Two members of the Chicago Fire soccer team will ride on the PepsiCo float in the 43rd annual Chicago Gay Pride Parade on Sunday.
Both players are straight.
The Fire has partnered with PepsiCo, Inc., and Section 8 Chicago, the Independent Supporters' Association, to participate in the parade. Defender Gonzalo Segares and midfielder Brendan King will ride on the PepsiCo float, which will feature the Fire badge logo in addition to PepsiCo brands: Pepsi, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade and Frito-Lay.
Fire mascot Sparky also will be on the float. Plus, about 20 Fire front-office staff and representatives from Section 8 Chicago will accompany more than 150 PepsiCo employees, including members of EQUAL, PepsiCo's LGBT employee resource group, on the float. They will be handing out Frito-Lay products and Fire-branded premium items, including sunglasses and beads.
"I think it's huge," that the players are appearing in the parade, said Dan Lobring, the Fire's senior director of communications. "We encourage the guys to get involved with [this event.]"
Segares appeared at Sidetrack last summer as part of a Fire-related event supporting Equality Illinois.
The Fire plays host to the Montreal Impact on Sept. 28, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, and a portion of all ticket sales purchased as part of the team's LGBT Pride Night will go to Equality Illinois and the fight for marriage equality in Illinois.
For ticket information to LGBT Pride Night in September, go to: www.chicago-fire.com/tickets/group/pride