CHICAGO - Equality Illinois, the State's largest organization advocating for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, will host a pre-Pride Parade Reception for elected officials, political and community leaders immediately before Chicago's 42nd annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26, 2011.
The event is open to the media. A number of invited leaders already confirmed participation, including Governor Pat Quinn, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, State Representative Greg Harris, and numerous other elected officials and community leaders.
The reception will be held:
Sunday, June 26
11am — Noon (start of the parade)
Sidetrack - 3349 N. Halsted, Chicago 60657 (two doors south of Roscoe street)
Following the reception, the parade steps off from the corner of Halsted and Belmont at noon.
The parade attracts over 500,000 participants and spectators and presents a wonderful opportunity for public officials, businesses, organizations, and other entities to demonstrate their support for the lesbian and gay community. We have much to celebrate this year given the recent passage of the civil union bill!