Celebration To Mark 50th Anniversary Of 1st Gay Dance In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ – Back in 1973, around 300 people gathered at Princeton University for a dance meant exclusively for the LGBTQI community.

Hosted by the Gay Alliance of Princeton, that evening, students, faculty, staff, local residents, and members of the greater community came out and declared their identity.

Such was the impact of the event, that it was featured in the New York Times.

To mark the 50th anniversary of this historic moment, the Bayard Rustin Center For Social Justice (BRCSJ) will be hosting a celebration on Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Gay People Princeton Co-Founder and Queer Icon Frank Mahood will be in attendance. Members from Princeton’s first gay rights organization will also be present to at this special event.

“This extraordinary event is a continuation of our dedicated archive honoring and celebrating these brave trailblazers who paved the way for all of us,” the BRCSJ said in a statement.

“The documentary that the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice created with existing members of these groups was the first piece of queer history in the Princeton Historical Society. The Center believes and puts into action the idea that our past informs our present and inspires our future.”

The event will be held at the BRCSJ Headquarters. Admission is free. Click here.

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