[3][4][5] On June 26, 1971, about 300 people attended the first official Boston Pride March, which stopped at four locations in the city: Jacque's (a drag bar), the Boston police headquarters, the Massachusetts State House, and St. Paul's Cathedral.

[6][7][8][9][10] At each location marchers read off their demands and grievances: misogyny, police harassment, legal discrimination, and religious persecution, respectively.

[11] Earlier that year, Gay Media Action had put together a series of ads featuring the rhino as part of a campaign to encourage LGBTQ visibility.

[5] In 1978 the event was renamed the New England Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade; about 5,000 people attended.

[8][15] The 1988 parade marked the first time the event was organized formally by a pride committee, who required pre-registration for marchers.

[29] in 2024, amid the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, queer pro-Palestinian advocates blocked the parade until police arrested the counter protesters.