The Chicago 44th Annual Pride Parade is scheduled for Sunday, June 30 at Noon. The parade will start at the corner of Broadway and Montrose traveling the same route as last year: From the Broadway/Montrose corner, proceeding south on Broadway, then south on Halsted, then east on Belmont, then south on Broadway, then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive, in Lincoln Park.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, like his predecessors, has named June as "Pride Month" in Chicago.
The Grand Marshal for the parade will be announced in a few days. See update here: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Wade-Davis-Grand-Marshal-of-Chicagos-44th-Pride-parade/43037.html .
PRIDEChicago, organizers of the Chicago Annual Pride Parade, who also compile the Chicago June Pride Month Calendar of events each year, sent out the information/registration packets on March 1. The packet contained forms to register an entry in the parade, to place an event on the official Chicago June Pride Month Calendar; and to place an ad in the Chicago Pride Guide booklet. Many community organizations and businesses have already registered for the Pride Parade and/or have listed events on the June Pride Month Calendar.
Each year, Pride Month features dozens of different events organized by various community organizations, groups and individuals. Every year, the Chicago June Pride Month Calendar is featured on PRIDEChicago's website and in the Chicago Pride Guide booklet, as well as in community publications and websites. An updated version of the calendar is on PRIDEChicago's web site, ChicagoPrideCalendar.org .
This year, the June Pride Month Calendar includes choral concerts, dances, theater presentations, picnics, receptions, dinners, book/autograph sessions, a competitive run, religious services, festivals, a dyke march and the annual parade, just to name a few. If there is an event that an organization or individual wants to coordinate during June Pride Month, all they have to do is to organize it .... and it can be added to the calendar.
Historically speaking, in the 1970s and '80s, pride events were concentrated during a week called "Pride Week" in Chicago as well as cities nationwide.
However, as the communities grew and events increased in number, the week was expanded to "Pride Month."
Spacing the events over an entire month allows potential participants the choice of selecting events that they want to attend, at their leisure.
The theme for this year's Pride Celebrations, suggested by InterPride (the international association of pride groups) is "Pride 365." An alternative suggested theme is "Pride 365..' Have Pride Year 'Round." However, each year, parade entries, as well as groups sponsoring Pride Month events, have the option of using the international theme, an alternate theme or a theme or slogan of their own choice.
PRIDEChicago's web site, chicagopridecalendar.org will be updated from now through June Pride Month.
For more information: PrideChgo@aol.com or 773-348-8243, Richard Pfeiffer, coordinator.
www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/2013MayorProclamation.pdf .
