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From our readers | How to improve Pride

Here’s what locals would do to amp up the parade.

By Jason A. Heidemann
Published: June 21, 2012



382.ac.ft.sb.Pride.manonstreet
Alonzo Brown
Bill Greaves
David Daley
Philip Dawkins
Rebecca Anderson
382.sc.ft.sb.Pride.manonthestreet.jpg
  • Alonzo Brown

    “I would like to see more diversity represented. It’s important to the event’s success and longevity.”—Alonzo Brown, 39, Hyde Park

    382.ac.ft.sb.pride.manonstreet.AlonzoBrownxSS.jpgAlonzo Brown154394461
  • Bill Greaves

    “[What] I would like to see is the Pride Parade ending in some sort of festival area, as it used to in Chicago and still does in New York and other cities.… Pride Fest could [extend a day and] move to Lincoln Park [where the parade ends], provide tables and booths for community organizations, and finish with a bang-up final [music] act.”—William Greaves, 61, Streeterville

    Photo: Jamie Kraus382.ac.ft.sb.pride.manonstreet.billgreavesxSS.jpgBill Greaves154394562
  • David Daley

    “They should have free liquor. In Germany, for [a festival similar to] Mardi Gras, the floats pass out free wine or free shots in test tubes that are sponsored by Jägermeister.”—David Daley, 25, Hoffman Estates

    382.ac.ft.sb.pride.manonstreet.DavidDaleyxSS.jpgDavid Daley154394663
  • Philip Dawkins

    “My idea is to have a stationary parade. Line all the floats up in the street along the parade route, and then let people walk through the street, spending as much time at each float as [they want]. This eliminates the problem of trying to keep people jammed onto the sidewalk, and of the parade always getting stalled when one of the floats breaks down or a stripper breaks his leg or something.”—Philip Dawkins, 31, Lakeview

    Photo: Nicole Radja382.ac.ft.sb.pride.manonstreet.philipxSS.jpgPhilip Dawkins154394714
  • Rebecca Anderson

    “As a straight woman, I would love to see a float of single, straight male allies, flinging their numbers into the crowd.”­—Rebecca Anderson, 36, Andersonville

    Photo: Jamie Kraus382.ac.ft.sb.pride.manonstreet.rebeccaandersonxSS.jpgRebecca Anderson154394765
  • 382.sc.ft.sb.Pride.manonthestreet.jpg

    “We think it would be amazing to have the Pride Parade downtown on the Chicago River. It would be a parade of real floats instead of street ‘floats.’ Thousands of people could watch from the streets and the river’s edge. Each night of Pride Week, the bridges over the river would be lit with lights that reflect each color of the Pride flag. Above the bridges, Pride flags would fly high, keeping company with the usual city, state and American flags.”—Amie Klujian, 43, Edgewater, and Christina Wiesmore, 37, Andersonville

    382.sc.ft.sb.Pride.manonthestreet.jpg382.sc.ft.sb.Pride.manonthestreet.jpg154432866

“I would like to see more diversity represented. It’s important to the event’s success and longevity.”—Alonzo Brown, 39, Hyde Park

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