In 1976 the United States celebrated the Bicentennial which was the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776-1976). Diane was a 21 year old photography student at UIC when instructor Robert Steigler told the class to meet at the 7th Annual Gay Pride Parade in 1976. As it turns out, Diane was the only student who showed up to document the parade and her photos are a historic overview of what Gay Pride felt like in 1976. The goal was to document the spirit of Chicago’s urban landscape and photograph candid moments of a vibrant city in motion. The LGBTQ parade was a grassroots, assertive declaration of independence with a large crowds, marchers and floats on the southbound lane of North Broadway Street, as oncoming traffic continued in the opposite direction. Witness the diverse faces that paved the way for contemporary Pride, and fought for human rights! Where are they now, and who recognizes them today?
