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That unstoppable spirit is now marking its 50th anniversary: the first Pride parades took place in the U.S. When people would taunt us, cars would drive by and spit at us, yell at us constantly, Marsha would be there, looking outrageous and glorious in her own aesthetic, and she would say ‘pay them no mind.’ That’s what the ‘P’ is for, is ‘pay them no mind, don’t let them stop us.’” “There were marchers too - very brave souls with signs, like Marsha P. Alyssa Edes is a producer at WBEZ.“It started as a small social thing,” Stellar, now 75, recalls. Hunter Clauss is a digital editor who writes the station’s daily newsletter, The Rundown. The parade also includes floats and marchers from Facebook, TD Ameritrade, Tesla, Starbucks and B96. The parade features local LGBTQ groups like the Chicago Gay Hockey Association, Equality Illinois and Howard Brown Health. The grand marshal is Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who made history this year for becoming the first openly gay person elected as the city’s “boss.” Pro-tip: Eddie Colatorti, who lives near the parade route, said, “It gets really hot and really crowded, so find an exit strategy.” Who’s in the parade? Pro-tip: Parade Organizer Richard Pfeiffer says, “We beg people, don’t come to the of the parade route because it is just jam packed there.” If crowds are not your thing, organizers encourage viewing the parade in Uptown. So it’s highly recommended that you get to the neighborhood super early to claim a spot. Where’s the best spot to watch the parade?īoystown gets packed, so if you’re looking for a high-energy spot with tons of supreme people watching, look no further.īut be warned, it’s more crowded than an evening rush hour Red Line train during a Cubs game. Taking a bus might also be dicey as the city closes multiple streets for the parade. Metra will also increase service Sunday on the BNSF, Union Pacific-North and Union Pacific-West lines.īut whatever you do, try not to drive because that would pretty much be the worst idea ever. To accommodate the influx of people heading toward the area, the CTA says it will run extra trains on Sunday. It runs parallel to the parade, and the closest stations near the march are Wilson, Sheridan, Addison and Belmont. The Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line train. What’s the best way to get to the parade? “Every parade gets hotter than the next - in more ways than one,” she said. Pro-tip: Chicago firefighter Jeri Caroline Medina recommended bringing water. Pro-tip: Delia Soto said, “Make sure you’re with a group who’s gonna take care of you if you get too intoxicated.” If you get caught, you could get a $1,000 ticket. But organizers say there will be more security this year and a “tighter rein on public alcohol consumption.” In years past, this seemed more like a recommendation than a law because enforcement was sparse. It begins in the Uptown neighborhood, at the intersection of Broadway and Montrose Avenue, and heads south toward Halsted Street. The parade is Sunday, June 30 and starts at noon.
GAY PRIDE PARADE CHICAGO FIRST HOW TO
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about the parade, along with tips from folks in the LGBTQ community on how to have the most fun if you’ve never been to the event. The riots are widely considered a turning point for the modern gay rights movement.Ĭhicago organizers estimate about 1 million people will attend this year’s Pride Parade, which is a whole lotta people in one area of a city with a total population just shy of 3 million. This year’s parade comes during the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, when New York City police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn and clashed with gay activists. The Chicago Pride Parade is Sunday, and the celebration of the LGBTQ community will be part political demonstration and part gay St. To stay up to date on the stories that matter.
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