#WeAreNetflix @ L.A. Pride Parade 2018

Christopher Street West (CSW), a 501(c)3 non-profit, organized the world’s first permitted parade advocating for gay rights on June 28, 1970. Rev. Bob Humphries (founder of the United States Mission), Morris Kight (a founder of the Gay Liberation Front), and Rev. Troy Perry (founder of the Metropolitan Community Church) originally came up with the idea as a way to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City.

However, after organizers tried securing a permit for the parade, they encountered hostility and numerous attempts to squash it from the Los Angeles Police Commission and then-Police Chief Ed Davis, who publicly called gay people “fairies." City authorities required organizers to post $1.5 million in bonds as well as $1,500 in cash to pay for police who would be dispatched to protect parade attendees. The organizers were also required to recruit a minimum 5,000 participants to receive permission to march in the streets. If they failed to meet that number, marchers would have to remain on the sidewalks or face consequences.

According to Reverend Troy Perry at the time, "The Police Commission voted 4 to 1 to place conditions on the parade permit. And they were: 1) you'd have to put up a bond for a million dollars to pay out the businesses when people throw rocks at ya'll 2) you have to put up a cash bond of $500,000, and 3) you've got to have at least 5000 people marching."

In response, the organizers turned to the ACLU for help and that same day a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the police commission to issue a parade permit to organizers, refund their $1,500 security payment, and drop all other unnecessary requirements. In delivering his decision, the judge said that "...all citizens deserve equal rights and protection under that law..." while also ordering law enforcement to protect spectators and marchers.

On June 28, 1970, the first LA Pride Parade marched along Hollywood Boulevard and more than 1,000 people lined the boulevard to cheer participants.

Since then, the Christopher Street West non-profit has built a rich history as an active voice for the LGBTQ+ community across the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. They continue to produce the LA Pride Parade and Festival every June in the City of West Hollywood where about 150,000-200,000 spectators are expected annually to watch the parade .