In Boystown (recently renamed Northalsted), The Independent team is wedged between an NEIU student wearing a heavy leather jacket and an editor with a rainbow sign saying “SCOTUS (Supreme Justice of the Supreme Court) can suck my scrotus”. A man selling hilariously raunchy t-shirts to the crowd, while shouting to the crowd about his prices. People parked by a former police station on Addison and Halsted, preparing food from three grill carts. Four women handing promotional sparkling water out of a plastic tilt truck to thirsty queer people.
The 53th annual Chicago Pride Parade was a festive affair held on Sunday, June 30, 2024.This year’s theme was “Pride is Power.” This year brought some significant change to the parade structure: a reduction in the number of float entries, from almost 200 in years past down to 150. The initial number of entries were 120, but after protest, it was raised to 150.
Several businesses supported the parade, including United Airlines and other airlines, as well as LGBTQ+ businesses like Howard Brown, a affirming healthcare organization, with different outreach locations in Chicago and Sidetrack, a LGBTQIA+ bar in the heart of Northalsted. Despite the smaller number of floats, there were some non-business floats like Truman College and other City Colleges of Chicago, broadcast outlets such as Telemundo, as well as some affirming churches, like Lakeview Lutheran Church and Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
An array of free items were thrown out to the crowd, including ice pops, beads, candies. A few lucky crowd members received t-shirts, bags, gift cards, stickers, temporary tattoos, among other goods.
The parade also had its fair share of performances, including a marching band, followed by a color guard, and four people performing wheel gymnastics. There were also two separate country dance groups square dancing in front of the crowd, and a motorcycle group performing.
Chicago is no stranger to Pride of the queer nature, as there is a neighborhood focused on being a haven for LGBTQ+ members. While there were several other Pride celebrations throughout the year, and in different neighborhoods, there is a lot to appreciate of one of the biggest Pride celebrations in Illinois.
