Ahead of this weekend’s 53rd Pride Parade — slated to be a shorter and smaller version than normal — the Chicago Police Department said much of its focus will be on the sometimes-raucous post-parade parties in and around the Northalsted area.
“It’s important that this tradition and this parade goes off safely, goes off without any problems and any issues,” CPD Superintendent Larr Snelling said at a press conference Friday morning at the Center on Halsted. “We want to make sure that everyone who shows up is safe, we want to make sure that every participant is safe. We’ve seen this parade in the past, and people just go there to have a good time, and the parade goes off well. However, what we’re concerned about more than anything else is what occurs late into the night after the parade.”
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers high-five people during a brief rainstorm along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A group from Planned Parenthood marches at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer along North Halsted Street while watching marches pass at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A baby is held aloft at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Participants on floats cheer at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson marches at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A marcher laughs in the rain at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers carry a rainbow version of the Chicago flag along North Halsted Street at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Jovita Baber dances while marching at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias marches in the rain at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer for marchers along North Halsted Street while watching marches pass at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, marches at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers carry a rainbow version of the Chicago flag along North Halsted Street at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A person dressed as Spiderman climbs a pole at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Miss Foozie and chef Art Smith ride a float at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People watch along the route at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A member of the Chicago Spirit Brigade does a backflip along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A square dancing group performs at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People hang out a window offering jello shots along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People watch from apartment balconies at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer for marchers along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers rev up the crowd at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A dog wears a bowtie at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer for marchers along Belmont Avenue at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer for marchers along North Halsted Street while watching marches pass at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Gov. J.B. Pritzker march at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Participants ride motorcycles at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers with the Bud Billiken Parade perform at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
First lady M.K. Pritzker marches at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A float with Gov. J.B. Pritzker supporters reads “In Illinois We Say Gay” at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers perform on wheels along North Halsted Street at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers pass out flags at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers carry balloons along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People ride floats at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People cheer for marchers along North Halsted Street while watching marches pass at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union march as rain passes at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers travel down Belmont Avenue at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Batman rides a hoverboard at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People dance on the Sidetrack on Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers continue in the rain at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers continue in the rain at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers travel down Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers carry a rainbow version of the Chicago flag along North Halsted Street at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers with the Bud Billiken Parade perform at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Marchers continue in the rain at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Preparations underway for the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade beginning in Uptown on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Clay Gonciarczyk sports a rainbow-colored mohawk ahead of the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
A pride-themed CTA “L” train passes by the float preparation area ahead of the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade in Uptown on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
People prepare a float with rainbow balloons ahead of the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Parade participants ride a float during the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023.
The parade will step off at 11 a.m. Sunday and will travel south from Sheridan and Broadway to Belmont. This year’s iteration will feature fewer floats and a shorter route in an effort to ease congestion in the area.
After parades in years past, throngs of people would remain in the Northalsted neighborhood, partying until the early morning hours. Fights broke out, and the combination of summer heat, alcohol and recreational drug use often lead to several hospitalizations.
“What we’ve seen in the past with those large gatherings late at night is that there are acts of violence,” Snelling added. “When those acts of violence occur, what we’ve also seen is people who’ve just decided to converge upon that area and carry out more acts of violence, vandalism, things of that nature. I’m just here to tell you right now that’s not going to be tolerated. We will put an end to that, and if arrests need to be made we will do that. We hope we do not have to do that.”
Snelling also said CPD is in contact with federal law enforcement agencies to assess threats made against the parade.
“We know that this parade gets threats constantly,” he said. “We’re working with not only local partners, but our federal partners making sure that we’re looking at every threat. We take them all seriously, we do our research and we put plans in place to make sure none of those threats can be carried out.”
Some LGBTQ+ groups and community members, meanwhile, have criticized the city’s decision to shrink the parade, saying limiting entries and shortening the route sends the wrong message. When Dana McKinney learned of the move, the communications assistant for the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches said her initial reaction was a “mixture of disappointment and concern.”
Typically she said more than 300 people from dozens of Chicago churches march in the parade. But this year the number of people allowed to walk was cut in half, a restriction some of her organization’s members felt went against the spirit of Pride, McKinney said.
“Showing that strength in numbers supporting the LGBTQ community .. it’s really been important to us,” McKinney said. “Limiting the number of churches, number of people, it kind of feels like an attempt to silence us.”
Anthony Didato, an executive board member for the coalition, said it’s important that the city see ample representation of affirming faith communities. When Didato was coming out, he said he worried about integrating his Christian faith and sexuality. Through the coalition, Didato said he was able to find an affirming church, and events like the Pride parade help others do the same.
“(For) a lot of people to be able to worship openly for whoever they are allows them to trust their gifts, and everyone is better because of it,” he said.
Some groups have said the parade’s downsizing is part of the city’s plan to maintain safety with a reasonable number of police officers, which Didato acknowledged is a “challenging situation” and that the “city is trying to deal with a lot.”
“We’re people of faith, so I just believe that something will allow us to figure it out,” he said.