GAY HISTORY

PHOTOS: These vintage gay Pride photos are absolutely everything

Amateur photographer Alan Light had no idea he was capturing a special moment in LGBTQ+ history when he brought along his camera to various Pride festivals in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Now these vintage gay pride photos offer a glimpse into what the world was like for LGBTQ+ people at that time.

Little did he know that the pictures he snapped would serve as a powerful reminder of what Pride is and has always been about.

“It never occurred to me at the time that they would be looked at as history,” Light, who is now retired and living in Iowa City, tells Queerty. “Or that they could one day I could share them easily and widely on something called the internet. I was just attracted to the rich photographic opportunities the events offered. I have always enjoyed photographing people, and my camera is attracted to the beautiful, mostly, and occasionally the bizarre.”

Related: PHOTOS: Vintage Gay Couples Help Preserve Our Vibrant Queer History

Light says over the years Pride has taken off in a way he never expected, with more mainstream corporate sponsors and big name celebrities getting involved with each passing year.

Related: PHOTOS: Vintage Ads for LA’s Gay Bars of the 1970s, Then & Now

“Pride seemed like a huge event then, but looking back it is quaint compared to those of today,” he says. “Also, nobody then had tattoos.”

Can’t get enough of these vintage gay pride photos? Subscribe to the Queerty newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the latest LGBTQ+ news, stories, and events.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated