Chicago Gay Pride Parade 2003
Hetrosexuals like myself who live in the East Lakeview neighorhood of Chicago (better known to locals as BoysTown), can become honorary members of the gay community towards the end of June each year if they so choose. NO it doesn’t mean the we start experimenting, just that we show up on Broadway Street to watch the Pride Parade. I must admit that for the first 5 years I lived in the neighborhood, I refused to go to the parade — even though I could hear it from my apartment. It wasn’t that I’m homophoic, in fact I’m very liberal when it comes to gay politics. I just didn’t want people to think I was gay. I know, stupid huh? Then about two years ago, I realized how silly that was and joined the half a million people to watch the parade. It always makes for a good time. Here are some shots from this years Parade held earlier today. Enjoy!
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March 11, 2004 at 7:30 pm
Staci Boyer
I participated in the Gay Pride Parade with the Bally Total Fitness Float last year and it was fantastic. We have a great surprise for this year! We had so much fun, my good friend Derrick is going to be Brittany Spears and just you watch for the rest! I thank you for having us and giving us such a warm welcome. We were the ones doing the one arm pushups!!!! Love you!
July 2, 2003 at 2:02 pm
Toonces
Gee, Urs…you coulda warned me not to open the pic at work…
July 1, 2003 at 12:41 am
Ursula
James,
Since I’m not originally from Chicago, when I moved into the neighborhood, I didn’t know it was boystown. I actually choose the neighborhood so my sister could go to Lincoln Park High, one of the better schools in the city. As for being recruited this year — well no! But the first year I was at the parade I was standing next to these lesbians who kept making eye contact. It was so weird, because I wasn’t interested. But kept thinking…oh it only that was a boy. Oh well!
June 30, 2003 at 11:01 am
Miranda
Great photos! And wasn’t the weather perfect yesterday!
June 30, 2003 at 7:59 am
titilayo
The first Gay Pride parade in Barbados was supposed to happen this weekend, but it didn’t come off. There’s still a lot of homophobia here, and I think that those people who were going to participate probably didn’t feel entirely safe and secure about the whole thing.
June 29, 2003 at 10:13 pm
Philip
Good for you! Sounds like you had a great time. I marched in Gay Pride parades in Portland several times. (Back when the police chief’s daughter was an ‘out’ lesbian.) I had such a great time, I went with several friends just to experience the San Francisco parade. What a fabulous time that was. Anyway, as I said, good for you.
June 29, 2003 at 9:01 pm
james_jackson
I haven’t even looked @ the pics yet, but I had no idea that you lived ’round the corner from Boystown.
I’ll tell you what just made me love you more:
Your honest description of your feelings about attending the gay pride parade. The feelings you explained were exactly how I felt before I braved my soul up & showed my face at a pride parade. And I knew I was gay when I was trying to get my nerve up.
And it’s fun, yes?
Nobody tried to recruit you? (Maybe one or two did…LOL, cuz you’re cute!) And you weren’t “one of them” but you still had fun.
If we could only get a more diverse group to show up & see that it’s nothing but a good time….
I dunno about you (& you don’t have to answer) but once I finally braved my ass up to go I realized we’re not all that different.
‘Cept for the clothes we wear.