Chicago is readying for the "Worldwide" LGBTQIA Civil Rights March, scheduled for Saturday, April 21, at noon downtown.
The march, one of 30 to be held around the world Saturday, has been in the works for months, part of a larger effort for a grassroots day of action around LGBT rights.
Chicago's event has been billed as an "LGBTQQIAAP" awareness march. The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, allies and pansexual, said Noa Shayden, leader organizer for the march.
"We also intend to start dialogue around issues that face the community, which include youth homelessness, physical and nonphysical violence, and employment equality, to name a few," said Shayden in a statement.
According to Shayden, the march does not have a permit, and there are no confirmed guest speakers. Rather, Shayden said, there will be a "speak out" of attendees.
Reports from national LGBT organizations that they were not consulted on plans for the march seemed to have left some uneasy about the marches, which are primarily being led by up-and-coming organizers.
The Chicago event is sponsored by Marriage Equality USA, Gay Liberation Network and Occupy Chicago.
Attendees are invited to bring signs and banners, said Shayden. The march kicks off at noon at Pritzker Park at State Street and Van Buren and moves north on State to Washington. It will continue east to Michigan Ave. before turning north onto Oak Street. The march will be followed by a party at Oak St. Beach.
More information on the marches is available at www.letsreachonemillionpeople.com . Information on the Chicago march can be found on Facebook at on.fb.me/ChiMarch2012.