Chicago Pride Parade’s Safety, Future


It started as a simple protest march from Bug House Square to Daley Plaza 46 years ago. Now the Pride Parade is Chicago's largest parade (not counting the occasional Stanley Cup procession). But has the LGBT celebration outgrown its Boystown home? We talk with the man who has coordinated the parade for 45 years and the Lakeview alderman, Tom Tunney, about the parade's past and future.


Chicago’s Pride Parade started with a few dozen people who met in Bug House Square to commemorate the Stonewall riot.  Here’s a clip explaining how it all began in 1969 from WTTW’s documentary Out & Proud In Chicago. WTTW is airing Out & Proud in Chicago, hosted by actress Jane Lynch, Thursday at 8:00 pm. The documentary tells the history of Chicago’s LGBT community from the Civil War to present day.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors


 The 46th annual Pride Parade snakes its way through Uptown, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park. View a map of the route.

Due to the 2015 Chicago Pride Parade this Sunday, there will be some street closures near the parade route. The following locations near the parade route will be closed on Sunday, June 28 from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm:

  • Diversey Parkway from Broadway Street to Cannon Drive
  • Cannon Drive from Diversey Parkway to Fullerton Parkway

Beginning at 5:00am, cars parked along the route will be towed.

There will also be rolling street closures as the parade travels south down the route. The parade will begin at 12:00 pm at the intersection of Broadway and Montrose. It will proceed south on Broadway; then south on Halsted, and then east on to Belmont then south on Broadway. The parade will continue east on Diversey to Cannon Drive. Chicago Police will reopen these streets to traffic as they deem safe to do so. Visit the Pride Parade’s website for more information.

Additionally, the Chicago Transit Authority will provide additional bus and rail service for those attend the parade. 


Watch a video montage of the Pride Parade over the last 45 years.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors