American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) has announced its schedule of events for Pride Month. The events are:
— June 2: Monthly meeting, Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont, 7 p.m.
— June 6: Salute to LGBT Veterans, Daley Plaza, 12 noon [ see below ] .
— June 11: Beer and BBQ Bust, Bucks, 3439 N. Halsted, 3 p.m.
— June 16: Booksigning at Women & Children, 5233 N. Clark, 7:30 p.m., with Zsa Zsa Gershick, author of Secret Service: Untold Stories of Lesbians in the Military.
— June 17: South Side Annual Party; call ( 773 ) 732-0058 for info.
— June 25: Pride celebration, Halsted between Waveland & Grace.
— June 26: City of Chicago's 36th Annual Pride Parade, noon.
AVER will assemble for the parade at 11 a.m. The organization plans to display GUS, its 50-foot American flag—but needs volunteers to help carry it along the parade route. To volunteer, call ( 773 ) 752-0058.
The 2005 Mayor's Salute to LGBT Veterans has been scheduled for noon June 6 ( D-Day ) in Daley Plaza, 55 W. Randolph. The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will perform music from the 1940s, in keeping with the WWII theme. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will be the keynote speaker. Call the American Veterans for Equal Rights at ( 773 ) 752-0058 or Jean Albright of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network at ( 773 ) 871-7610, or Mayor's liaison Bill Greaves at ( 312 ) 744-7911 for information.