In 2013, the Chicago Pride Parade saw its highest turnout ever, with an estimated 1,000,000 people in attendance. This is a significant increase from previous years with only 450,000 people attending in 2005.
The first “pride parade” in Chicago was in 1970. During that time it was a march of political defiance after the Stonewall Riots in 1969. The riots were acts of resistance against police who would arrest LGBTQ people and raid their bars. The next year the “Christopher Street Liberation Day March” was held in New York and other cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles to continue the political movement to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Since the parade’s origins, it has grown to become a loud and proud celebration of the LGBTQ community. It is no longer a march to fight for rights, but a political statement and celebration to commemorate how far the community, and America, have come. The turnout for Chicago’s pride has steadily increased over the years, but saw the highest numbers in 2013 when former Governor Pat Quinn signed the “ACT” into effect, legalizing gay marriage in Illinois.
Chicago’s Pride Parade is held in the Boystown neighborhood, the last weekend of June, and is the grand finale of a month of celebrations for LGBTQ Pride month.
Noelle Sanzeri Data Journalism 