Nearly 450,000 People Lined the Streets in Chicago’s Boystown
Chicago, IL -
Gay pride flags lined Halsted and neighboring streets as the Gay Pride Parade stepped off at Belmont and Halsted under beautiful sunny skies Sunday afternoon.
The parade, which is organized by Pride Chicago, had nearly 450,000 people in attendance according to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. Spectators lined the streets, rooftops and balconies to celebrate Gay Pride in Lakeview.
Pride Parade Photos:
Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three
Gallery Four | Gallery Five | Gallery Six
All Pride Parade Photos
This is the parade's 36th 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.
Gay pride parades began in the 1970s to commemorate June 1969's Stonewall riots in New York. The riots, which started after police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village, are considered to be the beginning of the gay rights movement.
Along with the festive and colorful floats were the usual politicians, decorated vehicles and walking contingents. Near the front of the parade were Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-10th), and Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court Dorothy Brown. Leading the parade as Special Guest was actor and activist Wilson Cruz.
Recording artist and former American Idol Finalist, Jim Verraros greeted the crowd from the ChicagoPride.com float (full story) that broadcast his Billboard hit “You Turn It On,” from his new CD "Rollercoaster."
The ChicagoPride.com float was lead by a "sterling" silver 2006 Jaguar XK Convertible featuring ChicagoPride.com and JustCircuit.com personality Jessika Sterling.
Pride was held in dozens of communities over the weekend, including San Francisco, New York City, Houston, Atlanta and Toronto.
Photo: As Parade Special Guest, Actor Wilson Cruz works to energize the crowd, estimated at nearly 450,000.
Photo courtesy: www.needgraphics.com
PARADE AWARDS
All Around Entry- Q Television/Gay Games- for their energy and enthusiasm (as they look forward to the Gay Games).
Organization- Chicago Spirit Brigade- for their energy and performance as they went up the parade route showing their talents.
Business- Hydrate- who included Chicago House as part of their energetic float entry.
Theme- Acme Toy Company- who adapted the "Equal Rights ! -No More-No Less"
international Pride theme ( making it, "Equal Rights--No Bull ! " which portrayed a float w/ a man riding a large gold bull, supporting equal rights for all ).
Honorable Mentions-
Howard Orloff Imports/ChicagoPride.com/Jessika Sterling- for their very elegant and well dressed entry.
Lee Lumber- for their comedic "double-entendre" entry.
Illinois Lottery- for one of the most colorful, rainbow hued floats in recent years.
Tails in the City- for their elegant, well dressed entry participants.
The parade, which is organized by Pride Chicago, had nearly 450,000 people in attendance according to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. Spectators lined the streets, rooftops and balconies to celebrate Gay Pride in Lakeview.
Pride Parade Photos:
Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three
Gallery Four | Gallery Five | Gallery Six
All Pride Parade Photos
This is the parade's 36th 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.
Gay pride parades began in the 1970s to commemorate June 1969's Stonewall riots in New York. The riots, which started after police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village, are considered to be the beginning of the gay rights movement.
Along with the festive and colorful floats were the usual politicians, decorated vehicles and walking contingents. Near the front of the parade were Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-10th), and Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court Dorothy Brown. Leading the parade as Special Guest was actor and activist Wilson Cruz.
Recording artist and former American Idol Finalist, Jim Verraros greeted the crowd from the ChicagoPride.com float (full story) that broadcast his Billboard hit “You Turn It On,” from his new CD "Rollercoaster."
The ChicagoPride.com float was lead by a "sterling" silver 2006 Jaguar XK Convertible featuring ChicagoPride.com and JustCircuit.com personality Jessika Sterling.
Pride was held in dozens of communities over the weekend, including San Francisco, New York City, Houston, Atlanta and Toronto.
Photo: As Parade Special Guest, Actor Wilson Cruz works to energize the crowd, estimated at nearly 450,000.
Photo courtesy: www.needgraphics.com
PARADE AWARDS
All Around Entry- Q Television/Gay Games- for their energy and enthusiasm (as they look forward to the Gay Games).
Organization- Chicago Spirit Brigade- for their energy and performance as they went up the parade route showing their talents.
Business- Hydrate- who included Chicago House as part of their energetic float entry.
Theme- Acme Toy Company- who adapted the "Equal Rights ! -No More-No Less"
international Pride theme ( making it, "Equal Rights--No Bull ! " which portrayed a float w/ a man riding a large gold bull, supporting equal rights for all ).
Honorable Mentions-
Howard Orloff Imports/ChicagoPride.com/Jessika Sterling- for their very elegant and well dressed entry.
Lee Lumber- for their comedic "double-entendre" entry.
Illinois Lottery- for one of the most colorful, rainbow hued floats in recent years.
Tails in the City- for their elegant, well dressed entry participants.
