1993 was a watershed year for Peter Robertson of Fresno, California.
In April, he joined the “March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi-Equal Rights and Liberation,” where he tells LGBTQ Nation he was “inspired, empowered, and motivated to do more as an out, loud, and proud member of the rainbow community.”
Two months later, still energized by his march on the Capitol, Robertson was “at the International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade, also known as San Francisco Pride Parade” — Robertson is a stickler for official titles — where his friend and ally Rick Clarke snapped him marching like a parade of one down Market Street.
In the pic, Robertson is wearing the pink triangle T-shirt he picked up in Washington.
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“I proudly marched with Orlando Gotay, Jr., ” Robertson says, “a former U.S. Navy officer who was forced out of service for being gay, and eventually was legally successful in not having to pay back $23,000 in Naval Academy tuition.”
Robertson marched as well with “an impressive contingent that included three elected officials and allies of the LGBTQ+ community – Art Agnos (Mayor of San Francisco), Nancy Pelosi (U.S. House of Representative), and Willie Brown (Speaker of the California Assembly).”
“This was one of the first times I had realized the importance, power, and respect that our elected allies provide our community,” he says.
Robertson was most proud that day “to be a part of an incredibly diverse and beautifully vibrant rainbow and allied community which can collectively come together to uplift all of us.”
“When this photo was taken, 31 years ago, our community’s motto was, ‘We’re here, we’re Queer, get used to it,'” Robertson says.
“Today, friends like Cleve Jones and Robin McGehee have updated the motto to ‘We’re here, we’re Queer, we’re tired.’ We need to remember to constantly guide and mentor the next generations of leaders for the rainbow community. Our future is dependent on them.”
Pride in Pictures is LGBTQ Nation’s annual series celebrating Pride across the country. We asked our readers to send in their pictures and stories of Pride and we got so many rainbows. Keep an eye out for more heartwarming stories to get you ready for Pride Month 2024.
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