Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz, the first openly gay active professional boxer, served as the parade’s grand marshal and led more than 150 entries of floats, bands, performers and community-based organizations down the parade route.įor 50 years, communities across the country have been coming together each June to recognize National Pride Month, a time to celebrate and honor the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activism and equality. It is estimated that more than 1 million people descended upon Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to be a part of the merriment that takes place once a year on the last Sunday in the month of June.
A beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon served as the backdrop as the University of Chicago Medicine and the University of Chicago joined forces to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during Chicago’s 49th Annual Pride Parade.Ĭoordinated by the Biological Sciences Division’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and LGBTQ+ resource group, more than 75 faculty, staff, students and allies proudly participated in the parade – from excitedly waving and dancing on the float to joyously distributing UChicago branded water bottles to onlookers along the parade route.
