud to call many who attend InterPride my friends».

Marsha H. Levine
Founder – InterPride
September 24, 2018

The first years

InterPride was founded in 1982 in Boston, MA USA as the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators. In the fall of 1982 representatives from about half a dozen US Pride organizations gathered together to network. Since then, an annual conference has been held, in a different city and attendance has steadily grown.

As the movement for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) equal rights has grown over the years, so have Pride events and the need for a global organization like InterPride. As the events have become more international in scope, the organization changed its name to the International Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators. At the conference in West Hollywood, California the conference voted to add Bisexual and Transgender to the name of the organization.

By the late 1980′s delegates from Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom were attending the conference. In 1997 the expanded outreach made the organization truly global. The annual conference in New York City was attended by representatives of 73 Pride Organization from 18 countries. It was also the Year InterPride's membership voted to establish the «WorldPride» title and awarded it to the city of Rome, Italy for the year 2000. The 1999 conference in Glasgow, Scotland was the first conference held off the North American Continent. The organization again changed its name to InterPride to consolidate and better reflect its international structure.

The new Millennium

The Millennium saw the first WorldPride taking place in Rome, Italy from July 1 to July 9, 2000. The event was put on by the Italian gay rights organization Circolo di Cultura Omosessuale Mario Mieli along with InterPride. The 2001 conference, held in Auckland, New Zealand was the first one held in the southern hemisphere and the Prime Minister welcomed the delegates.

The 2003 conference in Montréal, Canada was the first time a conference was held in a city where English is not the primary language. The 150 delegates from 51 cities from around the world in attendance, voted to accept the bid of the Jerusalem Open House to host WorldPride 2006 in the Holy City. Pride organizers from around the world arrived at the 2004 conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, the first time in a country where the national language is not English.

The 2005 conference was in Minneapolis/St.Paul. In 2006 the conference was held in Portland, Maine and the second WorldPride was held in Jerusalem. In 2007 delegates travelled back to Europe for the conference in Zurich, Switzerland. At the conference in Zurich the joint membership agreement of InterPride and EPOA was forged which instantly added approx. 20 new European members.

The 2008 conference was held in Vancouver, Canada. The members voted to accept the bid of Pride London to host WorldPride 2012 in London. The 2009 conference was held in St. Petersburg Florida where the members awarded Pride Toronto the license to WorlPride 2014. The 2010 conference was in Long Beach, California.

2011 Belgium Pride hosted and orgnized in Brussels, Belgium, the first InterPride and EPOA joint Annual General Meetings and World Conference. It gave more European members the chance to be at both AGMs and the benefit to only travel to one destination.

30th Anniversary

In 2012, we went back to Boston where it all began 30 years ago and in the capital of the United Kingdom just ahead of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and during the anticipated year-long celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Pride London organized the third WorldPride. It was also the year the members awarded WorldPride 2017 to Mardrid Pride. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of InterPride the first PrideRadar was launched.

The following year 2013 was Montreal, Canada's turn. In 2014 we went to Pittsburgh, PA USA and Pride Toronto organized 4th WorldPride. In 2015 we headed to Las Vegas, NV USA. The following year 2016 the members convened in Montpellier, France for yet another joint AGMs and Conference with EPOA. And after a gap of four years, the second PrideRadar was presented at the World Conference. The 2017 conference was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and the city of Madrid embraced WorldPride 2017 and the Madrid Summit on Human Rights organized by Madrid Pride. The members gathered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada for the 2018 Conference. 

InterPride selects an annual International LGBTI Pride Theme. InterPride publishes the annual PrideLife Magazine.