On June 25, 1977, over 2000 people marched from Pioneer Square to Westlake Mall in support of gay rights, marking the beginning of the first official Gay Pride Week in Seattle, as declared by Mayor Wes Uhlman. The Washington Coalition for Sexual Minority Rights organized the march, which was supported by 60 other organizations, including the Washington Federation of Teachers and the ACLU. Marchers carried signs protesting the repeal of a Florida ordinance prohibiting discrimination against gay people in housing and employment, and the campaign's leader, Anita Bryant. Others criticized KIRO president Lloyd Cooney for his remarks about the repeal of a similar Seattle ordinance.

Here, marchers gathered at the rally at Westlake Mall listen to speakers, including Jim Gaylord, a gay teacher whose firing by the Tacoma School District was upheld by the Washington State Supreme Court.

Buildings in image: Metropolitan Federal Savings; Pay 'n' Save; Hallmark Greeting Cards; Westside Federal Savings

Caption information source: ""2,000 Join Seattle Gay Rights March" by Dan Seligmas, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 26, 1977, p. A2.