PRIDE PARADE SUNDAY: 32nd Pride Parade Sunday, June 24
The 32nd annual Chicago Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade is Sunday, June 24.
An estimated 350,000 people are expected to watch and/or participate in the parade, which kicks off at 2 p.m. from Halsted and Belmont. The parade goes north to Broadway, then south on Broadway to Diversey.
Last year's parade drew more than 200 entries.
Former National League Umpire Dave Pallone is the special parade marshall this year. There is no post-parade rally in the park.
There are dozens of events to choose from this weekend, including the Frontrunners Proud to Run Saturday morning ( with special guest singer Kate Schutt from Boston ) ; softball, bowling, basketball, and volleyball tournaments; Kindred Hearts' Pride Dance Friday at Unity Church; Horizons' annual pride event Friday; ACLU's Girls on Top Saturday with Catie Curtis in Andersonville; a LadyFest concert post-pride with Ellen Rosner and Ripley Caine at Schuba's; a post-pride youth dance at Ann Sather's; post-pride with the Girlbar gals at Ann Sather's on Belmont; Patty Elvis Band at Berlin Saturday; Chick Band Push at Star Gaze after the parade; and of course most gay bars will have specials all weekend. See calendar in the second section of this paper, pages 98-99.
Dyke March June 23
This year's Dyke March is set for the same dyke time, same dyke place as last year, organizers say. Marchers will gather at 1:30 p.m. on Sat., June 23, at the northwest corner of Ashland and Foster. The march will begin at 2 p.m., heading west on Foster to Clark, then north to Bryn Mawr. The rally will again be held at Bryn Mawr beach.
This year's speaker is internationally known Native American Menominee poet Chrystos. Call ( 773 ) 250-3381.
Pastors call for
meeting with cardinal
Pastors of the Archdiocese of Chicago have reportedly requested a meeting with Cardinal George over his refusal of Communion to members of the Rainbow Sash Movement.
At the meeting, pastors were expected to question the reasons for the refusal and to address
issues with the cardinal's leadership style.
The Rainbow Sash Movement is a coalition of gays and their straight allies. For more information, visit www.RainbowSashMovement.org .
Jewish foundation sets up gay, lesbian fund
The Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago established a fund earlier this week in an attempt to reach out to gays and lesbians, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Organizers believe the fund is the first of its kind in North America. It is intended to help finance programs such as serving kosher meals for Jewish HIV-positive people or scholarships for gay or lesbian students in rabbinical schools.
Co-founders include Marcia Lipetz, Bruce Lederman and Rabbi Suzanne Griffel of Congregation Or Chadash.
Steering committee members have already given the Jewish Lesbian and Gay Fund $25,000. Organizers hope to raise $100,00 in the next year.
Grants for groups working with young lesbians
Chicago-based Girl's Best Friend Foundation is offering more than $450,000 in grants to programs that serve girls and young women, with a special focus on lesbians and bisexuals.
Funding guidelines can be obtained by calling ( 312 ) 266-2842 or by visiting www.girlsbestfriend.org . Letters of intent must be submitted by Aug. 6. New and existing groups are eligible.
Girl's Best Friend, which was founded in 1994, is the only foundation to deal exclusively with girls and young women in Illinois.
BRIEFLY
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus's Midwest Pride, concerts featuring CGMC and special guests the Heartland Men's Chorus of Kansas City, are June 22-23. A portion of the proceeds benefit HIVCO, the HIV Coalition, 8 p.m., Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport, ( 773 ) 935-6860.
As part of pride celebrations, NAMES Project Chicago will exhibit the works of Israel Wright and Pat Cummings, two Chicago photographers. A reception will be held Friday, June 22, 5-7 p.m. with wine and appetizers. Call ( 773 ) 472-1600.
The 2001 Bayard Rustin Awards sponsored by The Greater Chicago Committee are Friday, June 29 at the DuSable Museum, 7-10 p.m. Call ( 773 ) 287-3263. Top GLBT African-Americans, organizations and businesses will be honored.
The Windy City Black LGBT Pride Committee will be sponsoring the last fundraiser for this year's Pride celebration Wed., June 20 at High Risk Gallery, 1115 W. Belmont, 6:30-9:30 p.m. ( free food and drinks ) . There are three levels of patron donations which will be published in the WCBP program book: $25 Bronze, $50 Silver, $100 or more Gold.
WCBP and Chicago Black Pride celebrations will all be held over a jam-packed weekend starting June 29.
Thursday, June 28 is the premiere of Lesbian Community Cancer Project's 10th Anniversary Video, and people can learn about LCCP at this free cinematic rendezvous, 7 p.m., at High Risk Gallery, 1115 W. Belmont. Call ( 773 ) 561-4662; www.lccp.org
