Neighborhood News: New route, proud history at Sunday’s 53rd Annual Chicago Pride Parade
“The history of the Chicago Pride Parade is a story of tenacity, change, and joy. It is a reflection of changes in public perceptions of the LGBTQ+ population. It has evolved over time from a modest protest march to a huge festival that takes place all around the city. The parade’s impact on Chicago is tremendous and extends far beyond the one-day path it travels.”
ChicagoPride.com
Culminating a month-long celebration of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade steps off on Sunday June 30, at 11am at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Broadway, in the Sheridan Park neighborhood.
The parade will continue south along Broadway, then Halsted, east along Belmont to Broadway, then south to Diversey, led by Grand Marshal Fortune Feimster, known for her stand up comedy, as well as roles in “The Mindy Project,” “The L Word: Generation Q,” and “Office Christmas Party.”
Feimster was named the parade’s grand marshal along with her wife Jax Smith, joined by community grand marshals Art Johnston, Jose “Pepe” Pena and Myles and Precious Brady-Davis.
Under the theme ‘Pride is Power,’ the lively, musical, multi-hued event features 150 entries, including celebratory floats, festively-outfitted vehicles, performance groups, a marching band, and many revelers on foot. Parade participants represent community organizations, businesses, governmental officials and individual community members.
The best views …
With approximately one million people expected to see the parade, according to Timeout Chicago, the procession will be viewable from anywhere along the route, but the busiest stretch is typically on Halsted between Belmont and Addison, in the Northhalsted neighborhood also known as ‘Boystown.’
For better sightlines, they suggest finding a spot on Broadway south of Belmont.
To avoid crowds altogether, the parade will be broadcast live starting at 11am on ABC7.
A long history…
According to ChicagoPride.com, on June 27, 1970, one year after the Stonewall riots in New York City, the first Chicago Pride Parade was held. With only 150 to 200 participants, the initial march was more of a protest than a parade. It was a forceful statement that called for an end to societal bigotry and the requirement for LGBTQ+ visibility, and it was organized by the Chicago Gay Liberation Group.
Early parades, according to the site, were intensely political gatherings. The marches were a call to action, uniting the LGBTQ+ community in defiance of prejudice and persecution at a period when homosexuality was widely stigmatized. The march steadily expanded in its early years as participants boldly claimed public space for their cause, proclaimed their rights, and demanded equality.
Over the ensuing decades, from the 80’s to the 2000s, the event gained momentum and acceptance, and evolved from protest, advocacy and awareness through the HIV/AIDS crisis into the family-friendly, inclusive event of today. A number of related events were also created, including the two-day cultural festival Pride Fest and the Dyke March, a parade that highlighted the variety of the LGBTQ+ community. The Chicago Pride celebration became a bigger, more inclusive event as a result of these activities.
Impact
As ChicagoPride.com points out, the parade provides a venue for the LGBTQ+ community’s visibility, expression, and emancipation. It has encouraged a sense of community and enabled people to publicly celebrate their identities. In celebrating their struggle and victories, it is a monument to the bravery of people who have battled for LGBTQ+ rights. Pride Month also has a substantial economic impact. With over a million visitors each year, it boosts the local economy. Finally, as the website says, The Chicago Pride Parade serves as a symbol of the battles that have been won, the wins that have been achieved, and the fights that still need to be waged in the name of love, equality, and pride. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
