History of pride celebrations and gatherings in Albuquerque

June is Pride Month, and Albuquerque has one of the longest-running celebrations in the country that dates back 47 years. In 1976, a small group of people gathered at Morningside Park to celebrate diversity in the Albuquerque community. Twenty five people were in the initial gathering and marched from Morningside Park to the University of New Mexico. Not everyone supported the movement, and there were some tense times. Fast forward to today, a monument stands in honor of those who marched in 1976. Two trees symbolize those that set roots for the LGBTQ+ movement in the past, while branches depict those continuing to fight for equality today and in the future.