Chicago Pride Parade 2009: The Fabulous and the Filthy
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When beads rain from the sky, the gutters are filled with broken bottles and spilled beer and half a million people wear enough clothing to garb a fraction of that, you know you're at the Pride Parade again.
This was the 40th anniversary of the parade, which began to commemorate the Stonewall riots. The riots were the first major incident where the gay community fought back against governments that persecuted sexual minorities. In memory of the revolution the parade's theme this year was “Stonewall: 40 Years After”.
The atmosphere was more like Mardi Gras though. Those that lived along the parade route hung from windows or watched the crowd from balconies and roof tops. The crowd on the ground tried to goad the residents into throwing down bead necklaces. Anything from shouting to shedding clothing could win you a trophy to drape around your neck.
The ground was less glamorous. Along the curbs were piles of garbage, broken bottles and the occasional lost flip-flop. Trash cans were overflowing while parade goers continued to try to pile the waste higher.
The Fabulous
How do you go about winning THOSE?
Observing from the observation decks
The judges...
...and the potential contestants
The Supreme Court, of bead necklaces
At least no one will want to take his seat
Amount of clothing is inversely proportional to amount of beads
The Filthy
Chicago River circa 1980
Someone was very thirsty
Bud Light keeps you hydrated, right?
No parking, yes littering
Where did the curb go?
Sighting of the elusive trash can
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From the Sun-times.
Politicians in the parade: Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, and State Rep. Deb Mell
From: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1643395,CST-NWS-gaypride29.article
Amid the festivities of the Pride Parade, panic ensued when a man used large squirt gun to spray a "green substance" from a rooftop in Lake View neighborhood.
From: http://www.wbbm780.com/Man-arrested-for-spraying-Pride-Parade-crowd/4697057
The Pride Parade isn't some unplanned happening yet the City of Chicago can't spool up services enough to keep the streets and sidewalks clean - and safe. 900,000 flip-flops and thousands of broken glass bottles aren't a good combination. Except for podiatrists - probably related to Daley and/or Burke. That would explain the lack of containers.
Loved the emphasis on pictures of everything BUT the parade participants for a change.
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