In response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic which began in Austin in 1983, the pride marches to the capitol building expanded in attendance to about 25,000 people. In 1976, Mayor Jeff Friedman established a Gay Pride Week to take place annually in June, which included a pride and march to the Texas State Capitol.
These early organizations were subjected to homophobic backlash In 1975, an Austin Lesbian Organization party was raided by the University of Texas Silver Spurs, and pride floats built for Round Up Weekend were vandalized into the 1980s. An event organized by the Gay People of Austin was held in 1974 at Shoal Creek Park and the Student Union Ballroom, which about 300 people attended. By 1974, the Austin Lesbian Organization and the Gay People of Austin had been established. In 1970, Austin also became home to a chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, and local newspapers such as The Rag began supporting the movement. This first public meeting was only attended by 25 individuals at University Y. The LGBT movement in Austin began in 1970, shortly after the Stonewall riots that sparked LGBT movements across the U.S. These included Apartment, Cabaret, Insomnia Club, Manhattan Club, Pearl Street Warehouse, and Red River Lounge. Throughout the mid-20th century, Austin had several gay bars, long before its LGBT movement began.
