Editor’s note: Video for this story comes from a previous report.
Chicago officials reversed course somewhat after announcing scaled-back plans for the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade.
According to an announcement from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office, this year’s Pride Parade, scheduled for June 30, will now accept up to 150 entries. The new number of 150 entries is up from a previous announcement, capping the number of entries at 125, but down from the number of entries the parade usually sees.
Johnson’s office said the change was made after the city “engaged in a collaborative effort with the mayor.”
Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ Affairs, Chicago Pride Parade organizers, the business community, residents and several city agencies.
“The City is committed to deeper and stronger community engagement so that Pride can continue to honor the activism, visibility and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, and looks forward to remaining committed to the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate Pride in 2024 and beyond,” the press release added. .
The plan to reduce the size of the parade — one of the nation’s oldest and largest Pride parades — came last month after the city’s Department of Transportation and Chicago police raised concerns in terms of security and logistics. Organizers said at that time that priority entries would be given to LGBTQ+ organizations, groups, businesses and those with LGBTQ employee resource groups.
“It’s really interesting to hear that they’re ending it early for safety reasons, because even at the end of the parade, everything felt perfectly fine,” said Victoria Lipscomb, who walked in the parade last year. last year.
“I think it’s good,” said Dakota Trenkemp, who attended the parade last year. “The parade normally lasts three to four hours, at least in the two years I’ve been going, so it leads to a lot of problems with people being out that long during the summer.”
In addition to the capped number of entries, this year the parade will start an hour earlier, at 11 a.m., instead of noon. The parade route will also be shortened by at least six to seven blocks, according to organizers.
“I look at it a bit like optimizing rather than downsizing: optimizing the parade so that it really focuses on us and the organizations,” said Terrence Chappell, director of Chappell Communications Group.
The parade, scheduled for Sunday, June 30, is expected to draw more than a million people to the Uptown, Lakeview and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, the same week as July 4 and the weekend before NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race.
“Of course, safety is the most important priority, but if they still want to get a million people here, that’s still going to be a million people. It doesn’t matter if it’s an extra 45 minutes or not.” , said Michael Hornick, owner of the Chicago Diner near Roscoe and Halsted.
While some people are disappointed, others tell NBC 5 they are ready for the celebration.
“Since it’s still happening, (and) I think that’s the great part,” Lipscomb said. “It’s still happening; the parade is happening; we can still celebrate, and that’s the big problem.”
Despite the changes, the executive director of the Northalsted Business Alliance said they are excited about the parade this summer. He told NBC Chicago that the alliance is currently looking for space to host a post-parade celebration similar to a block party.
NBC Chicago
