Chicago's 33rd Annual Pride Parade will begin lining up at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 30, at the corner of Halsted St. and Belmont Ave. At noon, the parade will step off from the Halsted/Belmont corner, proceeding north on Halsted St. (to Broadway), then south on Broadway (to Diversey Ave.), then east on Diversey Ave. to Sheridan Rd. More than 200 registered entries will include businesses, organizations, individual marchers and political officials. Floats, decorated vehicles and marching units will be a part of the processions. Several hundred thousand spectators are expected.
Leading off the parade will be Chuck Panozzo, bass player and one of the founders of the renowned rock band Styx.
Pride Parades were originally started to commemorate the night in June 1969 when gays and lesbians fought back during a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a New York City gay bar. Gay bars were routinely raided by the police in the 1960s across the country. That night a riot ensued kicking off the formation of the modern day gay rights movement. Since that time, the parades have grown into celebrations that include social as well as political expressions of pride.
In Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley has issued his annual proclamation naming June as "Gay & Lesbian Pride Month in Chicago." Earlier in the month, Mayor Daley hosted an annual reception commemorating Gay & Lesbian Pride Month in Chicago.
Note: Vehicles will be towed off the route beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, June 30. The driver will be charged a total of $210 in fees to redeem the car.
For more information call PRIDEChicago (773) 348-8243.
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