Mon. June 25, 2007
Chicago, IL -
Gay pride flags lined Halsted and neighboring streets as the Gay Pride Parade stepped off at Belmont and Halsted on Sunday. An overcast sky gave way to sunshine offering another spectacular Pride day celebration in Chicago.
The parade, which is organized by PRIDEChicago, drew over 450,000 people according to the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Spectators celebrated Gay Pride from the streets, rooftops and balconies in the Lakeview neighborhood known as "Boystown."
This is the parade's 38th year in the city, and with 250 entries this year it has grown to become the second-largest parade, behind the annual Bud Billiken Parade, which is also the largest African-American parade in the country. Just 150 people participated in the first Pride parade in Chicago in 1970.
Along with the festive and colorful floats were the usual politicians, decorated vehicles and walking contingents. Near the front was a contingent of marchers "Out for Obama" pledging support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.
Leading the parade as grand marshal was former NBA player John Amaechi, who recently acknowledged that he is gay. Amaechi has just completed a book tour for his New York Times best-selling autobiography, Man in the Middle, in which he discusses his life journey, including his experiences in the NBA.
As the parade made its way through Lakeview it passed by the newly opened $40 million Center on Halsted, the largest community center in the Midwest. The 65,000 square-foot eco-friendly building located at 3656 N. Halsted St. houses the community center providing mental health services, youth programs, community and cultural programming, a technology center and meeting and office space for other LGBT non-profits.
Several protesters stationed near the end of the parade shouted anti-gay insults but were generally drowned out by the enthusiast crowd, parade participants and music.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Lakeshore Pride Freedom Band stopped in front of the protestors, turned and began to play "Jesus Loves Me."
Related: Pride Parade Photos
PRIDEChicago has announced awards in several categories:
Best All Around Float: Sidetrack (for their visual presentation).
Best Business Float(s): ( a tie !) : Hydrate (for their energy and presentation). and
Stolichnaya (for their ornate, unique entry).
Best Organization or Group Float: ( for the second year in a row !): Columbia College (for their '60's parody float)
Best Entry Using the Pride Theme: United For Equality: BP
( for incorporating the theme and the enthusiasm of their participating employees).
Honorable Mention(s): (two, this year---both for their colorful costumes and presentation):
Circuit Nightclub
Illinois Lottery
Parade day was capped off with ABC-7 Chicago's one hour parade recap on Sunday hosted by ABC 7's Janet Davies with Lou Canellis on the street, and special guest WXRT's Terri Hemmert, as well as Pride Parade Coordinator, Richard Pfeiffer. This was the fourth year in a row that ABC-7 Chicago (www.abc7chicago.com) has aired a taped version of the parade.
Related: Interview with John Amaechi
Photo by: Frank Failing
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