Aurora celebrates Pride Month with its fourth annual parade

Hundreds of people celebrated LGBTQ Pride Month in the western suburbs on Sunday as Aurora hosted its 4th annual Pride parade.

72 groups braved the rain and cooler temperatures to march in the parade, which made its way through downtown Aurora. 

There was concern earlier this year that the parade would not happen following a 2022 squabble between the city and Aurora Pride. 

"Since the first Pride Parade in 2018, my administration has actively advocated for and publicly supported the parade and other Pride activities," Mayor Richard Irvin said in a statement. "Just as I said last year during the Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, our goal is to have an inclusive, safe, energetic, and empowering event in Aurora. We've done it before, and we'll do it again this year."

Ahead of the parade, Irvin and his administration hosted its annual Pride Flag-Raising Ceremony on June 9.

Irvin marched in Sunday’s parade. 

This is the first parade in Aurora since the city’s LGBTQ advisory board was established last year. Consisting of nine members, the group advises the city concerning the needs of its LGBTQ community.

Photos: 2023 Aurora Pride Parade