by Jonathan Mathias

This past Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and the special day marking 40 years of activism for LGBT rights just happened to fall on the day of Chicago’s Pride Parade. Halsted Street was its usual calamitous self, chock full of drag queens, galavanting twinks in only underwear and seemingly more allies than ever. Stonewall’s anniversary combined with the past year’s surge of LGBT awareness and the perfect weather brought together all of the elements for one of the biggest and longest Pride Parades ever. Over 450,000 people lined the streets from Belmont and Halsted to Diversey and Sheridan, many cheering on the participants and administering whacks with wooden paddles provided by The Pleasure Chest. The parade showcased the diversity and breadth our community with 250 organizations marching, including Cul de sac Magazine, to a timeless soundtrack of the recently passed Michael Jackson’s hits.

Check out Jonathan’s full Pride photo essay on Flickr.

This upcoming weekend will feature a host of activities directed at the LGBT community for Pride. The 40th Annual Pride Parade will be held on Sunday, June 28th, the same date as the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which informed the modern LGBT rights movement. Beginning at noon from the corner of Halsted and Belmont, the parade will feature approximately 250 groups on floats and marching to celebrate this year’s international theme “Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights.”

Preceding the Pride Parade on Saturday, the Dyke March will take place for the second year in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. The event begins at 1 PM at 1800 S. Halsted. It is an anti-racist, anti-violence event that encourages fair treatment of LGBTQ individuals in all areas of Chicago (i.e. not just Boystown).

Beginning July 1, Chicago Black Pride will be held at The Wit Hotel (201 N. State St.) This nearly week-long event features receptions, film screenings, dance performances, poetry slams and more, culminating in a worship service and outdoor festival at Rainbow Beach and Park (3111 E. 77th St.)

And don’t forget, the Taste of Chicago will be going on all week long, June 26 to July 5. If you’re downtown, you better be hungry.