Sun. May 19, 2019
Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot will be inaugurated as Chicago's 56th mayor during a swearing-in ceremony at Wintrust Arena on Monday, May 20.
"I look forward to joining Chicagoans on Inauguration Day to celebrate the start of a new day for our incredible city," Lightfoot said in a statement. "We're building a Chicago that celebrates our differences, inspires us all to be better, and embraces new ideas. There is no limit to what we can do when we all work together."
Doors open at 8 a.m. and the event begins at 10 a.m., with the official swearing-in at 10:30 a.m. The event is open to the public but anyone wanting to attend must have registered beforehand, and tickets are now wait-list only per Lightfoot's website.
The inauguration event is scheduled to end at 11:45 a.m., then in the afternoon, Lightfoot and her wife Amy Eshleman plan to host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the mayor's office on the fifth floor of City Hall, located at 121 N. LaSalle St. in the Loop. The open house is open to the public and no tickets are required.
Lightfoot becomes the first African-American woman and first openly lesbian mayor in Chicago's history.
During her victory speech, Lightfoot told supporters:
"One day, you will stand on my shoulders, as I stand on the shoulders of so many: The shoulders of strong black women, like Ida B. Wells, Gwendolyn Brooks and Annie Ruth Lowery. The shoulders of LGBTQ-plus trailblazers, like Dr. Ron Sable, Vernita Gray and Art Johnston. And the shoulders of political giants, like the late, great Harold Washington."
Lightfoot also becomes the highest-ranking LGBTQ mayor in American history and the only black openly lesbian mayor in the nation.
Related: Lightfoot named Honorary Grand Marshal of 2019 Chicago Pride Parade
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