How to Honor Pride Month 2021 In Chicagoland
June 02, 2021
Things To Do In Chicagoland
Each June, people across Chicagoland come together for Pride month, a weeks-long event dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the LGBTQIA+ community.
Originally started as an annual commemoration of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, Pride has grown into a huge event in Chicagoland, with parties, rallies, concerts, street festivals, educational opportunities, donation drives, and more events popping up each June. While last year's celebrations and activities were muted by COVID-19 restrictions, live Pride events are returning throughout the city and suburbs in summer 2021 — along with virtual and self-guided events perfect for those wanting to celebrate, reflect, and learn from home.
Interested in what you can do to observe Pride month in Chicagoland? Here are a few events and opportunities to get involved in the city and suburbs:
Attend a Pride Event In Chicagoland
Chicagoland is known for its legendary Pride events, which have historically drawn thousands of visitors from across the Midwest each June. Here are just some of the biggest outdoor events to watch out for in 2021:- Chicago Pride Fest. Each year, this two-day street festival takes over the city's historic Northalsted neighborhood with live performances, food vendors, a pet parade, singing and dancing contests, and more. Learn more here. This year, Pride Fest and the Pride Parade have been rescheduled for October, which is LGBTQIA+ History Month.
- Pride In the Park. Scheduled for June 26 and 27, Pride In the Park is a musical event held in Grant Park downtown. Find out who's performing here.
- Navy Pier Pride. The beloved Chicago attraction's Pride programming includes DJ sets, displays from local artists, and much more. TimeOut Chicago has details here.
- North Shore Pride. This family-friendly Pride event is scheduled for June 5 in downtown Highwood, and benefits the Highland Park High School Spectrum Club. Learn more here.
- Back Lot Bash. Chicago's Back Lot Bash is an outdoor music event that highlights "unity, equality, and inclusiveness in an environment that is festive and celebratory of everyone in our community." Scheduled for June 25-27, you can learn more on the organization's Facebook page.
Add to Your Reading List
Pride is a time to learn and reflect. If you're looking to find something new to read to honor the month, here are a few resources that can help connect you with new voices and important LGBTQIA+ perspectives:- The Chicago Public Library offers a topic guide to Chicago's LGBTQ+ history
- BookRiot shares "14 of the Best Queer Books: A Pride Reading List"
- The LGBTQ Reads blog offers constantly updating literary news and reviews
- Check out "The 21 Best LGBTQ+ Books to Read Right Now" from Reader's Digest
- BuzzFeed lists "17 Children's Books With Queer Characters That Deserve Your Attention"
Explore Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ History
Chicagoland's history is a rich and ever-evolving tapestry, with remarkable characters and stories around every corner. Pride is an excellent opportunity to go exploring and discover something new about the community we call home.- Read about Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ history. The Chicago Tribune has a great guide for launching your Pride reading, "30 Key Moments in Chicago's LGBTQ History, from Jane Addams to Lori Lightfoot." You can also explore the interactive resources on writer and historian Tracy Baim's Chicago Gay History project.
- Visit a local museum. You can learn more about Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ community by engaging with exhibits and art at one of our area's legendary museums.
- Take a neighborhood tour. There are many different ways to explore Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ history, neighborhood by neighborhood. Chicago Detours offers a fun and informative guide to "Chicago's Gay Neighborhood History." You can also set up your own tour with Choose Chicago's guide to LGBTQIA+ historic homes, Curbed Chicago's list of "10 Historic LGBTQ+ Spots to Visit," and the Sun-Times' "tour of 17 Chicago LGBTQ landmarks." The Legacy Project also offers a tour and multimedia experiences celebrating Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ pioneers.
Look for Ways to Support Your Community
Pride month is an excellent opportunity to find ways to give back to your local community, however, wherever, and whenever you can. To find organizations and charities dedicated to serving Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ communities, you can explore these helpful directories and guides from WBEZ, Do312, Great Nonprofits, and Charity Navigator. Looking to support local businesses with ties to Chicagoland's LGBTQIA+ communities? You can find a directory of LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-friendly businesses in Chicago here, courtesy of GoPride. The LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois also offers a business directory search here, perfect for finding small businesses to support within your area.Chicagoland, We're By Your Side
At Baird & Warner, we're all about connecting people with the best things to see, do, and experience around Chicagoland. After all, we've been a part of helping to build and grow this community since 1855. We know that home is about so much more than just four walls. Buying or selling a home is a big deal, and with everything we experienced in 2020, our homes have never been more important. That's why your local Baird & Warner agent is with you at every step of the way, from finding the perfect home to connecting you with local experts in mortgage and title. Whether it's the beginning of a story or the end of a chapter, we're here to help.Tags:
