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Thousands of rainbow-colored walkers and spectators, balloons, feathers and pearls descended on Lake View on Sunday to celebrate LGBTQ equality at the 49th Annual Chicago Pride Parade. Excited woos and music mingled in the air and smiles were scattered all over the world.
This year, 150 registered entries took part in the parade, ranging from LGBTQ community organizations, businesses, performing arts groups, host churches, brass bands and elected officials, and candidates for the position. . The parade closes Chicago's Pride Month each year.
The parade was stopped at North Broadway Ave. and West Montrose Ave. at noon and made its way south on Broadway to North Halsted St. in Boystown. From there, the parade went down Halsted, turned east on Belmont Ave and continued south to finally end in Lincoln Park.
The 49th Pride Parade was walking the streets of Boystown. | Rick Majewski / For the Sun-Times.
The great Marshal of the year, Orlando "El Fenomeno" Cruz, the first openly gay professional boxer in the world and winner of the World Boxing Organizational Featherweight Title in 2016, led the Pride-Goers squad.
"Pride is where we can feel free and supported," said Sarah Weidmann, who had come to see with his wife, Ruth, his mother, and his maiden.
The Chicago Pride Parade was the first in the country – it began in 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots – when patrons of a gay bar decided to defend themselves during a raid policeman and a shakedown in New York. June 28, 1969.
"I'm proud of myself … it's a reminder that we are capable of being ourselves," said Steven Acosta, a participant in the MB Financial Bank Parade. "Who we are today is not what we were years ago in the past."
For some, it was the first time that they attended the festivities, while others said that they had been celebrating the Chicago tradition for decades.
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Alejandro Figueroa and his boyfriend, Mark Schmieding, celebrated their second pride parade together. For them, the parade celebrates the inclusivity of the city.
"You have the right to be who you are, no one can blame you for that, and we celebrate that," Figueroa said.
Thomas Ayala strutted and spun in a garish and glittery suit. Ayala, 49, said he had participated in this celebration over the past two decades.
"It's about people," Ayala said. "And there is a lot of gay pride among the people of Chicago."
Patrice Barbee at the 49th Chicago Pride Parade. | Rick Majewski / For the SunTimes.
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Patrice Barbee at the 49th Chicago Pride Parade. | Rick Majewski / For the SunTimes.
On the other hand, Sabrina Milon, 20, was attending her first parade and awarded her to her two best friends.
"My two best friends are together and they are gay, but I love them so much and I see the love between them and it just inspired me, you know what, the love is not there. There are no borders, "said the Chicago native. "It's what you feel between a person, and honestly, that's what it means to me, I'm doing it for them."
Some have come forward to support close family or friends who are members of the LGBTQ community as direct allies. One of these people was Belinda Norris, who said that she was here for the first time for her gay nephew Joe.
"It's good that everyone is recognized for what it is," said Norris. "Straight, gay or whatever."
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