53rd Chicago Pride Parade
Sunday, June 30th

prideCollage
  • WHAT: 2024 Chicago Area Mensa Rainbow Pride Parade and Luncheon afterward.
  • WHO: You, your family, and any friends who might want to join you.
  • WHEN: Sunday, June 30th.
  • TIME: Line up begins around 10 AM and continues until 11 AM, but feel free to arrive earlier if it’s more convenient or you like socializing. We will make a concerted effort to make sure new participants meet other new participants and the rest of the group. The group photo will be taken at ~11:10 AM.
  • WHERE: The line-up is north of the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60613 (where the parade starts). We will know the exact location about one week before the parade. Everyone who RSVPs will be notified of the exact location a few days before. The Parade Route will snake south through the north side of Chicago on Broadway and then Halsted to Belmont, then Broadway again and end at Diversey and Sheridan (see map below).
  • WHY: To show our solidarity with members of the LGBTQ++ community, their friends, families, and Allies. Expect ~1 million spectators along the route to be cheering us on.
  • HOW: Because parking nearby will be almost non-existent, it’s recommended that you share a ride, use public transportation, or park further away near public transportation and use it. You can also use one of the ridesharing services but they will not be able to drop you off near Broadway—expect to walk a few blocks from wherever they can drop you off.
  • T-SHIRTS: If you don’t have a shirt from last year, we have ordered extras. Shirts will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the parade to those who haven't reserved one in advance. The cost is being covered by donations from members of the Rainbow SIG.
  • WEAR/BRING: Wear your CAM t-shirt or other shirt in a bright color of the Rainbow Flag. Wear comfortable walking shoes that you’ve already broken in (you don’t want to have blisters for a week afterwards)! Wear a cross-body-strap bag containing two bottles of frozen water, sunscreen with a high SPF, your wallet with at least $25 for the luncheon afterwards (more if you’d like to enjoy one of the many cocktails available), and any personal items you might need (tissues, hat, umbrella, smart phone, camera, snack, chewing gum, etc.).
  • AFTERWARDS: And like last few years, we will gather for a late private lunch after the Parade and continue to share the warm feelings before heading home. The cost of the luncheon is expected to be $25 for each member of Chicago Area Mensa and one guest as per GOBS spending guidelines. The charge for others or additional guests will be higher but not more than $50. The luncheon will start no earlier than 2:30 PM. The exact time all depends upon our position in the parade. If we are at the back of the parade, the luncheon will start much later. We will know our position about one week before the parade. The lunch will take place at the Basil Leaf Cafe. The restaurant is located at 2465 N. Clark St., Chicago. You can attend the luncheon even if you don't participate in the Parade.
  • RSVPs: The deadline to sign up was Monday, June 17th.
    1. If you need to cancel, especially if you signed up to ride on the float, please email parade@chicago.us.mensa.org  at your earliest opportunity.
    2. If you’re attending the luncheon, please let us know if you’re a Chicago Area Mensa member and which of the entreés you’d prefer: Linguine Meatballs in a Marinara Sauce, Chicken Rigatoni and Fresh Spinach in a Tomato Alfredo Sauce, or Penne with Fresh Vegetables in a Marinara Sauce. Includes Caprese and Bruschetta (family-style), house salad, soft drinks or coffee, desert (probably cookies), and bread and oil dip. Alcohol served and billed individually and separately (please include tip and tax when you pay your bill to the waitstaff). Advanced payment for luncheon is requested and fully refundable if you cancel by Thursday, June 20th.

If you need more information, email parade@chicago.us.mensa.org . for more information about our Rainbow Special Interest Group (SIG), visit their website.

This year the parade starts further south at N. Broadway & W. Sheridan Rd.

Below a few fellow Ms shared what they experienced or why they marched:

The Pride Parade is such an amaz­ingly *joyous* occasion that I can’t help smiling all the way through it, and I have worn out legs, arms and face walk­ing, wav­ing, high-fiving and grinning.

M.J.T.

In years past, I’ve walked the parade route. The energy from the on­lookers was incredible. After­wards, my feet didn’t hurt — my face hurt. I just couldn’t stop smil­ing. Try smiling for a few hours straight and see what your face feels like. Better yet, join us and you can do your smiling at the parade. It’s truly a wonderful experience.

Jon G.

I participate to show support and solidarity with my many LGBTQ+ friends and family members, and because, as our shirts say, “Diversity is smart.”

Stacey K.

As a straight, cis, white, privileged weirdo dude, if anyone should be suspect at a Pride Parade, it’s me. This is the reason that I’m an Ally: there is no more profoundly spiritual experience that the human animal can experience than to be part of a group in which every person is telling every other person, as clearly and loudly and intensely as pos­si­ble, “We wel­come you to be here with us and to be a part of us, without con­di­tion.” This exper­i­ence was human­i­ty at its best.

Joel K.

I participated to show my support. What I exper­i­enced, however, was amazing. There was so much joy and love from the crowd, it inspired me to hope that perhaps someday it just might be pos­sible for people to live in a world where it won’t matter what your gender, race, age, or sexual pref­er­ence is. It was so inclusive, uplifting, and joyful — unlike anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience.

Barb P.
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