These 22 pics from 1970s NYC Pride marches show 'a moment without society’s prejudices'

'Out of the Closets! Into the Streets!'

What was the "right place and time" for Francisco Alvarado-Juárez would one day be an essential capsule of queer history.

Fifty years after “Out of the Closets! Into the Streets!” was chanted in some of New York City's first Pride marches, an exhibition of the same name will be on display at the The Hispanic Society Museum & Library (HSM&L) showcasing the these earliest demonstrations of the LGBTQ+ liberation movement.

Open from May 8 to August 31, the gallery features 18 photographs from 1975 and 1976 by Alvarado-Juárez that capture pivotal moments from the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to what communities across the nation celebrate as Pride today. The exhibit also honors the diversity of the movement, recognizing key figures such as Sylvia Rivera.

The photos are some of the first work by Alvarado-Juárez, an internationally acclaimed multimedia artist born in Honduras, and they're still having an impact on his life and art over half a century later. Here's what he has to say about the images now, and how he feels about the state of queer rights.

The Advocate's Alex Cooper contributed reporting to this story.

The Advocate: How did you get into photography and multimedia art?

Francisco Alvarado-Juárez: I returned to New York City in 1974 after graduating from Stony Brook University with degrees in Hispanic Literature and Ibero-American Studies. I couldn’t find employment. These were difficult times. What kept me going was discovering photography and teaching it to myself. I was interested in street photography. Going around the city taking pictures of the diverse population of New York. I began my career in the visual arts as a photographer. Always restless to find new ways to express myself, I later learned painting, video and multimedia art. I’m basically a self-taught artist.

Can you tell me what initially inspired you to capture these LGBTQ+ events? Why did you go to them?

I was living on 15th Street and Sixth Avenue. In 1975, I was lucky to see the parade going-by. I got my camera and joined the march. We went up Sixth Avenue to Central Park and back. Later everyone gathered at Christopher Street. The following year I joined the celebration at Christopher Street before the parade. This gave me the opportunity to take more photographs.

Were you concerned about your safety at the time since these marches were so new?

There were never any issues of safety during these parades. I didn’t witness any violence. People were just enjoying themselves, expressing themselves the best they could.

How do you feel about these images becoming such an important part of queer history?

I was just taking photographs. Making art. I was not thinking of a historical record. It’s been 50 years since I took many of these photographs. Now, they have become part of the history of New York. I am very happy to be exhibiting them for the first time as a series at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library and sharing them with New York and the world.

Why do you think these images still resonate so strongly today?

These images still resonate today because they are sincere, honest expressions of the moment. The portraits reflect an intimacy, a beauty, the humanity of the people being photographed. One cannot help but feel the “joie de vivre.”

What did you hope people would get from your images when you took them?

I wanted to capture a moment without society’s prejudices. Letting people express themselves freely, enjoying the moment.

What do you hope people still get from the images today?

There is joy and optimism in these photographs. Today we have begun a much darker period in our history. We can look back at this time and get strength from that optimism. We can also just enjoy the artistic beauty that these images represent.

How have these images impacted your art even today?

I still get joy and energy looking at these photographs. I feel lucky to have been at the right place and time.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about these photos or your work?

I work in different media: photography, painting, installation, or multimedia art. I hope people can get to see the variety of artwork that I make. The easiest way is by checking my website: www.franciscoalvarado.com