Organizers from at least five separate LGBT activist groups banded together to lead a march from Grant Park to the northern end of Michigan Avenue May 22.
The purpose of the march was simple: to help raise awareness for full federal equality for the LGBT community.
"We have done everything as a community we've been asked to do by the current administration," sated Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network. "But that hasn't worked. I think we need to be more visible and demanding about our rights, and marching is one of the ways we can show our frustrations."
Saturday's march was the culmination of a week's worth of LGBT activist events, scheduled in celebration of seminal gay activist and politician Harvey Milk's 80th birthday May 22.
Participants in the march arrived at Grant Part, on the corner of Congress Parkway and Michigan Avenue, at around 1 p.m.
Lindsey Dietzler, an organizer for Join the Impact Chicagoand who, along with 12 other protesters, had been arrested advocating for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act at an earlier Milk Week event held at Sen. Dick Durbin's officewas the first to speak to the crowd.
"What are you doing for your rights," stated Dietzler to those on hand. "What are you doing for the queer youth? What are you doing for justice? We need to stop arguing and demand that we be recognized. Will you stand up and fight with me?"
In Harvey Milk fashion, Dietzler concluded her speech with the words, "I am Lindsey Dietzler and I'm here to recruit you."
Three more speakers addressed the crowd, each advocating for strong future action. Among the other speakers was a retired Air Force veteran named Scott Spychala, who was speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign about repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and a self-identified undocumented queer immigrant named Juan, who explained the need for the LGBT community to support immigration reform.
At around 1:30 the crowd of about forty-five started to march down Michigan.
The protesters were met with mostly positive reactions from the random Chicagoans who happened to be downtown in time to see the march progress. There were cheers, handshakes, high-fives and other displays of general support.
As the march moved passed the Art Institute of Chicago more people, mostly college students, joined the protesters, bringing the crowd's total numbers to around 55.
Not everyone was in favor of the march, however. Jeers and disapproving gestures were common as the march made its way down the Magnificent Mile, but fortunately for the protesters there were no incidents of violence or anti-gay slurs during the entire event.
"I think the march was a great success," said Dietzler. "We got good support from the people walking by and even had a few people joined in. It went really well."
As the march concluded, other organizers cautioned that the day's festivities was only one small step in gaining full equality. Thayer, speaking before the crowd in a small gazebo located on the far north end of Michigan Ave., reminded protesters of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and what was needed to force the public to recognize the problems within the African-American community.
"We need to keep active," simply stated Thayer.
The march ended at around 3 p.m., just passed the historic water tower.
Other events held in celebration of Harvey Milk's would-be 80th birthday week included a "kiss-in" on Saturday, May 15, a film screening and discussion about homosexuality in the Bible on Monday, May 17, and the aforementioned "flashmob" protest at Dick Durbin's office that led to 13 arrests May 20.
For more information about Harvey Milk week in Chicago visit the organizer's officially website at chicagomilkweek.wordpress.com .