Indy Pride History

Major Growth & Expansion

Record Attendance & Profits

In 2004, the presidency of Pride changed from Ivan Howard to Gary Brackett.  At this time, monthly Pride Membership Social Mixers were begun.  The first mixers were held at various bars. Mixer are now held on the third Thursday of each month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Agio Restaurant on Mass Avenue.   Membership increased from 12 members in 2002 to over 200 in 2004.  The Indy Pride Board was expanded from five members to 12.  The new Indy Board established that Pride will be celebrated each year on the 2^nd Saturday in June.  IN Pride 2004 had a record attendance of over 14,000 people and realized a profit of over $25,000!

Attendence	Profit	Number of Vendors
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Pride Parade Begins in 2005

Under Brackett’s leadership, a Pride Parade was added in 2005 prior to the Festival in University Park.  The first parade featured one float, an antique truck, a few drag queens, some antique cars, and several walking groups.  The parade lasted approximately 15 minutes.  The Parade began at the corner of Mass Avenue and College, proceeding down Mass Avenue to Vermont Street where it turned west and ended at the Festival in University Park.  By 2008, the Pride Parade had grown to over 100 units including several floats, walking groups, and the Pride Indy Marching Band.  The 2008 Parade lasted approximately 1½ hours.

Pride of Indy Band Formed

In 2005, President Brackett was contacted by the Lesbian & Gay Band Association about organizing a Pride band in Indianapolis.  Under the leadership of Stephen McCoy, the Pride of Indy Band and Color was founded in March 2005.  The band, comprised of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and GLBT-friendly musicians, serves as a musical and educational resource to the Central Indiana community.  Since its beginnings, the band has grown to a performing membership of 50 musicians, which includes a marching/pep band unit, a concert band, a brass ensemble, a woodwind ensemble and a Jazz band.  In 2009, the Pride of Indy Band had grown and the band members decided to become a separate 501(c)3 organization.
More Information About the Pride of Indy Band

Bag Ladies Welcomed to Indy Pride, Inc.

In 2005, when Indiana Still Cares disbanded, Indy Pride welcomed the Bag Ladies as part of Indy Pride.  The Bag Ladies could quite possibly be the nation’s first HIV and AIDS fundraising organization.  Since the initial bus tour in 1981, more and more men have become part of this on-going and growing tradition.  In 2008, the Pride Bag Ladies raised approximately $20,000 which was donated to various local charities.  More Information About the Indy Pride Bag Ladies