Few cities have a greater variety of Pride-related gay events going on during the month of June than Chicago, whose Gay Pride Month includes sporting events, food tastings, parades, plays, musical performances, parties, queer youth gatherings, and ceremonies of all kinds. Chicago's most significant Pride events take place primarily during the third week in June (June 22 to June 29, in 2008), in part to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, New York City's Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969.
Many major cities around the world host their Gay Pride Celebrations around this same time, among them Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, and Toronto.
Chicago's main Pride celebrations center around a series of events and parties, culminating in the city's Annual Pride Parade. Events include lectures, awards ceremonies, book discussions, and all sorts of parties - check out the official Chicago Pride 2008 calendar for details. Here's a look at a few key events that make up Chicago Gay Pride 2008:
Come hungry for the "Halsted Tastes Better" Food Sampling presented on Monday, June 16, by the North Halsted Merchants Association. It's $20 for advance tickets and $25 at the gate to sample some of the delicious victuals prepared by the many gay-friendly restaurants of Boys' Town in Lakeview.
A particularly timely event leading up to Pride is the 6th Annual City of Chicago Salute to LGBT Veterans, which is held on Monday, June 23, at the Daley Center Plaza from noon until 1 pm.
At 8 pm on the nights of June 26, 27, and 28 (and also at 3 pm on on June 28), the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents "The Boys are Back in Town! GMCC Celebrates Pride in Boystown!", at the Lake View Presbyterian Church (716 W. Addison St..
The Pride Run and Walk, held Saturday morning, June 28, by Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Chicago, is a great place to burn off the calories you may have consumed during the Halsted Food Sampling. It takes place at W. Montrose Ave., just east of N. Lake Shore Dr., by Montrose Harbor, at 8 am.
The Chicago PrideFest Street Festival is a great place to meet local merchants and learn about area GLBT organization. It's from 11 am till 9 pm on Saturday, June 28, and takes place at the intersection of N. Halsted St. and W. Waveland Ave. and features the music of Martha Wash, Tiffany, the Windy City Choir, Frenchie Davis, and more.
There's a Chicago Dyke March on Saturday, at 1 pm until 2:30 pm. It moves to a new South Side location in 2008, commencing at the corner of S. Halsted and W. 18th St..
Chicago Pride's big event is its Annual Pride Parade, a wild and celebratory procession that begins at noon on Sunday. The parade begins at the way-gay corner of Halsted Street and Belmont Avenue and continues north on Halsted, then south on Broadway, then east on Diversey, and then onto Cannon Drive, where it ends in Lincoln Park.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, such as Chicago Free Press and Windy City Times, for details.
