"Video coverage of the 2007 Chicago Gay Pride Parade."Rainbow flags decorate Lake View East in anticipation of the Chicago Pride Parade.A Human Rights Campaign float moves past spectators.
The Chicago Pride Parade, also colloquially (and formerly) called the Chicago Gay Pride Parade, is an annual pride parade held on the last Sunday of June in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. It is considered a culmination of the larger Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in Chicago, as promulgated by the Chicago City Council and Mayor of Chicago. Chicago's Pride Parade is one of the oldest [1], and one of the largest by attendance in the world.[2] Chicago's annual pride parade is organized by the all-volunteer non profit organization PRIDEChicago. The event takes place outside and celebrates equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, which is also known as the celebration of LGBTQ rights.
The first parade was organized on Saturday, June 27, 1970, as a march[3] from Washington Square Park ("Bughouse Square") to the Water Tower, but then many of the participants spontaneously marched on to the Civic Center Plaza.[4] For many years, the parade was held only in Lake View East, a neighborhood enclave of the Lakeviewcommunity area. Recent parades have expanded their outreach (and ability to handle crowds) by extending the route into the Uptown neighborhood, beginning at the corner of Broadway and Montrose. The parade then proceeds south on Broadway to Halsted, continues south on Halsted to Belmont, then east on Belmont to Broadway and finally south again on Broadway to Cannon Drive and Lincoln Park.
With the increasing political participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans and the community's relatively high financial resources through political action groups and as individual donors, Illinois politicians have increased their presence at the Chicago Pride Parade. Both the Illinois Democratic and Republican parties have been heavily represented, including by former GovernorRod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and former TreasurerJudy Baar Topinka, a Republican. Both had strong support from many gay and lesbian voters.
On June 28, 2009, more than 500,000 spectators watched the 40th Annual Chicago Pride Parade. Among the entries were several marching bands, dance troupes, twirlers, and many political figures. The 2010 parade featured an appearance from the Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Sopel and the Stanley Cup[5] as part of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association's float. Sopel appeared in the parade to honor Brendan Burke, the gay son of the Maple Leafs' GM Brian Burke. Due to Chicago being one of the largest cities with a massive sports community, some other special guests have attended the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago, those include David Kopay (NFL running back), Billy Bean (major league outfielder) and Greg Louganis (Olympic diver).[6]
The 2011 parade included 250 entries and was attended by over 800,000 spectators, almost double the previous year, causing massive overcrowding and resulted in a reorganization of the parade route for the 2012 parade. Starting in 2013 the Chicago Pride Parade had reached over one million people each year, and the number continues to grow.[7]
In October 2019, Richard Pfeiffer, director of the Parade since 1974, passed away.[8]
The parade was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 parade was postponed to October 3, 2021, in the hopes that an in-person parade could be held. Due to the Delta variant, the 2021 parade was cancelled. The 2022 and 2023 pride parade continued with its original scheduling under the direction of Pfeiffer’s husband, Tim Frye.[9]
The 2024 parade marched with a new start time (11 a.m.), shorter route and 150 entries as the city sought to lessen its strain on various Chicago departments during a busy summer packed with other large-scale events, including the Democratic National Convention. [10]Fortune Feimster was the 2024 grand marshal and the parade theme was Pride is Power.
On October 27, 2024, the City of Chicago recognized long-time parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer with an honorary street sign "Rich Pfeiffer Parade Way" at the northwest corner of Belmont Avenue and North Halsted Street along the parade's route in Lake View, Chicago. [11]
Chicago honors Richard Pfeiffer
Pre-Parade Celebration
The year 2019 marked the 19th Annual Pre-Parade Celebration, also known as Chicago's two day long Pride Festival.[12] 2019's Chicago Pride Festival saw over 100,000 people, the festival is held on the Saturday and Sunday before the Pride Parade.[12] Each year there is a suggested twenty dollar donation while entering the festival for LGBTQ fundraisers, events, etc. The festival is open rain or shine and held in Boystown, a neighborhood of Lake View, Chicago. The streets are blocked off from traffic so the celebration can take place throughout the streets all weekend long. Each year there are multiple different performers performing on the three main stages at the festival. Some of 2021's performers included Betty Who, LeAnn Rimes, Pabllo Vittar, Alex Newell and Inaya Day.[12] The Pre-Parade Celebration is just one of the many events held in Boystown in the month of June. Chicago Pride Fest is organized by the Northalsted Business Alliance.
The Chicago Pride Parade is held on the last Sunday in June, so the weather is usually warm. The average high temperature at O'Hare Airport for the parade day since 1970 is 83 degrees; the average low is 61 degrees; and 22% of parade days have seen measurable precipitation. The warmest pride parade was 99 degrees in 1983, and the wettest pride parade was in 1978 when 0.92 inches of rain fell.[37]
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