1977-10-08 First Gay Pride Rally in Richmond, Virginia

The first Gay Pride Rally in Richmond, Virginia was held on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Organizers of the event were protesting the arrival in Richmond of Anita Bryant, who had spearheaded a voter referendum to repeal an anti-discrimination law in Dade County, Florida and was traveling around the country whipping up anti-gay sentiment. Karla Jay, who had edited the anthologies Out of the Closets and After You’re Out was the keynote speaker at the rally.