In 1976, during the nation’s Bicentennial, a small group of LGBTQIA+ Rhode Islanders fought to be included in the official celebration. After being denied, they took legal action—and won. That victory led to the first Pride march in Rhode Island. It was a declaration then, and it remains one today.
As we mark both the 250th Anniversary of the United States and the 50th Anniversary of Rhode Island Pride, this year’s theme carries that history forward:
This is not a slogan—but as a statement of presence, belonging, and truth.
We are the people who have been told we don’t belong.
We are the people who have been pushed to the margins—because of who we are, how we identify, who we love, or where we come from.
And still, we are here.
We are the people who insisted on being seen. We are the people who built this movement. We are the people who sustain it. And we are the people who will carry it forward.
Today, Rhode Island Pride has grown into one of the nation’s most visible celebrations—welcoming tens of thousands each year for PrideFest and the Illuminated Night Parade.