Tue. March 12, 2024
Organizers of the annual Chicago Pride Parade announced Tuesday the date and theme for 2024.
The 53rd annual Chicago Pride Parade will get underway at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 30.
The theme for this year's parade is "Pride in Power."
The theme is meant to highlight the "fundamental role the Chicago Pride Parade has played in creating visibility and advocating for effective change for the city and region’s LGBTQ+ community for five decades," PRIDEChicago announced in a release.
“We have so much to celebrate in the 55 years since the Stonewall uprisings in New York City, leading to the fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States,” parade coordinator Tim Frye said in the release. “It’s still very important to remember that there is much more remaining in our fight for equality.”
In 2023, for the first time in its history, the Human Rights Campaign declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans in response to the over 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced into state houses across the country, more than 80 of which were passed into law. Most of those bills introduced in 2023 specifically targeted the rights of transgender people; who have been pillars of the LGBTQ+ community’s fight for equality since Stonewall which occurred in June of 1969.
“Now is the time to embrace the power of Pride,” said parade co-coordinator Ron Thomas. “Our unified voice empowers us to keep our movement moving forward."
More than 150 cities host pride parades worldwide. More than 90 of them are held in the United States. At least 12 parades are held on the last weekend of June each year, marking the uprising at Stonewall.
Chicago’s Pride Parade is the oldest in the country, organizers said. The event started as a march on Saturday, June 27, 1970, to mark the anniversary of Stonewall. PRIDEChicago (GLBT Committee) has organized the parade since 1974.
According to organizers, over one million people are expected to pack the parade route, which starts in the Uptown neighborhood, passes through Lakeview and wraps up in Lincoln Park.
“The history and significance of the Chicago Pride Parade is truly inspiring. We invite everyone to join us in this movement: Pride is Power,” said parade co-coordinator Steve Long.
More information can be found at pridechicago.org.
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