PRIDEChicago (the Pride Parade organizers) publish a Pride Guide every year that contains a lot of useful information about Pride Month, such as the pride month calendar, the parade route, and parade entries.

The Pride Guide also contains a full list of rules for Pride Parade participants.  Here are just a few of the rules that I thought needed a little commenting on (in no particular order):

1.   "No barbecuing along the parade line-up or on parade vehicles"

You would think common sense would prohibit red hot coals, open flames, or flammable gases from being used on moving vehicles, but no, Chicago has an ordinance for that.

2.   "No objects including candy, product samples, or other materials may be thrown into the crowd from parade floats, parade vehicles or walking groups"

Watch out for those condom packages. They won't poke your eye out, but they might scratch up your cornea something fierce!

3.   No getting on or off floats or other vehicles once the parade has started, even when the floats or vehicles are stopped due to traffic or other issues.

I can see the logic when the floats are moving, but when they're stopped?

4.   No "public use of alcohol and drugs by parade participants"

Why do they specify no "public" use? If you follow this rule exactly as written, you'd be allowed to enjoy your adult beverage in a private area of your float. They have private areas on floats, right?

5.   No nudity - "city ordinance defines and prohibits nudity"

There appear to be at least two ordinances that apply to public nudity:

"indecent exposure or dress" is prohibited and defined as a person being in public "in such a manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic hair, buttocks, perineum, anus, anal region, or pubic hair region of any person, or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person, is exposed to public view or is not covered by an opaque covering."

"nudity" is prohibited and is defined as "the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a full opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernible turgid state."

You've been warned: no discernible turgidity or visible buttockses.

6.   "High powered water rifles, 'super soakers' or squirt guns that could cause injuries are not allowed, nor is tossing water or other liquids"

Unless you're dumping a silo full of water on the crowd, I would think water in any form is pretty harmless and even desirable on a hot Parade day.

7.   Helium balloons "are not to be released into the air in accordance with FAA regulations"

Remember when you were a little kid and you attached a message to a helium balloon and let it go? That was cool.

8.   "Real firearms are not allowed"

"Real" firearms? And what, fake ones are ok? Who would want to bring a fake gun on a parade float? Doesn't really seem to go with the whole rainbow theme.

Posted by Travis Brandon

Meet and greet members of the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame (GLHF) tonight, June 20, from 6-10pm at Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N Halsted St. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served and entertainment will be provided by the Circuit Nightclub staff. The 2010 GLHF exhibit will also be set up for viewing.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. The proceeds from this event help support the GLHF in their important mission to recognize and preserve the many efforts and achievements that individuals have made in eradicating homophobic bias and discrimination.

Each year the GLHF inducts new members into its ranks through a nomination and selection process.  Nomination forms will be provided at the Pride & Joy event, as well as on GLHF's website, and are due by July 15. The 2011 induction ceremony is currently scheduled for Tuesday November 8 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Posted by Travis Brandon